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| 143 | T his chapter presents the preliminary results of phytolith analyses of three samples from two of the Holocene levels of El Mirón Cave. due to the small size and stratigraphically incomplete nature of the overall Holocene sample, this study can only provide an idea about the potential of the post-Paleolithic strata for yielded evidence on recent vegetation and human gathering thereof in the vicinity of the site. Nevertheless, it does provide valuable information on the preservation of this kind of plant macrofossil, and it permits us to suggest specific hypotheses concerning their anthropic origin within the cave. Future comparative analyses of the phytoliths in the Upper Paleolithic and postPaleolithic levels will allow us to explore the possibility of an intensification in the consumption of wild plant foods in the Mesolithic, as well as the beginnings of agriculture in the Cantabrian region (see Kubiak-Martens 1996, 2002; Zapata 2000; Zvelebil 1994). The analysis of phytoliths, as explained in detail by Piperno (2006), provides archaeological research with many advantages in terms of the study of past environments and human activities (including construction, consumption, and subsistence) (Zurro 2006). First, it permits the detection of the presence of remains derived from the consumption of plants, independent of the action of fire on the original vegetal material. Second, it allows for the identification of plant parts beyond seeds, fruits, or wood, and it has demonstrated that phytoliths maintain a high level of survival in many different sedimentary contexts. materials and methods In the case of the present trial analysis conducted with sediments from El Mirón Cave, we wished to pursue several objectives, for which reason we took sediment samples from the two main excavation areas that were open during the summer excavation season of 2002. On the one hand, we sought to explore the possibilities of doing phytolith analysis in the humid, temperate but seasonal climate of the Atlantic Cantabrian region, in a cave site with a long record straddling the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary. This ChAPter nine Analysis of Phytoliths from holocene levels of el mirón Cave Débora Zurro Translated by Lawrence Guy Straus | 144 | Chapter Nine results As could be expected in levels that are not very old, the phytoliths are well preserved. The percentages of physically damaged specimens (i.e., those that are physically degraded by breakage or surface erosion) or chemically damaged (i.e., partially dissolved) ones or those that are otherwise unidentifiable are all low in relation to those that could be identified. damaged phytoliths are no more than 5–6 percent and unidentifiable ones range between 3 and 10 percent (figure 9.1). The majority of the identified phytoliths pertain to the grasses (especially short cells) (table 9.1, figure 9.2). The samples are apparently relatively rich in vegetal material, with four silicate skeletons being identifiable in the first of the samples (06/302/9–59).3 The presence of silicate skeletons has generally been interpreted as indicative of very stable preservation conditions. In all three analyzed samples there is a clear predominance of grass phytoliths, especially short cells, as noted above. These are followed by long cells (present in stems and leaves of grasses). Phytoliths of dicotyledons are very scarce, although one must keep in mind the low degree of silicification characteristic of these plants (Piperno 2006). In the case of sample 06d/304/10–63, there is a noteworthy presence of five dendritic phytoliths (these being included in the final count of 108 long cells that correspond to the 26 percent given in table 9.1). despite their small quantity relative to the total number of phytoliths in this group and even more so relative to the total of 400 counted phytoliths, the identification of dendritic morphotypes is of great importance because they correspond specifically to the cereal inflorescences (spikes, presumably of wild grasses). It is also interesting to note that sample 06a/302/59– 98 displays greater variability than the other two. This could indicate a greater original variety of plant materials in this particular spit within pit 98a than in the other Neolithic/Chalcolithic level or the Mesolithic one. The pit could have been used as a dumping place for residues of plant food consumption or of manufacturing activities involving plant matter. despite the scarcity of samples from the Holocene levels, the preliminary analyses reveal the presence of plant materials not visible without the use of the proper experiment might require modifications in the standard protocol of processing, slide...

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