,
MEMORIAS
DA
A
ACA
DEMIA DAS CIENCIAS
DE
LISBOA
C
L
ASSE
D
E
C
I
~N
CIAS
TOMO XXXVIII
M. T. ANTUNES & J. L. CARDOSO
Gruta Nova
da
Columbei
ra, Gruta
das Sa
lemas
and
Gruta
da
Figueira
Brava:
Stratigraphy,
and
Chrono
logy of
the Pleisto
cene
Deposits
Gruta
N
ova da
Co
lumb
e
il'a.
,Gruta das
Sa
l
e
mas
and
Gruta da
Figueil'a
Brava
"
S
trati
gra
ph
y,
anel
C
hrollolo
gy
of lhe
Pl
e
i
s
to
cc
n
c
d
cpo
s
it
s
M . T.A1
TUNES (1.2)&
J.
L. CARDOSO (2.3.4)I -Academia das Ciências de Lisboa.
2 -Centro de ESllIdos Geológicos - Depa,-Iamcnlo de Ciências da Terra, Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia da UNL; Quinta da TOITC. 2825-114 CAPARICA, POrlugal. Tel. +351 21 2948573; Fax +351 21 2948556. Illta@maiUcl.unl.pt
3 -Academia Portuguesa da História.
4 -Universidade Abcl1a. Palácio Ceia, R. da Escola Politécnica, 141, 1219-001 LISBOA. Tel. +35\ 2\ 3972 334, Fax +35\ 2\ 3969293.
Absh-act
The evidencc conccrning lhe mosl recenl Neandcrthals in Portugal and maybe 111 Lhe \Vorlel, comes rrom lhrcc basic sites: Gruta Nova da Colurrlbeira, Gruta das Salemas and Gruta da Figueira Brava.
For Gruta Nova da Columbeira, two human occupation leveis were I.tC clated: c. 7, 26400 ± 750 BP and c. 8, 28900 ± 950 BP. Thc induslries (denliculales, rich in Icvallois racies scrap'ers) are exclusive1y late Mousterian; lhis, as well as lhe fauna and a ncanderlhalian 100111 make this cave one or lhe reference MOUSlerian sites in lhe Iberian Peninsula.
Gruta das Salemas - aI lhe botlom, sedimcnl gliding sllggesls Ihal mosL or lhe basal dcposits (anel bones for 14C dating) callle from lhe olltsicle during a ccrlain time span. Alypical illlplcmenls have lenlalivcly becn ascribecl lO lhe Middlc Palacolilhic. Bcd 8 yielded a hUlllan decidual molar anel was dalcd 24820 ± 550 BP, Ihis being
24 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
apparently too late for lhe MOl1SlCrian. Thc concerned datillg may be somcwhat latel' than lhe lo",cnnosl c. 8 deposits.
The Gruta da Figueira Brava is espccially important becausc af lhe \\Icahh
of data iI provides. Thc site rcsuhed from karst erosion lhat broadcncd vertical diaclascs, aml mainly fram marine ab,'asion during Tyrrhcnian III cvenl. Thc surf
cxcavatecl a broad anel decp shcltcr. The consequenl lowering of lhe sea levei (untiJ
abolll - 60 melcl"S) forstercd lhe c1evelopment of a Iitl.oral plain wilh clunes lha! was flooded again in lhe I-Ioloccnc. Diagenctic CaCO] consolidatcd lhe external pari of colic sanei with its fossil contenls into a hanl sandslonc. That. in lurn, convcrled lhe shchcr into Lhe cxtanl cave. The upper parL of C. 2 bed shows some evidence of
human \Valking, excavaling and (much laler) the slicking of arnphorae. A nea
n-derthalian tomh was found in C. 2 along with mammal, bird and other faunal relllllanlS. These objecls include marine shclls, coprolilhes, human food garbage, bone and lilhic lale 1\llouslerian irnplemenls, including denticu)atcs (non-lcvallois facies owing lo the scareily of beller raw material), and quartz pebbles brought in by mano Found in C. 3 \Vere fired sloncs, ashes anel charcoal, as well as whal seems lo be
burnl animal fal and resino These e)emcnts suggcst lhe use of fire for lighting.
MllCh organic maneI' was eliminalcd. The aCClImulalion of iron oxides may bc
lhe result of lhe eUJl111lalive effecl of exposure and denuelaLive processes. The sea (a fe\\! ki)ometers a\\!ay from ils prescnt posiLion) providcd large quanlities of
mollllscs and crabs. C. 2 was 14C c1aled 30930 ± 700 BP, lhe value for lhe intenncdiaLe fraclion being 30050 ± 550 BP. The dating may appear somc\\!hat older than lhe real age. Th/U daling is 30561 + 11759 - 10725 BP. The homogenous lilhic implemenLs scem lo indicate Lhal lhe late Mousterian occupation was short anel discontinllous: whcn temporarily abandoncd by man, the shcltcr may have been frequented by bats and other animais such as hycnas and panlher.
Resulllo
Os dados acerca dos últimos ncandertais em Portugal (c, talvez, no mundo) provêm da Gruta Nova da Colllmbeira, da Gruta das Salemas c da Gruta da Figueira
Brava.
Dois níveis de ocupação humana da Gnlla Nova da Columbeira foram datados "C: c. 7, 26400 ± 750 BP e c. 8, 28900 ± 950 BP. Excelentes ;ndllslr;as (com den!; -eu lados, ricas de raspadores de Incies levaI/ais), só do final do Mustierense, fauna e
um dente de ncandcrtaliano fazem deste um sítio de referência do Mustierensc ibérico.
Gruta das Salemas - escorregamento de sedimentos sugere que a maior parLe dos depósitos basais (e os ossos para datação 14C) provém do cxteriOl: lndúsLrias alípicas foram atribufdas ao Paleolítico médio. A camada 8 deu urn molar lacleal
neandertaliano; foi datada de 24820 ± 550 BP, o que parece demasiado tardio para o
MusLiercnse. Esta dala pode sei' algo mais moderna do que os depósitos iniciais
da C. 8.
A Gruta da Figueira Brava é particularmente importante devido à riqueza da
informação que deu, inclusive sobre a fauna marinha; é a jazida mais rica em
Portugal nesle domínio. Resultou do alargamento de fissuras c, principalmente, de abrasão marinha (Tirreniano 111), que escavou amplo abrigo com tCCIO sobrejacente. O subsequente abaixamento do nível do mar até ca. de - 60 melros permitiu O
desen-CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 25
volvimcnto de urna planície litoral com dunas (coberta pelo Illal~ no Holocénico). Precipitação de CaC03 veio consolidar a parle externa do enchimento de areias
eólicas com fósseis e instrumentos líticos, convertendo o abrigo cm gruta. A C. 2 é
constituída por areias que, na parle superior, mostram evidência de piSOLCio, esca-vação c implantação de ânforas romanas. Foram encontrados (sobretudo na C. 2. de onde provém um dente de ncandcrlaliano) restos de mamfferos. aves e outros vert e-brados, coprólilos, conchas marinhas, detritos alimentares humanos, bem como indústrias ósseas c líticas do Mustierense final, com dCllticulados). A presença (C. 3.
cm especial) de pedras submetidas a fogo, cinzas, carvã0 c o que parecem restos de
gordura animal queimada e de resina ill(lic~m fogueiras c sugerem iluminação.
