Books by José-Miguel Tejero
Papers by José-Miguel Tejero
Nature Communications, 2025
Caves are primary sites for studying human and animal subsistence patterns and genetic ancestry t... more Caves are primary sites for studying human and animal subsistence patterns and genetic ancestry throughout the Palaeolithic. Iberia served as a critical human and animal refugium in Europe during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), 26.5 to 19 thousand years before the present (cal kya). Therefore, it is a key location for understanding human and animal population dynamics dur- ing this event. We recover and analyse sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) data from the lower archaeological stratigraphic sequence of El Mirón Cave (Cantabria, Spain), encompassing the (1) Late Mousterian period, associated with Neanderthals, and (2) the Gravettian (c. 31.5 cal kya), Solutrean
(c. 24.5–22 cal kya), and Initial Magdalenian (d. 21–20.5 cal kya) periods, associated with anatomically modern humans. We identify 28 animal taxa including humans. Fifteen of these taxa had not been identified from the archaeozoological (i.e., faunal) record, including the presence of hyenas in the Magdalenian. Additionally, we provide phylogenetic analyses on 70 sedaDNA mtDNA genomes of fauna including the densest Iberian Pleistocene sampling of C. lupus. Finally, we recover three human mtDNA sequences from the Solutrean levels. These sequences, along with published data, suggest mtDNA haplogroup continuity in Iberia throughout the Solutrean/Last Glacial Max- imum period.
Scientific Reports
Direct evidence for Palaeolithic sound-making instruments is relatively rare, with only a few exa... more Direct evidence for Palaeolithic sound-making instruments is relatively rare, with only a few examples recorded from Upper Palaeolithic contexts, particularly in European cultures. However, theoretical considerations suggest that such artefacts have existed elsewhere in the world. Nevertheless, evidence for sound production is tenuous in the prehistoric archaeological record of the Levant, the study of music and its evolution being sparsely explored. Here we report new evidence for Palaeolithic sound-making instruments from the Levant with the discovery of seven aerophones made of perforated bird bones in the Final Natufian site of Eynan-Mallaha, Northern Israel. Through technological, use-wear, taphonomic, experimental and acoustical analyses, we demonstrate that these objects were intentionally manufactured more than 12,000 years ago to produce a range of sounds similar to raptor calls and whose purposes could be at the crossroads of communication, attracting hunting prey and musi...
Journal of Paleolithic Archaeology
A decorated ulna of a gannet (Morus bassanus) was found in 1966 during the exploration of the arc... more A decorated ulna of a gannet (Morus bassanus) was found in 1966 during the exploration of the archaeological site of Torre cave (Gipuzkoa, northern Iberian Peninsula). The present study offers a new appraisal of this truly outstanding art object through a technological and stylistic analysis enriched by more recent finds. What makes this object extraordinary is the fact that it is one of the most complete specimens in the Iberian Peninsula. Moreover, the Torre tube is one of the few remains with peri-cylindrical decoration displaying a complex combination of motifs. It is profusely decorated with figurative representations (deer, horse, ibex, chamois, aurochs and an anthropomorph) and signs (single lines, parallel lines, zigzags, etc.) in two rows in opposite directions. The tube resembles objects from other Magdalenian sites in Cantabrian Spain and the Pyrenees, which corroborate the exchange of technical and iconographic behaviour.
Internal and external bony tissues from diverse mammalian taxa are one of the primary animal raw ... more Internal and external bony tissues from diverse mammalian taxa are one of the primary animal raw materials exploited for technical and symbolic purposes by Eurasian Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers. Identifying the source species used for osseous raw material is critical to gain insights into these populations’ behaviour, technology, and subsistence. The study of osseous tools has advanced in the last few years by combining archaeological and biomolecular methods. Ancient genomics opens many new analytical opportunities. Ancient DNA (aDNA) can provide a wealth of information about the animal sources of these objects. Unfortunately, aDNA analyses often involve destructive sampling. Here, we develop and apply a minimally-invasive aDNA sampling method for an assemblage of 42 prehistoric hunting weapons and tools from various Eurasian archaeological sites. We evaluated the impact of our approach on the specimens visually, microscopically and through Micro-CT scans. The surface impact...
