Presentation

The main aim of the current reference research group, Primeros Pobladores y Patrimonio Arqueológico del Valle del Ebro (‘First Settlers and Archaeological Heritage of the Ebro Basin’)  is the discovery, study, knowledge and dissemination of the archaeological cultural heritage from Prehistory to the end of the Roman world, above all within the region of Aragon.

By applying the methods and techniques characteristic of archaeological research, we are able to study our rich archaeological assets and reconstruct the life forms of the past. This heritage today represents a significant engine of development in areas that are often economically disadvantaged, bringing together natural attractions and historical and archaeological remains. This favours their inclusion in development programmes based on cultural tourism.

The work team is divided between the Institute of Environmental Sciences (IUCA) and the Institute of Heritage and Humanities (IPH), and is composed of effective researchers and collaborating members (belonging to other research organizations and/or universities), all active specialists in different fields of archaeological research, allowing us to advance knowledge from a team and multidisciplinary approach.

Members affiliated with IUCA carry out research based on fieldwork in the Ebro Valley, ranging from the earliest Prehistory to the Iberian period, which, supported by geoarchaeological studies and paleoenvironmental reconstruction (Peña-Monné and Alcolea), focus especially on periods of change: in the Paleolithic transition between Neanderthals and Cromagnons and in the transition from the predatory economy of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers to the agricultural and livestock activities of the first Neolithic communities (Mazo, Montes, Alcolea, López-Tascón, Shveygert); in the increasing complexity of these societies and in the associated post-Paleolithic rock art (Picazo, Ruiz, Serrano), also investigating population movements (Bretos) or the characterization of pre-Roman indigenous populations (Maestro).

Lines of investigation

1. Ancient prehistory.- focusing specifically on the Neanderthal population, the final gatherers and the first agricultural and livestock societies, and the study of cave art.
2. Recent prehistory.- with special emphasis on the study and cataloguing of sepulchral caves, the sites of the Early and Middle Bronze Age, and the origin and configuration of the societies of the Late Bronze Age and the Early Iron Age.
3. Pre-Roman and Roman archaeology.- with special interest in the transition from indigenous societies to the Roman world in urbanism, society and the material culture of the Roman era, as well as in subaquatic archaeology.
4. Palaeoenvironmental reconstructions of Pleistocene and Holocene contexts on the basis of geoarchaeological and paleobotanical records, applied to all the above chrono-cultural realms.
5. Cross-cutting specialities applicable to various epochs, developed in particular by the new researchers in training: studies of physical anthropology, of archaeobotany, of ceramic technology, of archaeozoology, of pigments (analytical), of the geometric documentation of heritage items, of museology and the highlighting of the archaeological heritage.

Projects undertaken

• PID2020-116598GB-I00: GAPS AND DATES. CULTURAL DYNAMICS IN THE PREHISTORY OF THE EBRO BASIN. Funding Entity: STATE RESEARCH AGENCY
• PID2022-140671NB-I00: Funerary Records and Paleotropology in the Recent Prehistory of the Middle Ebro Valley
• IER Ayuda: REVISITING PEÑA MIEL (NIEVA DE CAMEROS, LA RIOJA). ARCHAEOLOGICAL INTERVENTION
• ERC-2022-StG-101075451: SPEGEOCHERT. SPECTROSCOPY AND GEOCHEMISTRY OF CHERT. RECONSTRUCTING HUMAN MOBILITY IN THE PYRENEES FROM THE FIRST MODERN HUMANS TO THE LAST PLEISTOCENE HUNTER-GATHERERS
• ERC-2020-COG-101001889: REVIVE. TRACING HOMININ OCCUPATIONS OF AND MIGRATIONS THROUGH THE LEVANT: REVIVING PALEOLITHIC RESEARCH IN LEBANON
• PID2020-117713RB-I00: WIMOSA. WIRELESS MONITORING SYSTEM FOR HERITAGE SAFEGUARDING
• SPIP2022-02852: PASTORA. MILLENNIAL DYNAMICS OF PASTURES AND LIVESTOCK FARMING IN THE ORDESA AND MONTE PERDIDO NP: A TRANSDISCIPLINARY APPROACH
• PICT 2019-0193: HUMAN OCCUPATIONS, ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AND GEOARCHAEOLOGICAL MODELS IN ARID AND SEMI-ARID LANDS OF NORTHWEST ARGENTINA

Infrastructure

Laboratory of Prehistory and Archaeology:

• Leica (100-500x) incident/transmitted light microscope
• Reference collection of prehistoric lithic industry
• Reference collection of pre- and protohistoric and Roman ceramics
• Reference collection of wild and domestic fauna (Pleistocene-Holocene)
• Comparative collection of fossil human crania
• ‘Dirty’ work area (for washing material) and ‘clean’ work area (inventory and classification)
• Ultrasonic box

Flotation machine (washing and separation of sediments for the recovery of seeds, charcoals, microfauna…).  

Excavation material (topographic apparatus, tools)

Technological Offer/Services

Archaeological excavations and prospections (prehistory, protohistory, classical archaeology)

Evaluations and cataloguing of heritage

Specialized studies:

• Prehistoric lithic and bone typology
• Functional analysis of lithic tools
• Taxonomy and taphonomy of wild and domestic faunas
• Physical anthropology
• Paleobotanical Analysis
• Studies of prehistoric and Roman ceramics
• Numismatics and epigraphy
• Drawing of materials and archaeological structures

Noticias del Grupo

• MAESTRO ZALDÍVAR, E.
• MONTES RAMÍREZ, M.L.
• PEÑA MONNÉ, J.L.
• PICAZO MILLÁN, J.
• SERRANO ARANDA
• BRETOS EZCURRA, M.
• MAZO PÉREZ, C.
• SERRANO ARANDA, C.
• LÓPEZ TASCÓN, C.
• SHVEYGERT, E.
• ALCOLEA GRACIA, M.
• RUIZ REDONDO, A.
• SANZ ROYO, A.

Chief investigator:

José María Rodanes Vicente (Instituto de Patrimonio y Humanidades IPH-Unizar)

Co-chief investigator:

Rafael A. Domingo (Instituto de Patrimonio y Humanidades IPH-Unizar)

Contact IUCA:

Mª Lourdes Montes Ramírez

lmontes@unizar.es