The Use of Space in Neanderthal Campsites: Evidence from Spatial and Taphonomic Analyses of Charcoal Remains from Level Ra of Abric Romaní (Barcelona, Spain)

Abstract This work aims to investigate the formation processes of the charcoal assemblage from level Ra at Abric Romaní, a well-preserved Middle Palaeolithic rock shelter in north-eastern Spain that was occupied by Neanderthals. To this end, we adopted an anthracological approach that combines both taxonomic and taphonomic observations. Spatial patterns and potential formation processes were explored through spatial analysis using Kernel Density Estimation and the Moran’s index across the excavated layer. These analyses were performed using the Cartesian coordinates of the archaeological charcoal fragments recovered in the level and included their taxonomic identification and documented taphonomic modifications. The correlations between alterations were also tested to identify possible interactions among the phenomena that affected the charcoal fragments. Finally, we integrated these findings with data from other previously studied archaeological levels in the archaeological sequence. Our findings, contextualized at the beginning of MIS 3, indicate a dominance of Pinus sylvestris , indicating the continuity of well-established mountain pine forests at elevations below their current boundary. Our taphonomic observations suggest low to moderate postdepositional processes affecting specific areas of the rock shelter, mainly related to small waterflows. After controlling for different taphonomic processes, differences in charcoal fragment distributions between the northern and southern sectors suggest distinct human activities, which are interpreted as signs of differences in use and potentially representing waste-management events. The results suggest the potential of integrating spatial studies of archaeological charcoal fragments in order to gain valuable insights into hearth-related assemblage formation.