Imensa oxidação climinou a maior parte da matéria orgânica. A acumulaçào de óxidos de rerro pode ler "csuhado do deito acumulativo da exposição e de processos
de dClludação. Não há evidência de ter havido perto algum .-io. O mal~ a poucos quilómetros, fornecia quantidades de moluscos e caranguejos. C. 2 roi datada I~C a partir de valvas de Patella 30930 ± 700 BP. com 30050 ± 550 BP para a rracção illlermédia. Não houve contaminação. A idade real pode ser algo mais moderna do que aqueles valores. A datação Th/U. 30561 + 11759 - 10725 BP. é compatível com a do I-IC. O conjunto de instrumentos líticos, homogéneo. parece indicar que a ocupação mustierense teve duração baslante limitada. Foi descontínua, com episó· dios de abandono peJo homem que permitiram a rrequência por predadores (sobre. tudo hienas e panteras) c morcegos.
Introduclion
The evidence concerning the 1110st recent Ncandcrthals in Portugal, anel maybe in lhe world. comes fr-om thrcc basic caves: the Gruta da Figueira Brava, on the coas! near Portinho ela Arrábiela (J. Pais anel P. Legoinha, 2000, this volume), elirectly excavated anel exploited by the authors; Gruta Nova ela Columbeira, !leal' Bombarral; anel Gruta das Salemas, nem-Lousa (Loures)
(Fig. I). For the last l\Vo, data about the geological setting have been
conlribuleel by G. Manuppclla.
For Gruta Nova da Columbeira, stratigraphic evidence is good. An
excellent collection of homogenous, ohen high-quality, cxclusively late Mousterian Iilhic implements was obtaincd here. These Aint implcmcnts
(for the most part) inclueles elenticulales anel Icvallois serapers. This cave
also yielded an association of large mammals, whereas small ones are ncarly
unknown (for faunal data sec Antunes.
2000 -
Faunal synthcsis. this volume)_ 14C daling is gooel. Ali this anel the presence or a neanderthalian tooth make this cave onc of lhe referencc MOllsterian sites in lhe lbcriall Península.Gruta ela Figueira Brava presents some sirnilarities, especially in whaL conccrns its rclationship to the sea, with lhe well-knowll ncanderlhalian site of Dcvil's Cave. Gibraltar. From ali data gathcred. Gruta da Figueira Brava seems to be richer thun the other mcntioned sitcs in POl-tugal. 80th large
(inclueling marine) anel small mammals, a rich birel association, rcptilcs anel amphibians. are well representcd. Unlike lhe rcmaining portllgllese sites,
26 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
6
'
2
~
(
<--
IJI,.J
'"'---;
N~
4 4 1 \o
u-~
f--ZI ,
1\
O.
«
--'1
/
\)
f--«
~
<D
•
/
•
9
'
)@~
o
~
z4
3
«
r
~
w uo
.
8
<-!
'
2~
-COLUMBE"
'
O""'O
IRA l - PED. DAS SALEMAS GR. DAS SALEMAS3
4- PEGO 00 DIABO3
•
(O Km~
5-flGUEIRA BRAVA7
.----'
FIG. 1 - Portugal - a Illap indicating lhe position of lhe concerned localities (Gruta ova da Coi um beira, Gruta das Salemas, Gruta da Figueira Brava) anel a Fcw olheI" more 01' less rclatcd sites.
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 27
data about marine l1loJluscs anel some other invertebrates is plentiful. Bane
implements are common, in association Wilh lurge Ilumbers of lithic ones
lhat correspond to a homogenolls. Iate MOllsLcrian association
a
r
denticu -lates and lTIuch less Jevallois scrapcrs lhan at ColUlllbeira. That is a con se-quenceDf
the worse quality of available raw materiais, nint being rare; mast ar lhe specimens were made 011 quartz, Icss in quurlzite, some even in lime -stone anel Aint. A neandertbalian pre-molar was FOllnd: it presents two seLS ar elsewhere unknowll, man-made incised striac produced post martem(wilh a cutting implement) anel after the corpsc was torl1 apart. This proce-dure is elsewhere unknowll. 14C dating is gooel anel has been corroborated by Urrh series. .
Much less call be saiel abour the Gruta elas Salcmas. Slraligraphy poses some probJems reJatecl to the gliding of scdimcnts along rissures. The lower leveis yie1e1ed SC3nt, atyp.ic lithic implclllcnts that have been tenlatively aseribeel to the Miclclle Palaeolithie. Evidcllce is ralher gooel for large
lllalllIllals but there is none as far as small Olles are concerned. Neverlhe1ess, the presence of a neanderthalian elecidual tooth in lhe lower part of lhe cave's in[illings anel the 14C dating af a somcwhat laler levei are very inte
r-esting.
Gruta Nova da Columbeira
ln the Serra da Cesareda, Upper Jurassic units occur in a large area. The main unit "Camadas de Alcobaça" comprises two I"ormations with
speeial interest, the "Calcários" ele Moleelo Fm" anel lhe overlying
"Reguengo Pequeno Fm". The "Calcários ele Moledo Fm" has been claled
Hypselocyclum - divisum Zone, Lower Kimmcridgian, by allllllonites: Orlhosphincles poligyralus (Rcillcekc), Phillopaclzyceras sp., Orlhosphi/1cles er. v(lI1delli (Choffat), Lilhacoceras subachiles (Wegcle), Alaxioceras discobohllll (Fontannes) anel A. guenlleri (Oppel) (sec KI illgel, 1991).
80th Formations llndenvent karstic erosion. Severa I caves reslllted, three of them 011 lhe Jeft slope of the Vale ;,,', de Frades. The cave kno",n as
Gruta Nova da Columbeira is situated at the uppermost part 01" lhe "Calc á-rios ele Moledo" Fm (Fig. 2 anel 3). Coordinates: 39° 18'
6
"
N, 9" II'58
"
W. The eleep Vale Rolo is a canyon. Its ca. 20 l1leters bailam is much belo", lhe highest surface, a platform at about 150 m. The \Vestern parl or Ihis plal -form is clearly dividedb
y
sllccessive marine leveis. Thc coastlinc was near until recent times. A I"ossil coastline is preserved alongo*
••
Calcários (in Portugucsc) "" limcslones. Vale (in POl"lugucsc) '" valley .
28 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
•
•
1
.·.
1
Arcnitosdc Bombarral•
•
~ Cakârios e arenitos•
E•
~ "-' argilosos de Miragaia ~•
[ ] Arcoses tk NadmJlC $•
03.
o•
~ê
D
ArgilasearenilOS .l: de Ca~telhanos[II]
Cabrias de Feitcira•
"
.
•
•
•
]'
D
Cab rios e arenitos]
.
·
~• • •
de Regucngo Pequeno ~~ • o • o•
••
• E...!:!•
• •
~ Cakârios de Moledo '-'" . <,."
•
•
•
••
~...:
"
• •
••
• -i~ ,"
•
•
•
•
•
•
§
Cakârios e arenitos"
•
•
·Val~ cov~ :5 de Regucngo Pequeno,
•
•
• •
••
•
o
s
oo
m
!}
I
v v vI
Margas de Dagorda1000 rn
fi Gruta / Falha / ' Falha supoSta / Limite geológico / Eslrada
FIG. 2 -Geologic map - Columbeira arca, showing Gruta Nova da Columbeira sile (Manllppella el aI., 1999, Carla Geológica de Portugal 1/50000, Folha 3D-A, Lourinhã (parl). The "Calcários de Moledo Fm" is exposed.
Gruta Nova da Columbeira "1 owes its na me to the fact that a few other caves were known in the same area since the last century. Its present entrance is located opposite of the cave's old one. It was exposed because of lhe limeslone exploration of its surroundings. Some rhinoceros teeth attracted attention. Excavations were carried out by Octávio da Veiga Ferreira (August-October 1962) in collaboration with G. Zbyszewski and J. Camarate França (Serviços Geológicos de Portugal), and with the help of Jorge de Almeida Monteiro, Vasco Cortes, Antero Furtado and António da Silva Maurício from the Museum of Bombarral.
