LEVEL K AND L FROM ABRIC ROMANÍ (BARCELONA, SPAIN): PROCUREMENT RESOURCES AND TERRITORY MANAGEMENT IN SHORT OCCUPATIONS DURING THE MIDDLE PALAEOLITHIC

The Abric Romani site (Catalonia, Spain) yields one of the more important and complete stratigraphic sequences of Middle Palaeolithic (dated from 70 to 40 ka BP) in Europe. It is thus a key site for studying the behaviour of some human Neanderthal groups. This strategic situation of the rock-shelter, located in Capellades (northeastern Iberian Peninsula 50 km from Barcelona) makes it a natural passage way between inland mountainous areas and coastal Catalonia regions. Hominids benefited a rich environment and had the possibility to exploit a great variety of biotopes: river beds, plain and plateau. This paper presents the results of studies on resource procurement (lithics and animals) and on the territory used by Neanderthals groups, through the study of two levels which show evidence of short occupations, K and L levels dated from about 52 ka BP. The results of interdisciplinary analysis of lithic and faunal assemblages suggest that resource procurement and management was focussed on the local and semi local environment, in a geographic area of about 20 km.