Santander, February 19th-22nd 2008 - Aranzadi

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F. IGOR GUTIÉRREZ & MANUEL GONZÁLEZ
Figure 3. Distribution of the most abundant molluscs at Mazaculos by stratigraphic units. The data for Levels 3, 2 and 1 come from Ortea’s analysis of Sector 1
published in González et al. (1980).
The rest of the species are scarcely represented
and hardly show any importance in terms of
contribution to subsistence. In Sector 3 at
Mazaculos it is interesting to remark that after
Patella and Osilinus lineatus, the most represented
species is the barnacle Pollicipes pollicipes,
somewhat unusual in shell-middens in the
Cantabrian region. Thus, it can be observed how
its quantities increase slightly throughout the
sequence, from 3% in the Mesolithic level (A3) to
7% in the upper Neolithic level (A2+A2base). This
increase reflects the exploitation of low and exposed
shores, possibly more than in previous
periods.
If we look at the data from other Asturian sites
(Arias et al. 2007 for Poza l´Egua; Clark 1976: 43-
118 and 225-233 for El Penicial, Coberizas,
Arnero, Balmori, and Fonfría, amongst others;
Gutiérrez 2008 for La Llana; Ortea 1986 for La
Riera) we find that the pattern for the collected
species is very similar, with a predominance of the
Patella genus followed by Osilinus lineatus and
then a series of marginal species, which generally
include bivalves, marine gastropods, land gastropods,
crustaceans and echinoderms.
6. COLLECTION AREAS
First, from the substratum perspective, collection
has taken place exclusively in rocky areas.
There are no species from sandy bottoms and
those from muddy beds appear only sparsely in
both levels at Mazaculos. This pattern can be
also noted in La Llana, La Riera, Poza l’Egua and
other Asturian sites (Clark 1976) and has traditionally
been associated with the lack of big estuaries
in the area.
If we look at the vertical zonation of the collected
species, we observe that they all live in the
intertidal range even though some can also be
found in the supratidal (Melarhaphe neritoides,
Littorina saxatilis) or in the subtidal (Charonia lampas,
Gibbula sp., Haliotis tuberculata, Nassarius
reticulatus, Paracentrotus lividus, Pollicipes pollicipes).
If we calculate the ratios of length to height
(L/H) of Patella vulgata (for an explanation of the
method see: Craighead 1995) to establish the
zonation, it seems that the lower areas have been
the most exploited. This implies that there are no
differences among sites because the exploitation
took place in the lower areas not only at Mazaculos
but also at La Riera and La Llana.
MUNIBE Suplemento - Gehigarria 31, 2010
S.C. Aranzadi. Z.E. Donostia/San Sebastián