The cave comprises three main sectors: a broad, progressively narrowel-entrance gallery; a rather highly vaulted chamber; a narrow gallery that ends in an entirely filled chimney in the cave's innermost part. The old entrance corresponds to this chimney and leads to the spacious chamber where most human occupation occurred (Ferreira, 1984).
The cavity became c10sed by the end of the Pleistocene; no later hllman or animal presence has been detected. It corresponds to a narrow, high, irregular gallery abollt 20 meters long, 3 to 4 meters broad and eG. 10 meters
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 29
high. It cOl1lainecl (Zbyszewski, 1963; Ferreira, 1966) a slIccession
lIl'
lavers frolll 10p to betlem (thickness in melers):C. I - Stalagmile levei (0.01-0.12):
C. 2 - browll. sOlTIcWhal ~andy breccia with Iimcslonc fragments anel COHen:-tions, animal bones anel charcoal (OAO);
C. 3 - lenticular deposits containing carbonate concn:lions anel animal I")()nc~ (0.10):
C. 4 - grey to brownish c!ayey I sanely sedimcnt~ with limesto!lt:': fragmcnt!o, uml carbonate concrclions, animal bones anel MOll~terian imptement:-. (0.30);
C. 5 - silty laver (0.02-0.03):
C. 6 - compacl breccia with many rock rlClgmenls, carbonalt'! concn.,tion-" banes, charcoal anel MOllslcrian implements (1.00);
FIG. 3 - View af lhe Vale Roto 01' Vale de Frades whcrc lhe Ribeira da Columheira nows. "Calcários de Moledo" Formation, Lo\\'er Kimmeridgian, uppennosl pan (passing into lhe "Reguengo Pequeno" Fmi Lower to Uppcr KiIl1I1lCI-iel -gian). Thc photo ha!) been laken rrom neal" lhe COl11l11bcira c:ross, 011 lhe Vale de Frades high\Vay beLwccn Bombarral anel Columbcira. The entrance 01 the Gruta Nova da Columbeira is scen to lhelert. lov.:er paI-I or lhe pholo; at lhe Cl!nter, lhe Lapa. do Suão (a Neolithic SilC. a hole o"erlain b~ umestorlL' b';tb) is shown. (Photo by G. Manllppclla).
10 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
C. 7 - brown-greyish, bone-rich s,lIldy layer wilh largc Ilumbers or MOllslcriall implcmcnts;
C. 8 - dark brO\Ul 10 black, more or less consolidaLcd soi! layer Wilh ccindcr accumulalions (0.30):
C. 9 - ~lalagmite (unstated thickncss);
C. 10 - vello\\ cla\'e.". stcl"ile saneis 011 lhe ca\'c's floor (ullslated Lhickncss). Most leveis \Vere separatecl bya thin, lenticulat laycr
or
stalagmite. Thatseems lo indicate sedimentation hiatLlses.
A more detailcd stratigraphic description was carried Qut by J. Roche and O. da Veiga Fcn'eira in 1971. They recognized 20 leveis lhal correspond lo lhe previously publishcd sedimenlalion evenls (San los, 1972, p. 16). Charcoal for 14C daling was collected betwccn 12 and 13 meters fram lhe entrance.
C. 8 corresponcls to the Illost illlportant human occupalion levei (Fer -r'eir'a, 1984) (Fig. 4). C. 8 yielded lhe maximulll concenlration of implem~nls
FIG. 4 -Gruta NO\'a da Columbcira site. Vie", or par1 01 the exca\'alions ln 1962,
sho\\ ing (aI lhe center) the nearh black deposils or C. 8. ln lhe foreground,
thcrc are parts or a slalagll1ile (C. 9) oveI' which a neanderthalian 1001h wa!) fOllnd. G. Zbys/.c\\'ski (straw hat) was insidc. (Photo by O. da Veiga Ferreira).
•
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS
1·9 - Ni\'caux moustél;ens;
8· Ni\'eau 'l.\"ec habil:'llS de I'hommc de Ne<lndenhal;
10 -5.'lbles .slérilcs de la ba:.c.
31
FIG. 5 -Gruta Nova da Columbeira, stratigraphic seclion (Zbyszcwski el ai., 1980-81,
profilll, p. 10).
(2433); C. 7 follo\Vs UI' \Vilh 1880 (Raposo & Cardoso, 1998). The maxil1lum
incidence
a
r
carnivorcs was recognized in C. 6, which is paar in herbivorolls mammals and induslries in comparison lO C. 7 and C. 8. We may conclllclelhat the vasl majorily of herbivores founcl in C. 7 and C. 8 is a conseqllence
of hunling.
14C daling of l\Vo human oceupalion leveis: C. 7, Gif 2703 sample, 26400 ± 750 BP; C. 8, Gi[ 2704,28900 ± 950 BP. Thesc place Gruta Nova da Colll
m-beira among lhe about lwo dozen sitcs in Portugal anel Southern Spain whcre lhe permanence of Neandcrthals and iVloustcrian industries until
c
a
.
(01' even afIeI') 30000 BP has been ascertained (Raposo & Cardoso, 1998). Thc industries (dcnticulates, Ilumcrous levallois scrapers) have becnexclusively ascribed lO lhe late MOLlslcrian. This anel lhe presence af a nea
n-derlhalian 100lh ai lhe 101' of C. 9 (in contacl WiLh C. 7 in a spol whcre C. 8 did not exiSI - Ferreira, 1966, 371) conlribuled lo Illake Grula Nova da Colulllbeira one of lhe reference localilies fOI' lhe sludy of lhe MOllsterian in the Iberian Peninsllla.
C. 6 and C. 8 yielded 255 idenlified Illammal rClllnanls (Cardoso, 1993).
Their associalion is similar to OlheI' late Würm ones from several lower alti -tude caves in lhe portuguese province ofEslremadura. The same association
suggesls temperale c1imale condi1ions, wilh some cold and dry seaSOns lhal
favoured lhe existence of Copra pyrenaica ~ Lhen a common species at lhe
32
+ + ,
,
'00MEMÓRlAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
+ + T T T + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + , 100010 + T + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + + N ~ Complclo IGhico l±..±J de lisbo~
t
D
Calcário com rudistas. • • indUlndoramadas• • com nrolobiles
I Neocretácio
I
Cenornaniano Sup.O
Calcáriost'Ma~I
A1biano(Bdasiaool Cenomaniaoo Mêdio
r'\:l Caldrios
I
Barrtmiano SlIp.~ de Almal]!em Aptiano
fi
Gnl1a limile Falha Falha suposta EstradaFIG. 6 - Geologic map - showing the site of Gruta das Salemas (Manuppella el ai.,
1999, Carta Geológica de POr/LIgai 1/50000, Folha 34-B, Loures (parl). The
upper Cenomanian limeslones are exposed.
Gruta das Salemas
At the eastern side of the Rio de Lousa valley (between Lousa and Ponte
de Lousa, about 24 kiJometers Northeast fram Lisbon), Ihere is a scarp made
up by Cenomanian (Upper Cretaceous), rudist-rich Jimestones (Berthou, 1973). The lowermost Upper Cenomanian is marked at its base by clayey, often nodular Iimestones with the 31llmonite Neolobites vibrayeanus, in aSSQ-ciation with gastropods (a few species of Nerinea), and foraminifers such as NUl1vnoloculinCl heimi, Praealveolina cretacea. tenuis. These nodular lime -stones are overlain by compacl Upper Cenomanian Iimestones with Rudists
(Berthou, t973, 46, 138). Studies on lhe microfaunas of c1ay and carbonate
beds allow a very fine datation.
