Munibe Antropologia-Arkeologia (Jul 2019)
Tránsitos y continuidades culturales en el IV y III milenio cal BC en el Valle del Ebro: los asentamientos al aire libre de Igay y los Cascajos (La Rioja, España)
Abstract
Se presentan los resultados de la excavación arqueológica de dos asentamientos al aire libre fechados entre mediados del IV y III milenio cal BC, prácticamente los únicos testimonios publicados de este tipo de poblamiento en la margen derecha del río Ebro en La Rioja. Ambos presentan características comunes en su tamaño, organización y criterios de emplazamiento, propios de las sociedades segmentarias constructoras de grandes megalitos. Poseen elementos de cultura material de transición del Neolítico Final-Calcolítico y Calcolítico-Bronce Antiguo, respectivamente, contextualizados por dataciones 14C. A pesar de ello, sus perfiles arqueológicos tienen diferencias en la concepción y las actividades que en cada uno se desarrollaron, dentro de las dinámicas que se suponen para los “campos de hoyos”. El déficit de intervenciones en poblados sincrónicos frente a sepulcros megalíticos y contextos habitacionales en cavidad, hace necesario diversificar la información para obtener perfiles más ajustados de estas comunidades. ___ We present the results of the archaeological excavation in two open-air settlements dated between the middle of the IV and III millennium cal BC, practically only published testimonies in the right margin of the Ebro River (La Rioja, Spain). Both show common characteristics in their size (2-2.5 ha), organization and location criteria in an intermediate fluvial terrace, characteristics of segmental societies that built megaliths; also because the low number of archaeological materials that suggest a temporary and recurrent occupation. The settlement of Igay (Varea-Logroño, Spain) is chronologically located in the Late Neolithic (4750 ± 30 BP, 3637-3382 cal BC 2σ); the structural record is formed by 15 pits (storage pits, furnace, post hole and other indeterminate pits). Geometrical and retouching flat cover coexist as elements of lithic industry transition to the Chalcolithic, which could be placed ca. 3500 cal BC. Pottery are related to the Cameros megalithic stations, 20 km away and with evident contextual and chronological relation. The settlement is explained by the temporary exploitation of the resources in Ebro River fertile plain, with agricultural and hunting activities evidenced by hand querns and lithic arrowheads, respectively. Los Cascajos (Grañón, Spain) site is an open-air Chalcolithic settlement with an appreciable organization in disposition of the 32 negative structures documented. Approximately, 47% are combustion structures; the rest are interpreted as pits storage, post holes, indeterminate pits and a possible hut. Two almost continuous ditches delimit the nuclear area, inscribed on a small hill. In the archaeological site there are elements of transition to the Early Bronze Age, especially in the pottery repertoire. The lithic industry technique is laminar and with foliaceous; the absence of sickle and hand querns elements is striking, but in the settlement metal processing is present. The site is located chronologically at advanced Chalcolithic, dating 4097 ± 36 BP (2866-2498 cal BC 2σ); it anticipates the features of regional Early Bronze Age (ca. 2400 cal BC) without an abrupt rupture. The deficit of interventions in synchronic settlements in front of megalith tombs and cavity contexts requires diversifying the information at a regional scale to obtain more adjusted profiles of these communities.
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