Three-dimensional reconstruction of cave occupations during the Lower Palaeolithic. Methodology and computer necessities

Abstract

For a long time the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Palaeolithic sites was focused on the horizontal distribution of archaeological assemblages included in a certain level. In the last years, a methodological guide of global spatial studies has been developed being able to solve the problem of the multiple origin of the archaeological assemblage and, therefore, its diachronic relationship. In this way, and specially applied to karstic environments, where the sedimentary deposit is more than one meter thick and its lithological features are homogeneous, the spatial study for the vertical remains distribution (Archaeostratigraphy) is developed, which makes it possible to differentiate the following archaeological levels that appear separated by gaps. We can use some computer programs like Arcprof, Autocad, GIS, Surfer… etc, to develop this method, that allow us to work in the subsequent processes though none of them lets us develop the complete methodology. This implies relevant needs as well as evident problems when moving files from one program to the other. In this paper we present step by step the subsequent parts that the archaeostratigraphic method consists of, including data record during the excavation processes, and the projection of the plots containing all the documented remains and the later separation of materials in their appropriate archaeolevels. Besides, we display the computer programs that we use to develop it; as well as the obtained results. Later, we show in detail the deficiencies found during our work in order to explain the necessities that the archaeologists have detected and that could be solved by computer experts, whose cooperation is fruitful and necessary.