Two caves exist near the summit of the scarp - A, the northermost one, and B. The former is located on top
D
f
the Middle Cenomanian beds. The B or Salemas cave (Fig. 6-9) is near the base of the Upper Cenomanian lime -stones. Coordinates: 38" 52' 38" N, 9" II' 58" W, altitude 250 meters.The Salemas cave resulted fram a vertical, broadened diaclase in
lhe Upper Cenomanian limestones. It is sinuous, about 30 meters long and ca. I meter wide. The cave was tOlally excavated by
o.
da Veiga Ferreira and J. Camarale França, wilh supporl fram G. Zbyszewski. The first of twoJ
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 33
campaigns was accomplished in November 1959, soon after a first prosp ec-tion by L. de Albuquerque e Castro. The second campaign took placc from
October to Decembcr 1960.
The stratigraphic succession (Roche & Ferreira, 1962) comprises, from
top to bOllom (Zbyszewski, 1963; FelTeira, 1964, 1966; Zbyszewski
el ai.,
1980-81), the fol.lowing "leveis" (thickncss in metel"S): I - Neolilhic dark greylblack soUs (0.50-1.00);
2 - grey soils (110t as clark as C. 1); thcre has been sediment mixture as a resull
of lhe development 01' a Neolithic necropolis. Only Lhe 4~5. 7-8 anel 10-11
seclions \Vere observed; Solulrcan (0.15 to 0.20);
3 - ycllow, somelimes bmwn 01' redclish soils, dcposited fram lhe entrance to
seclion 18; Pcligordian (average lhickncss 0.25; at section 9, 0.35; al sections
6 and 7, 0.10);
4 - "terra ros5a" aI lhe base of lhe fissure (iI was irnpossible to evaluaLc ilS
lhicJUlCSS), containing Jarge mammal remains anel a few alypical. maybe
Middle Palaeolithic arlifacts.
FIG. 7 -General view of lhe Rio de Lousa valley seen fmm near the Gruta das Salemas
(lhe cave is oul of sighl, lo lhe lefl, upper part of lhe Upper Ceoomanian
rudjsl limestones, at aboul 275 meters leveI). The Fontelas hiU, where lhe
Cenomanian is capped by lhe Lisbon-Mafra Volcanic Formation, can be seen
34 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LlSBOA
The onl)' part ar Lhe cave where the straLigraphic sllccession \\Ias
complete anel well preserved was between sections 7 anel 11 (Rache &
Ferreira, 1970): "levei" 4 corresponds to the C. 8 bed anel "levei" 3. to C. 7. The lowcrmost deposits are most illtcrcsting:
C. 7 - yellow-reddish soils wilh mcdiulll lo small, angular detrítical elcmcnts in largc numbcrs. ScdimcnlS clearl)' glidcd along fissures 011 lhe floor. This layer yielded a Fcw implcmcnts Ihal have been regarded as Perigordian (0.10 lo 0.35).
C. 8 - inside lhe fissures, there was a mixture of "terra rossa" anel browll, clayey soi!. Thcsc materiais apparcnlly glidccl alollg lhe fissures anel are pr ob-ably sedimcnts fTom lhe two leveis just abovc.
A more intense gliding of sedimenLs along Lhe vertical fissurcs thal affect the whole cave was obsen'ed at the bottom. The primitive RoOl' was enlircly covcl'cd (Roche & Ferreira, 1970, 264). These phenomena \Vere
FIG. 8 -Gruta das Salemas, entrance. O. da Veiga Ferreira (cenler), accompanied
by G. Zbyszewski (wilh ha!), showing the site to M. 1'. Antunes. (Photo J. L. Cardoso, 1987).
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 35
imporLanL enough to suggest Lhat most
01'
the basal deposits came fTomthe ouLside (Roche & Ferreira, 1970,266).
The scarce and atypical lithic implemeilts h'om "levei" 4 (= C. 8) have been tcntatively ascribed to the Middle Palaeolithic. Gliding of sedimenLs has noL been clearly observed here. Bed C. 8 (between the sectors 7 and 11) yielded a human decidual molar (Ferembach, 1962; Antunes
et ai.,
2000,lhis volume).
The C. 8 bed (TVb = Terras Vermelhas da base I Basal Red soils in English) was l4C dated, sample ICEN-379, 24 820 ± 550 BP (Antunes
el
ai.,
1989). This is apparently too late for the Mousterian and may justify some
reserve about the atypical implements (Cardoso, 1993,93; Cardoso, 1996). 1t is probable tha! lhe bone sam pies employed in l4C dating came from the outside; bones could have glided into the bOlIom of the cave during a certain
time span. The concerned dating may thus be somewhat late!" than the
lowermost C. 8 deposits.
FIG. 9 -Gruta das Salemas, between Lousa and Ponte de Lousa. General vic\v
showing lhe upper Cenomanian, more 01' less concretionat-e limeslonc::; and lhe enlrance of lhe cave. (Photo G. Manuppella, 1998).
36 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 37
,
,
,
"
"
SEFIG. 11 . Gruta das Salemas, straligraphic scction (Roche & Ferreira, 1970. Fig. 1) enlarged fmm the longitudinal profile (Zbysze",ski
e
/
ai.,
\980-8\, profil 1). Each scale is in meters.Gruta da Figueira Brava
The sile lmd its origin
The Gruta da Figueira Brava (Fig. 12-34) is one of lhe main P0I111g11ese late Mousterian siles. II yielded Portugal's dchesl evidence on marine fauna.
I! lies a Few meters Eram the sea anel less than 5 meters above lhe high lide
leveI at the southem slope of the Serra ela Arrábiela, west\Varels of the Creira
small fortress (Fig. 12 anel 17). Coorelinates: 3S" 2S' 23"N, SO 59' 42" W. A eletaileel geologic account is provieleel (Pais & Legoinha, 2000, Lhis
38 MEMÓRlAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
/'
/
=
J
PhocenrCO Areias feldspãtrcas de Fonte da Telha e de Coi na
~
Tortoniano
r
Depõsitos de Ribeira da Lage (Ml)
~
1.
Areias e margas de ata do AnJO (M ...!
..
Conglomerados de Guarda-Mor 1M, ... )r·'~
Arenitos e calcoarenrtos de, ..
"'~"
... , .. '
Pmhal!mE)
Serravahano-e Cast-elo d-e Palm-ela 1M",) -Langhiano
~
MloccnrCO Areias de Ota. da Tal/e
Burd.galiano
J
Calcarenilos e margas de FOl da Fonl!!~
e de Penedo Sul (Mil)
1
Argililos e margas de Aleitão (M.)AqUltaniano Calcários margosos de Palhavã
~
1
Calcários de Sra. das Necessidades
[E1J
Paleogénico
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 39
FIG. 12 -Geologic map - showing lhe site of Gruta da Figueira Brava (Manuppclla el ai., 1999, Carla Geológica de Porwgal1/50000, Folha 38-8, Setúbal (pari)). The 100ver Miocene (Burdigalian) biocalcarenites OUlcrop Wcst 01' (I-eira
(Fortaleza in the map), where Lhe Lapa de Sama Margmida anel lhe Gruta da Figueira Brava (:1:) de"cloppecl .
