Gavà Mines
41°18′37.54″N 2°0′0.75″E / 41.3104278°N 2.0002083°E
The Gavà Mines, also known as Can Tintorer Mines, is a pre-historic (Neolithic) archaeological site that occupies the Can Tintorer, Ferreres and Rocabruna areas in the municipality of Gavà (Baix Llobregat, Catalonia, Spain).[1] The site is under care of the Gavà Museum and the Gavà Mines Archaeological Park.
The main feature of the site is a collection of ancient mines that are among the largest and oldest in Europe. The site is spread over 200 hectares and comprises more than a hundred known mines, with many more possibly to be still unidentified. Among them are the only known Neolithic mines of variscite, a green mineral used to make body ornaments. [2]
From the Iberian and Roman times through the Middle Ages, the mines were re-exploited to obtain iron ore.
Notable finds from the site are the Venus of Gavà and the Trepanation Skull.
Geographic and geological situation
The Gavà mines are located on the West side of the Llobregat River, at the foot of the eastern slopes of the Garraf Massif, in the sectors known as Ferreres, Rocabruna and Tintorer.
The geological structure of the area is dominated by slates and limestones of the Paleozoic era, formed between the Silurian and Devonian periods, about 408 million years ago. Slates and limestones are arranged in strongly inclined layers with numerous folds, faults, and overlays, due to folding during the Variscan orogeny (290 million years ago) and the Alpine orogeny (65 million years ago). There are two geologic alignments that vary between WNW-ESE and W-E. A limestone crust and red clays formed at the beginning of the Quaternary (1.64 million years ago), covering the Paleozoic slates and limestones. [3]
Modern history
The site was discovered in 1975 when construction in the neighborhood of Can Tintorer revealed openings to the rock. However, the presence of "holes" in the ground was known to the local population, which had been using some of them since antiquity.
In 1978 the original nucleus of the CIPAG (Collective for the Investigation of Prehistory and Archeology of the Garraf-Ordal) began the first archaeological excavations. The Gavà Museum was created later in that year, with the mission to explore the site and research, store, and divulge its finds. Until the year 1980, the located mines were excavated and the ground was reduced mechanically to locate new ones. In 1991 the Gavà Museum assumed the excavations, and part of the museum was opened to the public in 1993.
It was during those years that two of the unique pieces of the site were discovered: the Venus of Gavà and the Trepaned Skull. In parallel to the excavations and the dissemination, the works of conservation and restoration began with the collaboration of the Department of Mining and Natural Resources of the Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya. After a break, the excavations and restoration and consolidation work were resumed between 1998 and 2000. Additional excavation, conservation, and research were carried out by the University of Barcelona and the Autonomous University of Barcelona
Due to an urban development project, in 1998 a new sector of the site was identified in the Serra de les Ferreres. The works will last until 2009. New Neolithic and Iberian-Roman mines (number 83, 84 and 85) were located and excavated, yielding funerary artifacts with exceptional pieces such as a red coral necklace, an obsidian plate, square-shaped ceramics and honey silex.
Timeline
The Neolithic mines were continuously exploited between the Advanced Old Neolithic or Postcardial and the Middle Neolithic, as evidenced by ceramics characteristic of the Molinot culture of the Postcardial and to the Ditch Tomb Culture of the Middle Neolithic .
Carbon-14 dating puts the Postcardial sites between 3350 and 2950 BCE (not calibrated) and those of the Middle Neolithic between 2950 and 2550 BC (not calibrated). This would place them between 4200 BC and 3400 BC. [4]
It must be borne in mind, however, that dating comes from samples belonging to the mining waste after the mines became inactive; therefore, the exploitation may be earlier. Indeed, varascite from Gavà has been found in the Can Sadurní Cave near Begues with Postcardial dates prior to those identified in Gavà. [5] Other samples, found in Huesca province at the Chaves Cave (near Bastarás) and Moro Cave (near Olvena), were chemically confirmed as Gavà but located in burials of the Old Neolithic from the 6th millennium BCE. [6]
There are no agreed-on dates for the Ibero-Roman mines, but the exploitation would be located between the 4th and 9th centuries CE. [7]
Description
Flora
In the Neolithic, the inhabitants of the site had access to varied vegetation environments from the surrounding mountains, plain, and coast.
Along the coastline the flora was mainly oleo-ceratonion shrubland, with shrubs like the European fan palm (Chamaerops humilis), lentisk (Pistacia lentiscus), heather (Erica sp.), olive tree (Olea europaea), juniper (Juniperus sp.) and Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis). Elsewhere there were forests of sclerophyllous and deciduous oak trees (Quercus sp.), strawberry trees (Arbutus unedo) and adler (Alnus sp.) Some of these trees were exploited for their wood.
Along rivers there grew forests with willows (Salix sp.), poplar, laurel (Laurus nobilis), ferns , kermes oak (Quercus coccifera) and cultivated fields.
Food resources
Soil deposits in the mines, dated from the Neolithic, yielded animal and vegetable remains, and tools such as arrowheads, hand grinders, axe heads and sickle teeth; showing that the caves had other uses besides mining. The presence of ruderal species and adventitious plants, as well as the association Rumex-Plantago-Cyperaceae shows the existence of disturbed and nitrified soils due to anthropogenic actions such as agriculture and livestock.