Journal of Human Evolution, May 1, 2023
The Levantine Early Upper Paleolithic (ca. 45e30 ka) has been a focus of research because of its ... more The Levantine Early Upper Paleolithic (ca. 45e30 ka) has been a focus of research because of its unique position as a conduit of human, flora, and fauna species between Africa and Eurasia. Studies have mainly focused on the Early Ahmarian and Levantine Aurignacian, two entities, the former endemic and the latter foreign, which are considered to have coinhabited the region during that period. However, other cultural entities, such as the Atlitian in the Mediterranean region and the Arkov-Divshon in the arid regions of the southern Levant received less attention, and accordingly, suffer from broad definitions and chronological insecurity. These cultures hold potential insights regarding nuanced adaptations, recip- rocal influences, and diachronic assimilation processes. The recently discovered site of Nahal Rahaf 2 Rockshelter in the Judean Desert provides integral information on one of these entitiesdthe Arkov- Divshon. Two excavation seasons revealed a sequence of archaeological layers, with lithic assemblages in which laterally carinated items were prominent. Alongside rich faunal assemblages, other components of the material culture include perforated marine shells and bone tools, marking the first association of these elements with Arkov-Divshon and implying some degree of contact with the Mediterranean re- gions of the Levant. Good preservation of organic materials allowed radiocarbon dating of the human occupation at the site to ca. 37.5e34.0 ka cal BP, indicating chronological overlap with the Levantine Aurignacian, and possibly also with the latest phases of the Early Ahmarian. Thus, challenging the val- idity of the widely accepted ‘Two Tradition’ Model of the Levantine Upper Paleolithic. Lithic analyses suggest the use of one main reduction sequence and the primary production of bladelets from carinated items. Faunal remains suggest targeted hunting of ibex and gazelle. Botanical remains and sedimentary analyses suggest roughly similar environmental conditions, with a possible woodier environment in the surroundings of the site.
HAL (Le Centre pour la Communication Scientifique Directe), Apr 25, 2017
HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific r... more HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. The documents may come from teaching and research institutions in France or abroad, or from public or private research centers. L'archive ouverte pluridisciplinaire HAL, est destinée au dépôt et à la diffusion de documents scientifiques de niveau recherche, publiés ou non, émanant des établissements d'enseignement et de recherche français ou étrangers, des laboratoires publics ou privés.
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2022
The site of Ekain Cave presents a large archaeological sequence encompassing all the Upper Palaeo... more The site of Ekain Cave presents a large archaeological sequence encompassing all the Upper Palaeolithic periods. Here we present results of a technological analysis conducted on the bone and antler industry from the Magdalenian (Lower, Middle and Upper) levels. The industry reflects the pattern seen at other Magdalenian sites in north Spain and the Pyrenees, such as the choice of bone for domestic activities (awls, needles and polishers) whereas antler was employed mainly for hunting and/or fishing weapons (projectile points and barbed points). The succession of cold and amelioration phases recorded during the Magdalenian has its effect on the fauna present and on the availability of raw material, in particular, cervid antler. The present study identifies for the first time the use of debitage by fracturation in northern Iberia. A hypothesis that may explain the incentives behind the adoption of such a procedure in Ekain is proposed. These results are put in the context of the operational sequences for the osseous industry in the north of Iberia during the last Upper Palaeolithic. Indeed, our study reinforces the hypothesis that a high degree of exchange of technical and conceptual behaviours between the North and the South of the Pyrenees and the Iberian Mediterranean area as already suggested by works on lithic technology and cave and mobile art.