•
FIG. 13 - Entrance af Gruta da Figueira Brava and lhe 5-8 melers terrace covcrcd by a
conglomerate. Gn.na da Figueira Brava anel Lapa de Santa Margarida
(nearby) are two caves excavatcd in Lhe Miocene biocalcarcnites 01' lhe
Alpertllche-Creiro small fon outcrop. View from Lhe sea. (Photo: M. Tellc\
40 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
FIG. 14 -Gluta da Figueira Brava, entrance seen Erom the sea showing lhe enlarge
-menL of a main díaclase. At lhe lower part, lhe sea is excavaling Lhe Mioccne
biocalcarenites belo\\' lhe 5-8 melers lerrace surface (i.e .. Lhe levei of lhe floo!" ai lhe entrance). The 5-8 meters tCIT3CC was similarly excavalcd during lhe Tyrrhenian TIl cpisodc. luly 20th, 1989. \fie\\' from the sea. [Human
figure to the uppeI" right gives a scale].
..
FIG. 15 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - NortheaSlcrn foreground showing Lhe
Tyrrhcniall lU conglollléraLc 011 lhe 5-8 melers tCIT3ce surface. Seale:
1 meteI: July 20th, 1989.
Fie. 16 -Gruta da Figueira :Brava - The same as Fig. 15, dctail: rollcd cobblcs and boulders. mostly of Jurassic limcstollc:,> and dolomites. often much corrodcd.
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 41
Fig. 15
42 MEMÓRlAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊ CIAS DE LISBOA
Thc Gruta da Figueira Brava seems lo have resulted from two kinds
01'
phenomena: (a) karst erosion that broaelened vertical diaclases (especially
where they criss-cross) on Miocene biocalcareniles (Pais & Legoinha, 2000,
this volume), anel (b) marine abrasion during a Pleistocene event when the
sea levei was aboLll 5 meters above ltS present position. The lalter prevailed;
lhe effeels of the surf resulted into inlensive exeavalion Df lhe rocky coaSI, as
ii happens loelay ai a lower leveI. As loday, Ihere is a lendency to elevelop
some kind of sheller with an overhanging rooL A broael anel deep chamber
resulled, ils Aoor being a sorl of platform covereel by lhe marine, Tyrrhenian
111 conglomerale (5-8 melers levei terrace). As a consequence of the lowering of lhe sea levei until about - 60 melers, a game-,"ich littoral plain appeareel,
only lO be Aooeleel again in lhe Holocene. Much later, eliagenelic CaCO,
consolielaleel Ihc external pari of eolic sand infillings into a harel sanelstone
that blockeel lhe sheller and converted it into lhe extant cave.
FIG. 17 -The coasl $cen to NE rrom near lhe entrance to Gruta da Figueira Brava:
in lhe real" par( (aL Lhe celller) lhe (I"eira small fort, and (to lbe riglu) lhe Anixa islet.
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS
Previous re{erel1.ces, excavation Ctunpaiglls,
llckl'lo'llvledgelllel'lts, general data
43
The firsl "cference to the Figueira Brava eave is lhal by Breui! & Zbyszewski (1945, 326). AAer a seeond prospeclion (Silva & Soares, 1986),
excavaliol1 campaigns \vere carried 011
b
y
the Centro de Estratigrafia e Palco-biologia (Iater succeded by the Cenlro de Estudos Geológicos) of the Unive
r-sidade Nova de Lisboa under the Direction or M. Telles Antunes anel
lhe pa,-ticipalion of several persons, anel especially tha! or J. L. Cardoso:
Seplember 1986; Seplember 1987; April 1988; June 1988; June-JLdy 1989;
June 1990. Excavations \-Vere' clone wiLh the agl"eemenl af lhe Direcção-Geral de Minas anel lhe Instituto Português do Património CulLural, anel \ViLh parlial financial supporl of lhe Calousle Gulbenkian Foundation, and the Parque Natural da Arrábida. For a more detailed accounl, see Antunes (1991,
492-494,498-499).
The cave presents an entrance gallery (CD. 12 melers long) thal opcns
to the sea. This gallery communicales with a large interior rool11 (aboul 10 meters high). The nrsl researches were carried Qut in its weSlen1 part,
FIG. 18 -The coaSl seen LO the SW rrom near lhe entrance 1.0 lhe Gruta da Figueira
Brava (where pcople stand). The 5-8 Illeters terrace (Tyn-henian lU) rcmains and conglolllerate are well cxposed. April 1988.
44 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMJA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
FIG. 19 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - The entrance, sieving activity. To the right, a red
Mousterian "breccia" rich in iron oxides is apparent. It has been converted
inta hard stone by CaC03 diagenesis, and adheres to the Miocene
biocal-careniles. April, 1988.
FIG. 20 -GI-ula da Figueira Brava - Entrance to the main room. April, 1988.
FIG. 21 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - Main room (part) and its entrance. The first
prospections were carried out OTI the unconsolidated brown/reddish sands to
CLASSE DE CIÊNCLAS 45
Fig. 20
46 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA , ,
(
,
~
,
-
,I
-
,.I
i
vt
·
.:"'""'.
,I "..
FIG. 22 -GrULa da Figueira Brava - Main room, righl (NE) parl; staJacliLes, slala
g-miles and lhe enlrance Df lhe gaLlery. Sept:elllbel~ 1987.
\vhere the lack of stalagmite cover rendered the excavation af unconsoli
-elatecl saneis easier until the rocky bottom. Tn [his particular spot there was
no conglomerate. A rectangle af j by 2 meters \.vaS selected. Lithic imple
-ments anel abllndant microfauna\ remains were collected.
Prospection anel excavation went 011 in an easten1, progressively narrower gallery. A thick stalagmite caver suggested the preservation af
intact deposits undcr it. This gallery became the main excavation ground for collecting materiaIs and stratigraphic observations, especially 011 the vertical section cul on its southern side.
As the excavalion \vent on, it became c1ear that this gallery is but the inner part of an extensive space that v/as formerly open to the outside. As of no\v, a wall of partIy stalagnlite-sealed, carbonate-consolidated sediments isolates it up until the mar. The eastern part of the gallery becames so narrow lhat it is nearly impossible to enter a still unexplored eastern room. The excavaLion rTont was ca. 5 meters long; ii was explored from 1 to
CLASSE DE Cl ÊNCIAS -17
of sedimcnts was extracted. Ali were sieved (5 mm sicve) at lhe cave
entrance, most of the fineI' parl being washed anel sicved (0.5 mm sicvc) later at the Faculdade de Ciências e Tecnologia Earlh Sciences laboralorv. Microvertebrate rcmnants were faunel in abundancc. Many large mammaJ
bones allCl teeth "'ere collected. The former had been broken for exlraclion
of the marro\.v. The Palaeo1ithic faunal remnants presenteei a strong patina
anel adherent sanei grains. Some coprolithes \Vere rounel, as wel! as onc
neanderthalian looth, along with a very rich association
ar
birds and reptiles, numerous sheLls, redeposited fossils, lithic and bone impleme11ls,and (in C. 3) fired stones, ashes, charcoal and othel; undeterminated organic
matters.
FIG. 23 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - The gallery entrance showing stalaCliLcs and lhe
importam slalagmiLe co\'cr Ihal seals lhe oldcl~ Middle Palaeolithic (Iate
Mouslerian) scdiments under explor-alion_ l_ L Cardoso (Iert), Picn-e Mein (Univcn,ité Lyon 1) and Maric-Thérese Mein. July 20th, 1989.
48 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
'
-.
