The Cave of Pego do Diabo (also known as Loca do Gato or Cat's Den) is a small karst cave in a Turonian limestone outcrop located about 250 metres above sea level in the municipality of Loures, about 20 km north of Lisbon in Portugal. The erosion of the outcrop resulted in a set of openings in the rocks wide enough to be exploited by humans. Several archaeological studies have been conducted within the cave, which give insights into the duration of Neanderthal presence on the Iberian Peninsula and to the presence of carnivorous animals during the Paleolithic.[1][2]
The cave consists of a narrow passage about 13 metres long and one metre wide, with a chamber at the end that is about two metres wide. First officially explored in 1965–66 by the Portuguese Speleological Society, it was surveyed in 1976 by the Grupo para o Estudio do Paleolitico Portugues (Group for the Study of the Portuguese Palaeolithic) and at the end of the 1980s by Prof. João Zilhão. About half of the accessible area of the cave has been studied.[1]
The stratigraphic profile carried out by Zilhão identified six layers to a depth of about 1.4 metres. The upper layer (Layer A), which was only observed at the end of the cave, is indicative of probable use for funerals. Layer 1 contained a mixture of modern and Pleistocene items while Layer 2 contained artifacts of the Upper Paleolithic associated with animal remains. Layer 3 also had animal remains but with distinct colouration, possibly caused by manganese oxides. There were few archaeological materials in Layer 4 and Layer 5 was archaeologically sterile.[2][3]
The limestone outcrop in which the cave is situated
Zilhão's research using radiocarbon dating looked for evidence of Neanderthals during the late Aurignacian period (37000-33000 Before the Present). He believed his excavations established a secure terminus ante quem of 34500 years BP for the demise of Neanderthals in the area, although more recent research by Zilhão and others suggests it was earlier than that. This has important implications for the interpretation of the anatomy of the Lapedo child, a complete skeleton found by Zilhão near Leiria in Portugal and believed to be the result of interbreeding between a Neanderthal and a modern human. The dating of the last of the region's Neanderthals to five millennia before the child was borne counters suggestions that Neanderthals could have survived in southwest Iberia until as late as the Last Glacial Maximum (26500 BP). Crossbreeding between immediate ancestors has to be ruled out and the Neanderthal features of the child must represent admixture at the time of contact. Zilhao also considered that his findings had implications for the idea that Neanderthals remained in the Gibraltar area until ca.32-28000 BP. He believed that, as hunter-gatherers living at low population densities, residual Neanderthals could not have survived for several millennia as a separate biological entity.[2]
Work by Maria João Valente analysed the fauna of Layers 1 and 2 associated with the Upper Paleolithic. She noted that the cave contained bones of humans, together with those of wolves, bears, and hyenas, the Iberian lynx and other small carnivores and birds of prey, and their prey such as rabbits. She hypothesised that there would have been competition between humans and animals for use of the cave and noted that the consecutive use of caves by human communities and carnivores had been identified elsewhere. However, an alternative interpretation was that human groups could have carried animal bones into the caves.[1]
Referencesedit
^ abcValente, Maria João (2004). "Humanos e carnívoros no Paleolítico Superior inicial em Portugal: arqueozoologia e tafonomia da gruta do Pego do Diabo (Loures)" (PDF). University of the Algarve. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
^ abcZilhão, João; Davis, Simon J. M; Duarte, Cidália; Soares, António M. M.; Steier, Peter; Wild, Eva (2010). "Pego do Diabo (Loures, Portugal): Dating the Emergence of Anatomical Modernity in Westernmost Eurasia". PLOS ONE. 5 (1): e8880. Bibcode:2010PLoSO...5.8880Z. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0008880. PMC2811729. PMID 20111705.
^"Gruta do Pego do Diabo - general stratigraphy". NESPOS: Pleistocene People and Places. Retrieved 8 April 2019.
