Taphonomy of level J of Abric Romaní

Abstract

The taphonomic study of level J (sublevels Ja and Jb) includes macrovertebrates, microvertebrates, wood and charcoal. The association of level J has, in general, a good state of conservation, although there are several taphonomic modifications. No mechanisms or taphonomic processes which may have distorted any of these associations have been detected. This study shows how Neanderthals were the main collecting agent of animals and wood and the main agent of modification. Moreover, the water activity (water flow, dry periods and reactivitation) were the main postdepositional agent. The burial of the remains was probably relatively fast in both sublevels. There are abundant similarities in the temporary sequences of formation in both sublevels. The fossilization process of level J is consistent with a karst taphosystem in a travertine deposit. The main feature of this taphosystem is a microenvironment characterized by a relative humid environment, marked by wet conditions and reactivations of water flows. Once the remains were buried, the fossildiagenetic phase was tremendously preservative and allowed the exceptional conservation of the remains found at the site.