,-
--FIG. 24 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - Early excavalions at lhe gallery (Seplember, 1987); parl af the stalagmite cover had been removed, allowing lhe expl o-ralion
ar
lhe underlying mobile sands. No recent stirring IIp occurred. [Helena L. T. Antunes in lhe picture).FIG. 25 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - Early excavations ai lhe gallery near ils entrance (September, 1987); mobile sediments under the stalagmite cover had panly been removed. Note (to lhe right or lhe scale) two downward pointed stalag
-mite cones lha! remained exposed after enclosing sands \Vere removed. They may correspond lo carbonate infil1ings af lhe bonam of roman amphorae p,-eviously slicked into lhe 0001' (a common practice by then). Scale: 1 meter. FIG. 26 - Gruta da Figueira Brava - Early excavations in lhe gallery (Seplember,
1987), near lhe entrance; delai! showing mueh broken large mammal bone
(probably
r
rom 80S prillIigel1ius) nexl to a quartz cobble that may have been lIsed as a hammer. Also apparent is a section of a downward pointed cone sealed by stalagmite. Scale: benl in 0.5 meler halves.CLASSE DE CLÊNCJAS 49
Fig. 25
Fig. 26
50 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LlSBOA
FIG. 27 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - Gencl'al aspect by lhe end af excavaLions (July
20th, 1989). NortheaSICr"n end af lhe excavations showing (to the lcft) tl1c
narrowing gallery that communicalcs wilh a slill unexplored room. A sedi
-mentary seclion testimony was Icft, showing lhe beds under lhe stalagrnite
ceveI' referrcd to as C. 1 (see Fig. 34): C. 2, fossil-rich sands with numerQlI$ Late MOllslerian lithic (anel bone) implements; lhe surface has been irr
egu-larly stirred up by walking 011 and lhe sLicking of roman amphorae [Pala
e-oliLhic material is sLrongly patined, whcreas lhe scant modern faunal anel
amphorae fragments are nearly \vitholll patina]; C. 3, darker layer with ashes, fired slones. less fauna anel implemems of lhe same type; C. 4, basal
PalaeoliLhic deposits thal overlie Lhe Tyrrhenian
ln
conglomera te.FIG. 28 . Gruta da Figueira Brava - View of lhe main, ± southern front by the end or
excavaLions (July 20th, 1989). The top of lhe conglomcraLe (C. 5 bed) is evident undcr Lhe sedimenLary testimony. The upper part shows some stin-ed
up and (Iater on) more consolidated sediments covel"ed by sLalagmite layers.
Scale (upright part), 0.6 n1eters.
FIG. 29 -Gruta da Figueira BI"ava - View of lhe main front by Lhe end of excavalions (lu1y 20th, 1989). DetaiJ showing beds C. 2 (including upper, more carbon -aled stirred up sedimenls), C. 3 (darker), and C. 4 (bottom). Scale minimal divisions, 1 centimeter.
CLASSE DE CJÊNCIAS 51
Fig. 28
52 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
FIG. 30 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - A straligraphic detail (April 1988). The succession
or beds C. 2 to C. 4 is evidenl in between the stalagmite cover and the Tyrrhenian III conglomerate CC. 5), of which some boulders are exposed. Scale, 0.8 meters.
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 53 , ,
.
• ,',.
"-"
'\ '.
•
",
,.
: , , ,.,
. • , ,,
.
,ll
:
,
Frc. 31 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - A stratigraphic detail by lhe end af excavalions (July 20th, 1989): upper parI or lhe succession, bed C. 2 and the stalagmite
cover, showing 3 (or 4) formalion events. Scale minimal divisions,
54 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
,.
/
--
---FIG. 32 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - View of lhe excavated parl near U1C entrance
or
Lhe gallery by lhe end of excavations (July 20th, 1989). The remaining parl orthe stalagmilc CQver anel lhe excavated space can be secn. Scale: 1 x I metei-s.
FIG. 33 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - Pierre Mein (Lyon 1 University) at lhe gallery entrance, July 20th, 1989.
CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 55
S
trati
g
rap"
y
of
tIr
e
Qrwt
e
rrrll1
)
'
d
e
p
osi
t
s
Stratigraphic sections (for the geologic rraming Miocene biocalcaren
-ites
sec
Pais & Legoinha, 2000, this volume) ",er'e described by Antunes amlCardoso (Antunes, 1991, 497, Fig. l) (Fig. 34). The follo",ing QlIaternarv
deposits ",ere observed rrom top to bottom (thickness as a ",hole does not exceed 1 m; measurements in nlcters):
C. 1 - whilish stalagmite Jayers, conlaining sealll fragn"lCnlS Df Roman
amphorae, anel white, withouL patina dOlllcslic animais (Ovis), rabbiL anel small mammal, bird, replilc 3ml marine fish rcml1anLs - Holoccllc (0.15 111, variablc).
C. 2 - Illoderate lo light browll rossil·rich saneis, evenlually consolidatcd by CaCO]. The Moustcrian sands are disturbed in some spots by mixing wirh
more recelll materiais (0.80 111, variable).
C. 3 - is lhe darkest sanei)' bcd, modcralc browl1 (WCI, chy), then grey lo black (0.25 111). 1t yielded \/el)' scarcc faunal rcmains, some Iilhic material anel carbonaceolls matlers. Thcre is evidcncc or rire struclures, inclllding fired, more 01' less ruberaCled pcbblcs aml cobbles.
C. 4 - sands lhat are moderale brown 01' modcralc ycllowish brown in lhe upper pari and in lhe lower parl dark ycIlowish brown 01' pale yellowish brown, somclillles darker (inside lhe cave); in lhe cXlcriol~ pale yellowish browll 01' greyish orange (lllaXinUIIl1, 0.10 Ill).
c.
5 - lhe Illarinc conglomerale Ihat ovcrlics lhe 1\11 ioccnc slIbslractulll. It ismosll)' composcd of Jurassic calcareolls 01' dolomitic cobblcs and baul· ders (somc of quartz anel quartzite). These are orten vcr)' much corroded and many limes exceeding 0.20111 in size (thickncss. 0.20 m).
ln the upper part oF C. 2 there is some distllrbance of seclimcnts, prob-ably related to human activitics, including as for olher beds ancienl walking on anel excavating (and Illuch later sticking of roman ampharae inta lhe
Aoor). Amphorae rTagments \Vere indeed collected in superficial part of C. 2.
Prevailing pleistocene scdimenls are mixed with some Holocene materiais,
including marine bird bones. Most of the layer is made up of unelisturbcel pleistocene saneis ri eh in fauna] remnants anel late M.ousterian illlplernents. C. 2 has reslllted rTom the sedimentation of fine, sub-horizontal eolic sands added lo hllman food garbage, implcments, and quartz pebbles (1110S[ prob -ably transportcd
b
y
man as raw material for implement producing). BcclsC.3 and C. 4, with ashes anel carbonaceolls maUers, point out to Eiring in the sheltcr space inside anel outsiele the prcsenl gallery. The conglolllcrate can be correlated lO the transgression event that look place in lhe bcginning or the
\,V(irm glaciation anel originated lhe 5-8 mctcrs tcrraees that are well rcpr
c-sented near Arrábida (Zbysze",ski & Teixeira, 1949; Antunes, 1991; Cardoso, 1994).
56 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA A II .. 20-15''''
,
® - A",.,r~.,,, f""' . ..w.l. r-t; .... ~= O " .... "'~ .. t.60 ... .h .,d, .. ..I .. .L.1"t..,," (.,..,.... .I,. 2. «<tc..) A. Garro< !"'~wJ,.,..t \ E"Su.!o. 5 _ " f;' .. ~< .... "l... \. 2Q . 'K)' <lor
.
