Cova Foradà (or Cova Foradada)[1] is an archaeological site consisting of a cave with remains of Neanderthals near Oliva, in the Province of Valencia, Spain.[2] The most complete skeleton of a Neanderthal ever found on the Iberian peninsula was found there in 2010. One of the Neanderthals whose remains were found in the cave used a toothpick to alleviate pain in his teeth caused by periodontal disease and dental wear.[citation needed]
| Region | Province of Valencia |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 38°52′59″N 0°05′27″W / 38.8831°N 0.0907°W |
| Type | Intermittent settlement |
| History | |
| Periods | Middle Paleolithic – Bronze Age |
Location and description
editThe karst cave is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of the village of Oliva,[3] at 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) from the coast of the Mediterranean, and archaeological excavations have taken place since 1977.[4] The cave is found in a low hill, one of a group of hills called the Muntanyetes de Oliva, the last part of the Serra de Mustalla before the floodplain that ends at the coast.[5] It has been occupied since the Middle Paleolithic, including in the Mousterian and Mesolithic periods, and in the Bronze Age.[2] Its environment was rich and varied, with mountains on one side and lagoons on the other.[3]
Archaeological finds
editA maxilla (almost complete, with a number of teeth), a molar, a fibula, and four fragments of a cranium belonging to two humans were found between 2000 and 2003, in what appeared to be a layer from the Mousterian. All fragments except for the molar were from an adult, who died at between 35 and 45 years old; the molar was from a child of around 2.5 years old. The maxilla showed periodontal disease and heavy dental wear, which must have caused considerable pain; there was a significant gap (8.05 mm for the canine) between the teeth and the alveolar bone. The person attempted to alleviate the discomfort with a toothpick, as evidenced by two grooves on the distal surface of two of the remaining teeth: "the habit of using a tool to pick the teeth may be considered early evidence of medical treatment to alleviate sore gums".[2]
In 2010, in further excavations on the same spot where the maxilla was found, an almost complete skeleton of a Neanderthal was found, the most complete skeleton (with the bones still attached to the spine) ever found on the Iberian peninsula.[3]
In 2019, it was reported that archeologists found a necklace featuring eagle claws, which suggests symbolic purposes.[6]
Research
editExcavations have been led by José Aparicio Pérez, for the archaeological department of the Provincial Government of Valencia.[7]
See also
editReferences
editNotes
edit- ^ The Châtelperronian Neanderthals of Cova Foradada (Calafell, Spain) used imperial eagle phalanges for symbolic purposes. A. Rodríguez-Hidalgo, J. I. Morales, A. Cebrià, L. A. Courtenay, J. L. Fernández-Marchena, G. García-Argudo, J. Marín, P. Saladié, M. Soto, J.-M. Tejero, and J.-M. Fullola. Science Advances, 1 Nov 2019: Vol. 5, no. 11, doi:10.1126/sciadv.aax1984
- ^ a b c Lozano et al. 2013.
- ^ a b c "Hallada en la Cova Foradà" 2010.
- ^ Gómez‐Merino 2018.
- ^ Aparicio Pérez 2015.
- ^ Eagle Talon Jewelry Suggests Neanderthals Were Capable of Human-Like Thought. Megan Gannon, Smithsonian Magazine. 1 November 2019.
- ^ Rubio 2007.
Bibliography
edit- Aparicio Pérez, José (2015). "Cova Foradà (Oliva. Valencia)" (PDF). Serie arqueológica (in Spanish). 24: 10–35. ISSN 0213-9219.
- Lozano, Marina; Subirà, Maria Eulàlia; Aparicio, José; Lorenzo, Carlos; Gómez-Merino, Gala (2013). "Toothpicking and Periodontal Disease in a Neanderthal Specimen from Cova Foradà Site (Valencia, Spain)". PLOS ONE. 8 (10): e76852. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...876852L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076852. PMC 3797767. PMID 24146934.
- Gómez‐Merino, Gala; Lorenzo, Carlos; Subirà, Eulàlia; Lozano, Marina; Aparicio, José (2018). "Conservation methodology applied to the Homo neanderthalensis remains from Cova Foradà site (Oliva, Valencia, Spain)". International Union for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences.
- "Hallada en la Cova Foradà de Oliva la conexión anatómica más completa de un neandertal". El Mundo (in Spanish). 29 September 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
- Rubio, Beatriz (18 August 2007). "La Cova Foradada de Oliva, el yacimiento 'más completo'". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 August 2019.