Dehesilla Cave Rock Paintings (Cádiz, Spain): Analysis and Contextualisation within the Prehistoric Art of the Southern Iberian Peninsula

A systematic survey of Dehesilla Cave was carried out during 2017 in order to search for traces of rock art. Several panels with paintings were identified in the chamber next to the entrance (consisting of strokes, dots, stains, and remnants of shapes in red and black), which had remained unnoticed...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Mas Cornellá, Martí, Solís Delgado, Mónica, Maura Mijares, Rafael, Parra Greco, Enrique, Pérez García, Pedro Pablo, Gavilán Ceballos, Beatriz, Taylor, Ruth, Torra Colell, Guadalupe, Pérez González, Javier, Barrera Vera, José Antonio, García Rivero, Daniel
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2024
País:España
Institución:Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
Repositorio:e-spacio. Repositorio Institucional de la UNED
Idioma:inglés
OAI Identifier:oai:e-spacio.uned.es:20.500.14468/24414
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14468/24414
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:55 Historia::5504 Historia por épocas::5504.05 Prehistoria
55 Historia::5505 Ciencias auxiliares de la historia::5505.01 Arqueología
rock art
Southern Iberian Peninsula
Neolithic
physical and chemical analysis
Dehesilla Cave
Descripción
Sumario:A systematic survey of Dehesilla Cave was carried out during 2017 in order to search for traces of rock art. Several panels with paintings were identified in the chamber next to the entrance (consisting of strokes, dots, stains, and remnants of shapes in red and black), which had remained unnoticed up until now and may provide relevant information towards the understanding of the prehistoric use of the cave and its seemingly symbolic topography. However, we cannot assume a priori a relationship between these paintings and the well-known Neolithic sequence of the site. To assess these paintings, we have analysed photomicrographs which have allowed us to determine their detailed characteristics, stroke morphology, and remnant features (for instance, hue, shape, density of paint, pigment grain size, micro-stroke traces left by the tools used). Taphonomic issues have also been considered and several physical and chemical techniques of analysis have been applied in order to identify the pigments and possible binders.