Archaeologists from the University of Valladolid have discovered in the Millán Cave, located in the northern Iberian Peninsula, in the Spanish province of Burgos, an Initial Upper Paleolithic lithic industry, which they have named “Arlanzian”, and which stands out as the oldest and southernmost of its kind in the peninsula.

This industry, of uncertain origin, shows technological and chronological similarities with other industries linked to the early expansion of Homo sapiens in Eurasia, which could suggest an intrusive origin, although the authors of the study do not rule out more complex scenarios resulting from interactions between different human populations.

The discovery of the Arlanzian industry in Millán Cave is situated in a particular geological and climatic context. During the transition from the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic, between 50,000 and 40,000 years ago, Neanderthals coexisted with and were eventually replaced by Homo sapiens. This process was accompanied by the emergence of distinctive lithic industries, marking the arrival of the Upper Paleolithic. The Arlanzian industry, dated between 44.8 and 42.9 thousand years ago, adds to other known industries in Europe, such as the Châtelperronian and Uluzzian, though with unique characteristics in the Iberian context.

The remains found in Millán Cave, including lithic tools and faunal remains, have been the subject of exhaustive chronological and technological analysis. A combination of radiocarbon and luminescence dating has been used to precisely determine the age of the archaeological layers. These data suggest that the occupation of the cave by the bearers of the Arlanzian industry was relatively short in archaeological terms but significant for understanding the processes of interaction between Neanderthal and early Homo sapiens populations.

Photo of the interior of Cueva Millán
Photo of the interior of Cueva Millán.Credit: Manuel Rojo / University of Valladolid

One of the most notable aspects of the Arlanzian industry is its combination of elements from the Middle Paleolithic, such as Levallois technology for flake production, and features of the Upper Paleolithic, such as the production of blades and pre-defined points. This mix of techniques suggests a gradual and not abrupt transition between the two cultural phases.

The study of faunal remains, which include species like the horse (Equus), red deer (Cervus elaphus), and Iberian ibex (Capra pyrenaica), has also revealed important data about the subsistence strategies of the cave’s inhabitants. Analyses of the bones show evidence of anthropic modifications, such as cut marks and fractures produced to extract marrow, indicating an intensive use of animal resources. Additionally, no evidence of carnivore activity has been found at the site, suggesting that human presence was dominant.

The climatic environment during the occupation of Millán Cave varied over time, as shown by pollen and charcoal analyses from different stratigraphic levels. In the lower levels, corresponding to an older phase, the landscape was dominated by a cold and arid climate, with vegetation primarily consisting of grasses and xerophytes, while the upper levels reflect a warmer and more humid climate, with an increase in Mediterranean pines and holm oaks.

These changes in climate and vegetation coincide with global climatic fluctuations documented for this period, reinforcing the site’s importance for studying the interactions between climate change and human population dynamics. The charcoal analysis has identified the presence of species like maritime pine (Pinus pinaster) and holm oak (Quercus ilex), suggesting that human populations adapted to a more temperate, forested environment during the later phases of cave occupation.

Projectile made of flint recovered in Cueva Millán.
Projectile made of flint recovered in Cueva Millán.Credit: Manuel Rojo / University of Valladolid

One of the great debates in Paleolithic archaeology revolves around the nature of interaction between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens. Millán Cave, located in a strategic area between the Cantabrian and central regions of the peninsula, offers a unique window into exploring this issue. Although the biological identity of the creators of the Arlanzian industry has not yet been determined, the coexistence in time and space with Neanderthals raises the possibility of contact between the two populations.

However, the researchers are cautious, noting that the fact that Arlanzian lithic industries show parallels with other Initial Upper Paleolithic industries in Europe does not necessarily imply a migration or population replacement. Rather, it could be a phenomenon of cultural diffusion, where technological innovations were transmitted between groups without involving large demographic movements. This hypothesis is consistent with growing evidence that interactions between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens were complex and varied, including episodes of local hybridization in some regions of Europe.

The discovery of the Arlanzian industry in Millán Cave challenges some traditional theories about the transition to the Upper Paleolithic in the Iberian Peninsula. Until now, it was believed that the development of advanced industries like the Aurignacian and Châtelperronian was limited to northern regions of the peninsula, while in the central and southern areas, the Mousterian technology of the Neanderthals prevailed until their disappearance. The Millán Cave find suggests that this transition was more diverse and that human populations in the interior of the peninsula also participated in the processes that led to the emergence of the Upper Paleolithic.

The research team will continue working at Millán Cave in the coming years, aiming to gather more data to refine the site’s chronology and clarify the origin and nature of the Arlanzian industry. Ongoing studies will also focus on determining whether there was direct contact between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in this region, which could shed light on one of the most fascinating episodes in human prehistory.

Following the discovery of the Arlanzian, researchers are focused on answering the following questions: Who were the creators of the Arlanzian? Were they the last Neanderthals or the first Homo sapiens? What is the origin of this culture? Is it the result of a migratory phenomenon, interaction between groups, or independent local evolution? What is certain is that the Arlanzian groups coexisted with nearby Neanderthals who maintained Middle Paleolithic traditions.

SOURCES

Universidad de Valladolid

Sánchez-Yustos, P., Marín-Arroyo, A.B., Arnold, L.J. et al. Initial Upper Palaeolithic lithic industry at Cueva Millán in the hinterlands of Iberia. Sci Rep 14, 21705 (2024). doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-69913-3

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