Le present article propose un bilan historiographique des recherches sur la fracturation de deux ... more Le present article propose un bilan historiographique des recherches sur la fracturation de deux matieres dures d'origine animale depuis les premieres interrogations concernant sa reconnaissance a partir des restes osseux au xix e siecle, l'identification de son origine anthropique ou taphonomique au debut du XXe siecle, jusqu'aux recherches ciblees sur ses objectifs, technique et/ou alimentaire, au debut du xxi e siecle. Dans ce but, l'axe de recherche « Ressources animales : acquisition, transformation et utilisation » de l'equipe Ethnologie prehistorique (UMR 7041, ArScAn) a developpe, a partir des annees 2010-2011, une nouvelle dynamique de recherche sur la fracturation. Les travaux menes ont beneficie des recherches anterieures, mais en s'inscrivant plus specifiquement dans une optique tres technique. Cet article est ainsi oriente vers l'exploitation technique de l'os et du bois de cervide et la production de supports potentiels pour des outils d...
PLOS ONE, 2021
The region of western Georgia (Imereti) in the Southern Caucasus has been a major geographic corr... more The region of western Georgia (Imereti) in the Southern Caucasus has been a major geographic corridor for human migrations during the Middle and Upper Paleolithic. Data of recent research and excavations in this region display its importance as a possible route for the dispersal of anatomically modern humans (AMH) into northern Eurasia. Nevertheless, within the local research context, bone-working and personal ornaments have yet contributed but little to the Upper Palaeolithic (UP) regional sequence’s characterization. Here we present an archaeozoological, technological and use-wear study of pendants from two local UP assemblages, originating in the Dzudzuana Cave and Satsurblia Cave. The ornaments were made mostly of perforated teeth, though some specimens were made on bone. Both the manufacturing marks made during preparation and use-wear traces indicate that they were personal ornaments, used as pendants or attached to garments. Detailed comparison between ornament assemblages fr...
Journal of Human Evolution, 2020
Situated at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, the Levant is a crucial region for understandin... more Situated at the crossroads of Africa and Eurasia, the Levant is a crucial region for understanding the origins and spread of Upper Paleolithic (UP) traditions associated with the spread of modern humans. Of the two local Early Upper Paleolithic technocomplexes, the Ahmarian and the Levantine Aurignacian, the latter appears to be unique in the endemic UP sequence, exhibiting greater similarity to the West European 'classic' Aurignacian than to the local preceding and proceeding UP entities. Previous publications have mostly focused on the similarities between the two lithic industries and less on studies conducted on Levantine Aurignacian bone tools and ornaments. Here, we present an archaeozoological, technological and use-wear study of ornaments on animal teeth from the Levantine Aurignacian layers at Manot and Hayonim caves (the Galilee, Israel). The selection of taxa, the choice of teeth, the mode of modification, and the use-wear analysis exhibit clear similarities with the European Aurignacian. This, with the technology of the osseous raw material exploitation, the presence of antler simple-base points, and some lithic typotechnological features, suggest a link between the symbolic spheres of the Levantine and the European Aurignacian cultural entities. Such similarity also supports some contribution of European Aurignacians groups to the local cultural entities, intermingling with the local material culture features.
Journal of Human Evolution, 2019
A well-preserved sequence of Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) occupations has been revealed in the p... more A well-preserved sequence of Early Upper Paleolithic (EUP) occupations has been revealed in the past decade in Manot Cave, the studies of which shed light on the cultural dynamics and subsistence patterns and paleoenvironment. Most intriguing is the series of overlying Levantine Aurignacian occupation layers, exposed near the entrance to the cave. Area E is considered the inner part of the main activity area in Manot Cave. Remains of intact combustion features, as well as numerous flint artifacts and faunal remains, were found, indicating a high level of preservation. Within a 2.5 m sequence, nine distinct occupation layers were defined. The presence of characteristic flint and osseous industries alongside a rich mollusk assemblage led to the initial association of the sequence as a whole to the Levantine Aurignacian. However, as research advanced and variability in the material culture became apparent, it became clear that a division of the sequence into two phases, early and late, is required. A preliminary study of the assemblage variability implies distinct changes in human behavior between the two phases. Most prominently, these are indicated by a change in bladelet production method and morphology alongside an increase in the significance of the bladelet component within the flint assemblage, the disappearance of composite osseous industries, and a steep decrease in mollusk shell representation in the late occupation phase. Radiocarbon dating indicates a short time span between the two phases. The earlier phase defined as, Levantine Aurignacian, was ascribed an age range of 38-34 ka cal BP with a more constrained age range of 37-35 ka cal BP suggested based on Bayesian models. In the late phase, which is temporarily referred to as "post-Levantine Aurignacian," an age range of 36-33 ka cal BP is suggested.