.;k~!r;fRUTA M o=iG!>~iBA HSfNA ( As.,.(p'l>""
k"".Jã:,.. ... .lõ J •... 1:.;;~~ .. <>6 .. J".L.c", • .d""" ... 3Q.t-.1....198~
FIG. 34 -Gruta da Figueira Brava - Stratigraphic seclions in Lhe excavated gallery (Antunes, 1991, Fig. 1). [x in a ciJ'cle - sam pies for palynologic analyses (ali negative). Zero (starting point of lhe two sections) is at 2.60 meters fram the
gaLlery entrance. A - longitudinal section, B - transverse (90 degrees Eram A) section]. By M. Telles Antunes anel J. L Cardoso, June 30th, 1989; Antunes, 1991,497, Fig.l.
The se
di
ments
a) Grain types
Most of the chamber was filled by sands whose primary origin is diverse
(sedimentologic study made in part by Lisa Sheils, 1991). The majority of the sand sediments does not have a conunon original substrate. The most significant action seems to have been the transporl by wind; this int er-pretation is enhanced by the presence of well rounded grains with numerous pit markings covering their sUl-face. Most of the grains are classified into
"Well pitted" and "Moderately pitted", features lhal directly refer to the
effect of wind transport on grain surfaces. The sea swept out any ancient dunes, bul iI is nearly certain that dunes existed in lhe then existing broad
Iittoral plain.
Olher grain types are frequento Some are "very angular" and "discoidal"; rounded sediments may have been subjected to breakage and fracturing.
CLASSE DE CIÊNClAS 57
This "bJ-eaking" process may have occurred because of the intcnsity of the
rnode af transportalion 01' it may indicate hUll1an activity to some extent.
Other evidencc (sec discussion in Antunes, fauDal syntbesis, this volume.
especially for evidence concerning bats) indicales intcnsive tt"ampling and olheI' human aClivilics 011 the spot. Tbe hypothesis of grain breaking, orlen
rclatcd to glacial environments, seems less probablc; therc is no other
palaeoenvironmental evidence to corroborate it.
b) Sorling
Ali leveis wilhin lhe cave's straligraph)'
Cc.
4 and C. 3), inclueling lhe exterior parts, are "exlremely poorly sorteei", "negativei)' ske",cel" anel "Ieptokurtic". Onl)' C. 2 is "poorly sorleel". The extremei)' poorly sorted leveis(and perhaps the attenuatcd C. 2 situ3tion) may also indicate human activity
anel its effect an sedimcnts
b
y
causing some disturbance anel mixing.Evielencc inelicales a mixeel uI', if not chaolic sediment population. Much of the seeliments appem· 10 have been transported by wincl oveI' a shorl time perioel, lhereb)' nol loosing their original features. Mosl or lhe se
eli-menls have been re\\'orked 01' modified
b
y
acoLian acUon.c) Colour
Another interesting point is colour. From the upper pari of the secl i-ments under the stalagmite cover to the bottom of the posl-conglomerate
sllcccssion:
- levei C. 2 is SYR 4/4 moderalc brown (wel) anel 5YR 5/6 lighl broll'n (dry);
- levei C. 3 is the darkcSL - 5YR 3/4 moderate brown (wet) 01' SYR 4/4 moderaLc brown (dry), then grey or cvcn black - IhaL may bc duc to lhe
aceu-mulaüon oE ashes anel charcoal rcsuhing fTom human occupat-ion;
- levei C. 4 varies in lhe interior af lhe C3\le - lhe UppCI' parI is SYR 4/4 1ll0deraLc brown. (wet) 01' IOYR 5/4 moderare yellowish browll (di)'), lhe lowcr
parI is IOYR 4/2 dark yellowish brown (wel) or IOYR 6/2 pale
yellowish browll (dry), [11 the exterior of lhe cave, 10YR 6/2 pale
)'ellowish broll'n (wel) Dr I OYR 7/4 greyjsb orange (dl-Y).
Conditions \Vere very oxidating, but that tendency decreases as wc
move up througb lhe slraligraphic column (colour üghts gradual I)'). Orange
and yellowish colours are related to oxidation thal eliminated much organic
malter anel lo lhe accumulation of iron oxide. The accumulatioll of imo oxide ma)' bc lhe result of the cUl1lulative effect of exposure and denudative
58 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE USBOA
d) Dl'ganie matter
Organic matter was analysed. The organic content (%) IS as follows: - C.2, LII;
- C. 3, 0.79;
- C. 4 interior upper part, 0.36; - C. 4 inlerior lower part, 0.42; - C. 4 exterior, 3.35.
Except for a somcwhal larger accumulation at the exterior (maybc bccause
Df
later accuITIulation), it is obvious that (a) the content is alwaysvery low, (b) % values c1ecrease fram top to batiam of the pre-stalagmite scdimcnts. This situation is probably related to oxidizing conditions anel dry, exposed accumulation. The absence af pollen anel spores corroborates this.
The loss of organic malter has also been c1etectecl in the bane sampJes
used for 14C dating; it was impossiblc to obtain lhe needed minimal amounts of collagen requirecl for accelerating techniques at Granjngen.
Uncletermi-nated organic matters ma)' be burnt animal fat (M. Lemos de Sousa,
personnal communication) and what seems to be small fTagments DF resino
At leasl the lalter Illay have been usecl by neanclerthals for light.
The dry environment and scant waler circulation prevented lhe
accu-mulation Df Uranium; U/Th-series dating was consequently difficult. The
cross-cxalllination of the various results seellls to be in dose agreernent.
e) Calcium carbonate
No clear pattern 01' trenel in the CaCO) % was detected:
- C. 2, 39.19;
- C. 3, 18.52;
- C. 4 intcl"ior uppcr pan, 35.66;
- C. 4 imerior lowcr parl, 19.35;
- C. 4 exterior, 8.45.
The situation is uncleal~ especially becallse severa I Factors lo be laken
into account acteel in proportions lhat cannot be estimated: (a) the circ
llla-tion oF carbonate contribllted by the overlying Miocene rocks, which ITIay
account for the fonnation of stalagmites as ",ell as for the highest content of
carbonates in C. 2, lhe becl that Iies jusl unclel; eb) carbonates fram other
sources, including mollllsc shells, may have been chemically altereel anel
ulllula-CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 59
lion in C. 2, anel (c) conll-ibulions from lhe carbonale rock pebbles anel cobbles from lhe undedying terrace.
Ali
wc can think is Ihal lhe ralher highC. 3 content results in pari rrolll lhe burning af carbonate-containing
matters, anel lhat a pal"l of lhe CaCO) conlcnl may have been 10sI whcn
cxposccl to external condilions; Lhe rocks are sOll1ctimcs rcached
b
y
\\lavesand always
by
sall \Valer pal"lides.Thc conlribulion of cal-bonale from lhe overlying, sloping Miocene
rocks \\Ias transportcd
b
y
clescending waters (as showllby
stalactite anelstalaglllite formation) anel I"esultccl into lhe conversion of lhe depositcd
l
oose
saneis into a harel. cohcrcllt ~-ock wilh IVlollsterian implcmcnLs. This process
was most important in dogging lhe former
Neandc
rth
a
l
sheltcr inlO lheprcsent cave.
Dati
ll
g
Dating is available for bed C. 2 (thal yiclclecl a neanclerthalian toolh)
(Tablcs I anel 2, Fig. 35).
