A ocupação do Vale do Côa pelo homem de Neandertal: o Sítio Arqueológico da Cardina Salto Do Boi (Vila Nova De Foz Côa, Portugal) como caso de estudo

Abstract

The techno-typological characterization of the lithic industries from trenches H, Z, and N (18 m²) from the Cardina-Salto do Boi archaeological site, in the Côa River valley, combined with the study of the lithic resource management, made it possible to identify three Middle Palaeolithic occupations, dating from (1) ca. 155 ka BP to ca. 80 ka BP, (2) ca. 80 ka BP to 51 ka BP, and (3) 51 ka BP to 39 ka BP. It also allowed the recognition of a succession of Upper Paleolithic occupations, after 34 ka BP, stratigraphically overlapping those from the Middle Paleolithic, as well as a mixture of lithic artifacts from both periods in stratigraphic units of the Z and N trenches, dated to the interval between 39 ka BP and 34 ka BP. Since the Cardina-Salto do Boi archaeological site is, to date, the only one in the Côa Valley with a succession of occupations ranging from MIS 6 (ca. 190 ka BP to ca. 140 ka BP) to MIS 1 (11.7 ka BP to the present), its study proves to be of utmost importance, as it contributes to the understanding of the strategies for exploring the territory carried out by the Neanderthals and Anatomically Modern Humans.