Animal resources were used and exploited for food and secondary products like milk, wool, and leather. The main livestock was bovids, followed by ovicaprids and some pigs. The animal diet was complemented by hunting, chiefly of deer, wild boar and rabbits; and by fishing of seabream (Pagrus pagrus), pandora (Pagellus erythrinus, cuttlefish, and school shark (Galeorhinus galeus). Shellfish was collected for both food and ornamental purposes , including Chamelea gallina, the Mediterranean mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis), limpets (Patella sp.), and bittersweet clams (Glycymeris sp.). Land molluskss such as the vineyard snail (Cernuella virgata), grove snail (Cepaea nemoralis), and cabrilla (Otala punctata) were consumed too.
The crops were mainly of barley (Hordeum vulgare and H. vulgare var. nudum) and, to a lesser extent, of wheat (Triticum monococcum, Triticum dicoccum, and Triticum aestivum) Legumes such as vetches (Vicia sp.) were also cultiivated. The inhabitants also collected wild plant resources, such as olives, fox grapes (Vitis labrusca) and hazelnuts (Corylus avellana). [3] [8]
Burials
Once exhausted, some Neolithic mines were reused as tombs. Those burials contain remains of men and women, including children, adults and old men.
Some bodies were placed in collective burials in the entrance well to the mine. After displacing the remains previously buried, the body was placed in a fetal position which was accompanied by funerary offerings (ceramics, tools, ornaments, etc.). In some cases, olive tree branches were burned.
Individual and double burials were richer and more elaborate. They are found in small rooms, in places deep and away from the entrance of the mine. The burial space was closed with slabs and access to the mine was also closed with large slabs and stones.
Society and beliefs
The mine burials give some information on the society and culture of the Neolithic community. The average life expectancy was around 30 years; The average height of men was 164 cm and that of women 151 cm. In the bones of some individuals -- men and women -- there is evidence compatible with mining work, which may show specialization of labor. These signs include development of muscular inserts that denote flexing and extending the arms, carrying weight on the back, strong wrists, flexing of the legs at the hip joint and rotation of the torso.
The differences in burials may be indicative of social inequalities. The burials also provide evidence of medico-sanitary practices, including healed bone fractures and an individual who survived two skull trepanations.
The exploitation of variscite and its association to burials suggests that it had symbolic value. The same can be said of the practice of burying the dead in the mines. It has been conjectured that the stone's green color was symbolic of life; and the fetal position of the bodies, as well as the funerary offerings, reflected a cult of the Earth and belief in rebirth.[3]
That the community had specific religious beliefs is strongly indicated by figurines such as the Venus of Gavà, which has been interpreted as a fertility goddess[3] Another puzzling find, that may have religious significance, is a large collection of artifacts including bone tools, arrowheads, variscite beads, and more, in mine 85.[9]
See also
References
- ^ M. J. Villalba, L. Bañolas, J. Arenas, and M. Alonso (1983): Les Mines Neolítiques de Can Tintorer, Gavà. Excavacions 1978-80 (in Catalan). In the series Exacavacions Arqueològiques a Catalunya, volume 6. Published by the Generalitat de Catalunya.
- ^ Enric Calpena (2007-05): "Dins de les entranyes de la prehistòria" (in Catalan). Sàpiens, issue 55, page 63. ISSN 1695-2014
- ^ a b c d Alícia Estrada (2007): Guia del Parc Arqueològic Mines de Gavà / Guide to the Archaeological Park of Mines of Gavà. Municipal Institute for the Management of the Cultural and Natural Heritage of Gavà. ISBN 978-84-606-4395-1
- ^ J. Bosch Argilagos, A. Estrada Martín, and M. J. Noain Maura (1996): "Minería neolítica en Gavà (Baix Llobregat, Barcelona)" (in Spanish). Trabajos de Prehistoria, volume 53, issue 1, pages 59-71.
- ^ M. Edo, F. Antolín, and M. J. Barrio (2012): "Can Sadurní (Begues, Baix Llobregat), de la captación de recursos abióticos al inicio de la minería de aluminio-fosfatos (10500-4000 cal ANE) en el macizo de Garraf" (in Spanish). Rubricatum, issue 5 (Actes del Congrés Internacional Xarxes al Neolític), pages 299-306. ISSN 1135-3791
- ^ Vicenç Baldellou, Pilar Utrilla, Jesús García-Gazólaz (2012): "Variscita de Can Tintorer en el Neolítico Antiguo del valle medio del Ebro" (in Spanish). Rubricatum, issue 5 (Actes del Congrés Internacional Xarxes al Neolític), pages 307-314. ISSN 1135-3791
- ^ Amaia Bordas, Roger Molinas, Manuel Saa, Joan Carles Melgarejo, and Saleh Lehbib (2010): "Les mines històriques al sector de la serra de les Ferreres: darreres aportacions a l’estudi de la minería del ferro a Gavà" (in Catalan). Rubricatum, issue 4 (Intervencions arqueològiques a les Mines de Gavà (sector de les Ferreres) - years 1998-2009. De la varisicta al ferro: neolític i antiguitat), pages 247-262. ISSN 1135-3791
- ^ J. Bosch, A. Estrada, et al. (1994): El Neolític Postcardial a les Mines Prehistòriques de Gavà (Baix Llobregat) (in Catalan). Issue 0 of Rubricatum. Published by Museu de Gavà. ISSN 1135-3791
- ^ Ferran Borrel, Eva Orri (2009): "L'excavació de les mines neolítiques 83, 84, 85 i 90 de Gavà: estructura, ús, reutilització i rebliment" (in Catalan). Rubricatum, issue 4 (Intervenciós arqueològiques a les Mines de Gavà (sector de les Ferreres -- Anys 1998-2009.), pages 15-46. ISSN 1135-3791