Science Advances, 2019
Eagle bones from Spanish cave reveal the long-standing Neanderthal jewelry tradition.
PLOS ONE, 2019
The Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe covers the last millennia of Neanderthal lif... more The Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe covers the last millennia of Neanderthal life together with the appearance and expansion of Modern Human populations. Culturally, it is defined by the Late Middle Paleolithic succession, and by Early Upper Paleolithic complexes like the Cha ˆtelperronian (southwestern Europe), the Protoaurignacian, and the Early Aurignacian. Up to now, the southern boundary for the transition has been established as being situated between France and Iberia, in the Cantabrian fac ¸ade and Pyrenees. According to this, the central and southern territories of Iberia are claimed to have been the refuge of the last Neanderthals for some additional millennia after they were replaced by anatomically Modern Humans on the rest of the continent. In this paper, we present the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition sequence from Cova Foradada (Tarragona), a cave on the Catalan Mediterranean coastline. Archaeological research has documented a stratigraphic sequence containing a succession of very short-term occupations pertaining to the Cha ˆtelperronian, Early Aurignacian, and Gravettian. Cova Foradada therefore represents the southernmost Cha ˆtelperronian-Early Aurignacian sequence ever documented in Europe, significantly enlarging the territorial distribution of both cultures and providing an important geographical and chronological reference for understanding Neanderthal disappearance and the complete expansion of anatomically Modern Humans.
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Books by José-Miguel Tejero
Papers by José-Miguel Tejero
(c. 24.5–22 cal kya), and Initial Magdalenian (d. 21–20.5 cal kya) periods, associated with anatomically modern humans. We identify 28 animal taxa including humans. Fifteen of these taxa had not been identified from the archaeozoological (i.e., faunal) record, including the presence of hyenas in the Magdalenian. Additionally, we provide phylogenetic analyses on 70 sedaDNA mtDNA genomes of fauna including the densest Iberian Pleistocene sampling of C. lupus. Finally, we recover three human mtDNA sequences from the Solutrean levels. These sequences, along with published data, suggest mtDNA haplogroup continuity in Iberia throughout the Solutrean/Last Glacial Max- imum period.
(c. 24.5–22 cal kya), and Initial Magdalenian (d. 21–20.5 cal kya) periods, associated with anatomically modern humans. We identify 28 animal taxa including humans. Fifteen of these taxa had not been identified from the archaeozoological (i.e., faunal) record, including the presence of hyenas in the Magdalenian. Additionally, we provide phylogenetic analyses on 70 sedaDNA mtDNA genomes of fauna including the densest Iberian Pleistocene sampling of C. lupus. Finally, we recover three human mtDNA sequences from the Solutrean levels. These sequences, along with published data, suggest mtDNA haplogroup continuity in Iberia throughout the Solutrean/Last Glacial Max- imum period.
Se presenta la interpretación global de La Peña de Estebanvela (Ayllón, Segovia), en el contexto del Magdaleniense del centro de la Península Ibérica. Los estudios del registro (geoarqueológico, cronoestratigráfico, taxonómico, zooarqueológico y tafonómico, antracológico y fitolitólogico) permiten fijar la cronología de sus ocupaciones, en algunos casos la estacionalidad e inferir un patrón recurrente de explotación del territorio. Otras analíticas (tecnotipológico, traceológico, espacial) identifican una marcada estructuración interna del espacio y facilitan una aproximación a las posibles funcionalidades del asentamiento. Finalmente del examen detallado del conjunto ornamental y los cantos decorados se deduce una movilidad de estos grupos en ocasiones a grandes distancias.