I4C
dating has nol becn oblainecl fTom bones.Ali
lhe samples lhal\Vere Ircatecl proved lo be lInsllilable as lhey hacl lost nearly ali thc collagen. This difficlllty was ovcrcomc by lIsing Neanclerlhalian-colleclecl
Pal
e
lla
shells. Thc choosing of shells IVas carcfully macle; lhe scJcclccl ones
C AR Presem lime 40 30 20 10 O
____
-'-
___
-,r+-
____
-'-__
___
'-
____
.LC103 81) year~) A R sumple__________________
_
_________
A
),,~CE '387
--- --- R)
1'"
"11,,
shcll~ C smnple ICEN 386 (inlcrmedialC fraclion----
c
Uscrics 232 E I samplcFIG. 35 - I~C anel U sedes daling fmm Figueira Brava (bcd C. 2): dates anel spans
60 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
TABLE I
Figueira Brava, Bcd C. 2, 14C dating on Palellll shclls (Late Mousterian)
ICEN 387: 30930 ± 700 BP
ICEN 386: 30050 ± 550 BP (statistically idcntical, interrnediate fraction)
ICEN -Instituto de Ciências c Engenharia Nucleares (INETI), Sacavém, POl"lugal.
By J. M. Peixoto Cabral aml A. Monge Soares.
TABLE 2
Figueira Brava, Bed C. 2, U series dating on Cervas ela/J/llIs leeth (Late Mousterian)
Samples Am. 232 EI Am. 233 E2
U chemical yield (%) 55.83 17.82
0 . 0 . . . ... . ... .. .. ... ...
Th chcmical yield (%) 36.2 I 15.98
, ... -... ... ... . .. ... ... ... ... . ...
Inferred sam pie age (years) 30561 44806 Unreliable age
.. .. .. .. .. . . . .. ... .. . ... ...
Upper age erro r (years) I 1759 15889 " erro!'
... ... -- -.. -... -.... ... .... .... ... ... ... . ... . .... ... _ .. _ ...
Lower age error (years) 10725 13958 " error
The Southem Methodist Univcrsity, Dallas, USA. By A. Marks.
presented the same grade of fossilization and patina, much different
fram the rare modern sheJls [Tom the disturbed upper part of C. 2.
Results (Table I) \Vere regarded as trustworlhy, especiaJly because only lhe
inner part of lhe sheJls was used (Antunes
e
l aI.,
1989). Furlhermore,u
c
andISO lenors indicate that no conlaminalion occurred. The dating may appear
as somewhat older than lhe real age because of the shells inleraction with a dirferent, non quanlified geochemical reservoir: the sea.
The only Th/U dating that was obtained Erom red deer
(C
e
"
,,
/
s e
/a
p
"
us)
tcelh (Table 2), though less accurate, is compatible wilh 14C daling (Antunes,CLASSE DE CIÊNCIAS 61
Discussion llnd
cross-infonllatioll\Vi/h
ollzer
data
Most sediments have been blown by lhe \Vinci, even ir some redeposited
grains show traces of prcviolls lransporL anel abraslon. These grains \Vere
taken from lhe Miocene bioca1carenites, that \Vere also a source af quarlz
pebbles. These characteristics and lhe scarcity or absence of freshwater dwellcrs likc most amphibians (Crespo el a/., 2000, this volume), the pond torloise EII/)'s (de Lapparent-de Broin & Antunes, 2000, this volume), and II/vico/a (Jeannet, 2000, this volume) (sec Antunes, 2000 - faunal synlhesis,
this volume) show that there was practically no sediment transportation by freshwaters. The minorily of birds thal could frequent or breed near fresh -walers (nearly ali edible ducks) (Mourer, 2000, this volume), may have been
brought in by mano There is no evidence of a river close by. Thc sea may have
been a1 a lower levei a few kilometers 3way provicling large quantities Df
marine molluscs and crabs.
On the other hand, descending waters lhal passed through calcareolls
rocks have contributed to diagenetic consolidalion of the sands and lO moderale stalactite/stalagmite genesis.
The lithic implements are homogenolls; this justificd their study as a
whole (Cardoso & Raposo, 1995; Raposo & Cardoso, 2000, this volume) and
seems to indicate a rather limitcd span for lhe late M.ollsterian occllpation. When temporarily abandoned by man, lhe shclter ma)' have been fl·equented by predators such as cave hyenas (Ihat probably are the origin or some coprolithes) anél panthel; as well as by bals (Mein & Antunes, 2000, and Antunes, 2000 - faunal synthesis, both this volume).
The late Mousterian occupation of Arrábida's southern Iimb is related to IittOl·al, mostly eolic sedimentation on conglomerates thal had been deposited on the 5-8 meters terrace. The succession of terrace leveis is particlllarly well exposed at Arrábida's sOllthern limb in its westcrnmost
coast (Forte da Baralha) (Fig. 36-37). This surface was frequented by Nean -derthalians. There they dwelled in an clevaled position on a game-rich
coaslal plain (no\\l underwater) - a situation that may be brieAy illustrated
(Fig. 38-40).
Acknowledgements
Thanks are due to ollr Colleaguc Giuseppe Manllppclla, who kindly suplied
much information on lhe geological framing of Gruta Nova da Columbeira and
62 MEMÓRIAS DA ACADEMlA DAS CTÊNClAS DE LISBOA
Fig. 36
CE FE NSC
CLASSE DE ClÊNC1AS 63
FJG. 36 -The sOllthern coast ar lhe Anábida chain (\Vestern part) seen from Serra do
Burgau. view up to Forte da Baralha anel Cabo [= cape] EspicheI. (Photo M. T. Antunes, 1988.) Thi. parl of the littoral, 15 to 20 kilometcrs WSW
from lhe Gruta da Figueira Brava, sbows several Quatemary marine a
bra-sion surfaces. They are weslwards tihed, especially lhe hjghesl ones, anel
have been ClIl on Jurassic limcslones and dolomites: (a) lhe Cabo platform,
ca. 75 LO 1l100'C lhan 110 mclers high. assigned by aulhors to the Sicilian T;
(b) the "cabeços" [~hills]level, CC/. 45 lo 90-100 melers levei, Sicilian II; (c)
the main leveI. abOli! 30 to 40-50 mClel'S, auaining 60 LO 70 metcl'S to lhe
Easl, Tyn:heniao I; Cd) lhe !iuoral levei! ca. 15 meters (in general) hUI
attaining 25 lo 30 meters in this aJ'ca, Tyn-henian 11; (e) lhe 10wennosI
ten:ace at Figueira Brava's levei (5 lO 8 meters), Tyrrhenian UI. Sce
Zbyszewski in Ribei.ro el ai. (1979); Daveau & Azevedo (1980-81).
FIG. 37 -The same, explicative sketch (by M. T. Antunes) .
..
FIG. 38 - Palaeogeographic sketch of lhe western and soulhern arcas of _Porlugal aL
lhe time of lhe late MOUSleri,an occupaLion of lhe Gruta da Figueira Brava.
when lhe sea levei was about - 60 melers below its presenl position. A broad
64 MEMÓRlAS DA ACADEMIA DAS CIÊNCIAS DE LISBOA
FIG. 39 -East\vards view from the Figueira Brava area (environmenl reconslruction)
to show the present Anixa islet, a Man/tnulhus pri/'nigenius (mammoth),
Capra pyrenaica (foreground) anel a female 80S primigcnius. (Detail af a
drawing by Martins Barata aEter a sketch by M. T. Antunes.)
FIG. 40 -The sarne: a neandel,thalian man watches one (black) Bos primigenius male
,
CLASSE DE CIÊiNCIAS 65
Referenccs
ANTUNES, M. T. (1991) - O Homem da gnlta da Figueira Bl'ava (C(I. 30 000 BP). Contexto
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AN'I UNES. 1'\'1. T. (2000) - The Plcisloccne rauna from Gruta da Figueira Brava: a synlhcsis. 1\llemórias da Academia das CiÊllcias de Lisboa, Classe de Ciêllcias, XXXVlll: 259-282,
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