Middle Palaeolithic in the Arlanza valley. The sites of La Ermita, Millán and La Mina

Abstract

Two classic Middle Palaeolithic sites, La Ermita and Millán were revised, together with additional information from the nearby La Mina site, all in the Arlanza River valley (Hortigüela, Burgos, Spain). New dating and prospecting work was done, raw materials were studied using ICP-MS, a zooarchaeological study was conducted and we describe the stone products, including unworked stones and the unpublished Millán surface assemblage. The datings indicate long-term occupation of the valley in the temperate phases of OIS by human groups that used the caves as short-term campsites (usually seasonal). Stone material supplies were local, with exhaustive use of flint. Broad spectrum hunting was done in all the surrounding biotopes, including specific searches for animal skins and hides. We infer intense, radial exploitation of the Arlanza Valley.