ABSTRACT
The present work provides an overall interpretation of the La Peña de Estebanvela site, on the framework of the Magdalenian in central Spain. Studies of the geoarchaeological, chronostratigraphic, taxonomic, zooarchaeological, taphonomic, anthracological and phytological records allow the chronology of the site’s occupations to be determined. Sometimes even the seasonality of occupation can be established, and patterns of territory exploitation discerned. The results of technotypological, traceological and spatial analyses show a marked internal structuring of the site’s space, and provide clues on the possible functions of the site. Finally, the detailed examination of the site’s ornamental pieces and decorated stones shows the groups that used the rock shelter sometimes travelled great distances.
Omry Barzilai, José-Miguel Tejero, Ofer Marder, Israel Hershkovitz
Abstract:
The Early Upper Palaeolithic of the Levant consists of two cultural entities, “Early Ahmarian” and “Levantine Aurignacian”, which are assumed to have coexisted at ca. 36/34,000 -28/27,000 Cal BP. The Early Ahmarian, distributed throughout the Levant, is conceived as local tradition whereas the Aurignacian, restricted to few cave sites in the Mediterranean woodland region, is considered an interference of European population/s.
A recent excavation project at Manot cave in the western Galilee, Israel exposed at least five archaeological layers corresponding with the Early Upper Palaeolithic stage.
Four excavation seasons resulted with rich archaeological finds attributed to the Early Ahmarian and Aurignacian traditions that are currently dated to 40,000-31,000 cal. BP.
This paper presents the chrono-cultural sequence at Manot cave with an emphasis on the two traditions. These are further compared to other parallels from the Levant region and beyond, which reflect (or not) the cultural interactions during the Early Upper Palaeolithic.
José-Miguel Tejero, Ofer Marder, Omry Barzilai, Israel Hershkovitz, Reuven Yeshurun, Nehora Schneller-Pels, Guy Bar-Oz
Abstract:
Nowadays Levantine Upper Palaeolithic archaeology is of great importance in understanding the emergence, dispersal, and adaptations of the first Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) populations. Nevertheless, research on this period in the studied region has been limited to specific data, for instance osseous industry suffers from a dearth of data. Thus, exploitation of osseous raw material (mainly bone and deer antler) is one of the major innovations that appears at the beginning of the Early Upper Palaeolithic (EUP) both in Levant and Europe (innovation documented since the Middle Stone Age in the African context). With this in mind, the characterisation of technical concepts chosen by the first Levantine AMH is of great interest. Until now the Levantine rich collections of bone and antler objects are mostly known from a typological point of view.
The discovery of the important site of Manot Cave (Galilee. Israel) in 2010, preserving Mousterian, Ahmarian and Aurignacian levels, has initiated a multidisciplinary and international project. The main objective of this project is to reassess the variability of the chronological sequence of the Levantine EUP confronted with data from others archaeological sites of the Region.
Within the framework of this project, we present the first results of the technological and traceological analysis of the bone and antler industry of Aurignacian levels of Manot Cave (C Area). The excavation is on-going so the data is provisional, but we already have some interesting results. The Manot Cave bone and antler industry shows both similarities with the European osseous industry: such as the choice of bone for “domestic” tools (recurrent morpho-types like awls and retouchers) and that of antler for the cinegetic equipment (spear points). Differences are present within the hunting equipment with only simple-based points and not split-based points as known in Europe and some Levantine sites. Added to these characteristics the absence of polishers and the, probably, common exploitation of fallow deer antler, among others. These features support some particularities already stated from the Levantine Aurignacian by for some authors.
The presented preliminary data from technological analysis of Manot Cave osseous industry is a part of a larger final goal. Our aim is to reconstitute and understand the operational sequences of bone and antler exploitation at the Early Upper Palaeolithic in Levant (through the enlarged study of other important Levantine collections like Ksar Akil or Hayonim D). The obtained techno-economical data, compared to European ones, will not only contribute to refine the chrono-cultural EUP sequence of the Levant but also to give a better understanding of the adaptation mechanisms of the first Anatomically Modern Humans in Eurasia.