April 14, 2024
cave, pego, diabo, also, known, loca, gato, small, karst, cave, turonian, limestone, outcrop, located, about, metres, above, level, municipality, loures, about, north, lisbon, portugal, erosion, outcrop, resulted, openings, rocks, wide, enough, exploited, huma. The Cave of Pego do Diabo also known as Loca do Gato or Cat s Den is a small karst cave in a Turonian limestone outcrop located about 250 metres above sea level in the municipality of Loures about 20 km north of Lisbon in Portugal The erosion of the outcrop resulted in a set of openings in the rocks wide enough to be exploited by humans Several archaeological studies have been conducted within the cave which give insights into the duration of Neanderthal presence on the Iberian Peninsula and to the presence of carnivorous animals during the Paleolithic 1 2 Cave of Pego do DiaboCave of Loca do Gato Cat s Den LocationLoures Lisbon District PortugalCoordinates38 51 52 N 9 13 06 W 38 86444 N 9 21833 W 38 86444 9 21833Depth13 metresElevation250 metresDiscovery1965GeologylimestoneDifficultyeasyAccessCar and 500 metre walkLightingnoVisitorsfree accessThe cave consists of a narrow passage about 13 metres long and one metre wide with a chamber at the end that is about two metres wide First officially explored in 1965 66 by the Portuguese Speleological Society it was surveyed in 1976 by the Grupo para o Estudio do Paleolitico Portugues Group for the Study of the Portuguese Palaeolithic and at the end of the 1980s by Prof Joao Zilhao About half of the accessible area of the cave has been studied 1 The stratigraphic profile carried out by Zilhao identified six layers to a depth of about 1 4 metres The upper layer Layer A which was only observed at the end of the cave is indicative of probable use for funerals Layer 1 contained a mixture of modern and Pleistocene items while Layer 2 contained artifacts of the Upper Paleolithic associated with animal remains Layer 3 also had animal remains but with distinct colouration possibly caused by manganese oxides There were few archaeological materials in Layer 4 and Layer 5 was archaeologically sterile 2 3 The limestone outcrop in which the cave is situatedZilhao s research using radiocarbon dating looked for evidence of Neanderthals during the late Aurignacian period 37000 33000 Before the Present He believed his excavations established a secure terminus ante quem of 34500 years BP for the demise of Neanderthals in the area although more recent research by Zilhao and others suggests it was earlier than that This has important implications for the interpretation of the anatomy of the Lapedo child a complete skeleton found by Zilhao near Leiria in Portugal and believed to be the result of interbreeding between a Neanderthal and a modern human The dating of the last of the region s Neanderthals to five millennia before the child was borne counters suggestions that Neanderthals could have survived in southwest Iberia until as late as the Last Glacial Maximum 26500 BP Crossbreeding between immediate ancestors has to be ruled out and the Neanderthal features of the child must represent admixture at the time of contact Zilhao also considered that his findings had implications for the idea that Neanderthals remained in the Gibraltar area until ca 32 28000 BP He believed that as hunter gatherers living at low population densities residual Neanderthals could not have survived for several millennia as a separate biological entity 2 Work by Maria Joao Valente analysed the fauna of Layers 1 and 2 associated with the Upper Paleolithic She noted that the cave contained bones of humans together with those of wolves bears and hyenas the Iberian lynx and other small carnivores and birds of prey and their prey such as rabbits She hypothesised that there would have been competition between humans and animals for use of the cave and noted that the consecutive use of caves by human communities and carnivores had been identified elsewhere However an alternative interpretation was that human groups could have carried animal bones into the caves 1 References edit a b c Valente Maria Joao 2004 Humanos e carnivoros no Paleolitico Superior inicial em Portugal arqueozoologia e tafonomia da gruta do Pego do Diabo Loures PDF University of the Algarve Retrieved 8 April 2019 a b c Zilhao Joao Davis Simon J M Duarte Cidalia Soares Antonio M M Steier Peter Wild Eva 2010 Pego do Diabo Loures Portugal Dating the Emergence of Anatomical Modernity in Westernmost Eurasia PLOS ONE 5 1 e8880 Bibcode 2010PLoSO 5 8880Z doi 10 1371 journal pone 0008880 PMC 2811729 PMID 20111705 Gruta do Pego do Diabo general stratigraphy NESPOS Pleistocene People and Places Retrieved 8 April 2019 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Cave of Pego do Diabo amp oldid 1047983401, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
