Escoural cave and neolithic mortuary chronology: radiocarbon evidence for funerary diversity in Southern Portugal

Abstract Escoural Cave, in Portugal’s Alentejo region, provides pivotal chronological evidence for Neolithic mortuary activity in southwestern Iberia. We present new radiocarbon dates on human bone from Escoural alongside published dates from other funerary monuments, establishing a robust framework that situates cave burials within a diverse mortuary landscape. Results show that Escoural was used contemporaneously with dolmens, tholoi, hypogea, burial pits, and other caves, underscoring the coexistence of multiple forms of mortuary expression. Beyond refining the Neolithic timeline, reassessment of Escoural highlights the interpretive potential of legacy collections: the richness of its ceramic assemblage, associated bone tools, and environmental context raise new questions about craft specialization, gendered roles, and the interplay of ritual and technology. Together, these findings demonstrate both the importance of absolute dating and the broader value of revisiting older collections to illuminate social and cultural dynamics in the Neolithic.