Program > By author > Portero Hernández Rodrigo

The aim of this communication is to understand the subsistence strategies of the human groups that inhabited the Spanish Cantabrian Region during the Mesolithic by studying the macromammal faunal remains (11.5 – 7.5 Ky cal BP). For that purpose, we have studied several archaeological sites. In addition to this, we take into account the archaeozoological data available from published sites with radiocarbon information and faunal studies carried out by specialists. Thus, we will establish the prey ranking of the hunted species for Cantabrian Spain during the mentioned period, as well as the represented skeletal patterns and the energy supply each taxon would bring to the diet. Finally, we will point out the existence of intra-site changes and continuities in the faunal patterns of those sites that count with different levels associated with the same period. This information will allow us to point out some preliminary conclusions about the seasonal occupation of the Cantabrian Region during the Mesolithic regarding the seasonal hunting. Taking into account the biological, ecological and geographical conditioners of the macromammal species included in our study, we will use Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for establishing the faunal catchment areas of the human groups in the Past.