| 30.000 YEARS AGO |
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 HOW WERE THEY? WHERE DID THEY LIVE? HOW DID THEY LIVE? |
EXPANSION OF ANATOMICALLY MODERN POPULATION IN LA SAFOR. HUNTERS IN THE UPPER PALEOLITHIC 30.000 years ago, happening at the same time as an increase of the climatic toughness of the last glaciation, the arrival of the first industries of the upper Paleolithic to the southern peninsular half took place. The sites that have provided remains from this period are very few in all Europe and in La Safor and other bordering counties there are some of them: Cova de les Malladetes (Barx), Cova Foradada (Xàbia, La Marina Alta) and Cova de Beneito (Agres, El Comtat). This period, known with the name of Aurignacian, means a complete change with regard to the previous one. A new kind of stone carving technique becomes widespread, which is used to make easier the obtention of more standarized and regular bases, easier to shrink. The tools became diversified, which shows us that there is a greater relation between their shape and their function; cultural material has a more important function in human adaptation. New sources for raw materials are incorporated, such as deer horn and bones. Ornament and art appear, territorial marks are more clearly shown in culture. Perhaps the shortage of remains from the Aurignacian is a consequence of the same situation of colonization that corresponds to this period. These are the days in which cromagnon populations were spreading at the expense of the territories that until then had been occupied by neandertals. Although data are scarce when it comes to explain that process we know very well the result: the fast extinction of the neandertal man. 25.000 years ago the Homo sapiens sapiens population had clearly become consolidated in the peninsular Mediterranean side and La Sabor does not only offer evidence of this fact, but also has provided with one of the few human remains from this period known in the Iberian Peninsula. A child accipital found in Cova de les Malladetes and dated in 25.120±240 years. Since then La Safor settlement went through a constant increase, which contributed to the development of some cultural constants that have their influence in the whole southern Mediterranean half and that even arrived to Portugal. Probably the reason must be again looked for in the exceptional situation of the area for the shelter of the population during the most tough glacial periods. This maximum was reached around 18.000 years ago. The Solutrean and Magdelenian cultures occupy that cronological period, which arrived until the end of the late-glaciar, 11.000 years ago. Its remains are very abundant in sites such as the ones in the caves of Parpalló, Malladetes, Barranc Blanc, Badall, Penya Roja, Foradada, etc. In Solutrean and Magdelenian levels of Parpalló and of Barranc Blanc several human remains have been found.. |
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 HOW WERE THEY? HOMO SAPIENSThe primitive Homo sapiens, also known as Cromagnon Man, had physical and brain features similar to ours. Their arrival to Europe took place around 40.000 years ago and their African origin is beyond all doubt. The first sapiens seem to show a high height standard, with a lengthening of arms and legs with respect to NEANDERTALS, a reduction of bony thickness and a lower body weight. |
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| WHERE DID THEY LIVE? The settlement places acquired a seasonal cadence, exploiting alternately the coastal plains and the mountainous mediums from the close inland. The settlements, that were longer, were also more structured and the hearths were built with care and maintained in an active way throughout each and every of the seasonal settlements. We do not know, in the sites located in our county, the shape of the high structures put up inside caves, shelters or camps in the open air, but they must had been more carefully attended and with a mainly familiar size, because this is a way that has been documented in other contemporary sites. The lytic raw materials were in some cases transported from long distances. The places related to the obtention of food were diversified: there were places to watch, others to hunt and some others dedicated to activities linked to religion. |
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HOW DID THEY LIVE? The finding of projectiles from a distance, such as the driving one, and the use of new raw materials and a more complex and sofisticated tools allowed the development of more effective hunting techniques. The hunting command improved the systematic explotation of the surrounding environment and contributed to a MOBILITY rhythm of a seasonal component. From that moment on the preference preys were: deeds, goats and horses. Rabbits and other small preys had a complement role, as well as the sea and river resources, specially at the end of the period. The existence of burials is known, with the appearance of household furnishings, but in a very reduced number. That is why the fact that some of the funeral practices were made leaving the corpses in the open air can not be dismissed, which has not contributed to its preservation. Clothes and daily use objects were decorated, and the presence of objects such as sewing needles or punchings shows us the attention paid to the personal equipment. The inhabited space was characterized by the predominance of structures with a familiar character and rites acquired an important leading role. In this way they contributed to the articulation of wide social nets which showed the begining towards a new period. |
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