Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 64-03, Section: A, page: 0961.

Directors: Jose Ramos Munoz; Carlos Diez Fernandez-Lomana.

Tesis - Univ. de Cádiz, 2003

The substantive theory with which we work is the historical materialism , from the perspective of the social archaeology. We work the categories of analysis of social formation (way of production), way of life, way of work, everything under the dialectics as a method of knowledge.

Our study area includes the basin of Guadix-Bata, the high terraces of the first floor Guadalquivir, Guadalete and Atlantic coast where a number of searches are being made with such a precise biostratigraphy and chronostratigraphy within the technological, anthropological and paleoanthropological scope. In the peninsular south because of their altitude a sequence of climatic conditions is developed where the warm areas prevail. This produces a mosaic of vegetable habitats (deciduous and sclerofilos forests), suitable for welcoming a great diversity of animal species. Throughout the Pleistocene we can observe two important moments in the relationship among herbivores, vegetation and climate; these three factors will influence the development or extinction of some species. During this phase the evolution of the genus Arvicola and Equus have been the guides for their continuation and abundance in the sites of the peninsular south.

In the Lower Pleistocene (biozone Mp 18), the hippopotami, rhinoceroses, elephants, bovines, buffalos, horses, deer, goats and carnivores such as hyenas, tigers of teeth of sables, leopards, canidae, wolves and bears are represented.

In the Middle Pleistocene (biozone Mp 19), we can observe a period of interglaciations with some climatic conditions of a warm and humid type. In this ecosystem, the prairie and forest animals hippopotami, elephants, bisons, horses and rhinoceroses will find their such us maximum vegetable development.

During the Upper Pleistocene (biozone Mp 20), a renovation of the arvicolas and a reestablishment of the Mediterranean fauna carried out by the biocenosis of certain species like the Equus caballus, Mammuthus primigenius and Cervus elaphus takes place.

It is observed in our study zone that from the so called upper Paleolithic and Epipaleolithic a series of changes takes place in the habitats of the European ecosystem. We consider that the species tamed in the VIth millennium to.n.and. come from local species such as the Bos primigenius, Equus caballus, Sus scrofa, Capra pyrenaica, Canis familiaris coming from the variety observed in the biocantones of autochthonous species.

School code: 5853.