The Middle Paleolithic of Murcia

Thirty-six Middle Paleolithic sites are currently known in Murcia. The open air localities correspond to patches or scatters in surficial position, with one cluster of four sites in the Yecla plateau suggesting that, where flint is concerned, a simple model of reduction-with-distance to source underlies inter-assemblage variability. Five stratified cave and rockshelter sites show logistical use with a fragmentary representation of the flint production chain and transport of curated items over significant distances. The coastal sites document the exploitation of eulittoral shellfish as a food resource. The associated human remains are of Neandertals, with evidence for their survival to at least 34.5 ka 14C BP at Sima de las Palomas.