models, on a social, economic and demographic level. On the basis of current data,
there is no evidence for herding specialisation during Pyrenean Neolithic, but it
seems that pastoral activities were integrated within a mixed-farming system, in
which both crop and animal husbandry were practised to some extent.
Further east in the Pyrenees, this increase in human settlement in the second half
of the fourth-millennium cal BC is also seen in the Enveig mountains. In Level 2 in
Hut 75, at the site of La Padrilla, Rendu (2003) documented an occupation dated
between 3500 and 3030 cal BC. This stratum consisted of dark sediment with ash
and charcoal which was followed over 11 m
2 under a construction visible on the
surface and adjacent to some large boulders. The excavation was able to document
four hearths delimited by stone circles or semicircles about 40 cm in diameter. This
concentration of hearths might be the result of a repeated occupation of the site
during a time that is still unknown. The use of the site in the late Neolithic was
confirmed by another occupation. This is a stratum with abundant charcoal
underneath Hut/Pen 42, 35 m away from the previous deposit. A piece of charcoal
was dated to 3330–2885 cal BC.
In the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, the pattern is similar, with a clear increase
in the number of archaeological sites after mid fourth-millennium cal BC. One of
these is the level with charcoal identified underneath the early medieval hut P008 at
Orris de la Torbera de Perafita I and which two radiocarbon determinations have
situated between 3765–3640 and 3315–2920 cal BC (Orengo et al. 2014). In the
same valley, at the nearby site of Planells de Perafita I, at 2223 m a.s.l., the same
team of archaeologists identified the base of a stone wall around an area with an
irregular shape, over 4 m in diameter, which they dated between 3325 and 2925 cal
BC. Potsherds were found in the layer associated with this occupation.
In general terms, in the three areas of the Pyrenees studied here, the archaeological evidence tends to disappear in the second half of the third-millennium cal
BC (Fig. 4.11). The exception is the site of Els Estanys, in the Madriu Valley, at
2525 m a.s.l. It consists of an architectonic ensemble composed of four rooms, a
pen and a surrounding wall. The five test excavations performed indicate an
occupation between 2470–2290 and 2195–1970 cal BC. A grain of wheat (Triticum
dicoccum) was found in one of the rooms, next to a hearth which had pottery
associated with it (Orengo et al. 2014). A little over 1 km away, at the site of Pleta
de Bacives (2528 m a.s.l.) an animal pen has been dated to the same period as the
Els Estanys pen; 2284–2041 cal BC.
Following the occupation of these two sites, evidence of human occupation
practically disappears from the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley during the second and
first millennia cal BC (Orengo 2010). The situation is similar in Aigüestortes i
Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Although some mid-second millennium sites
are known, the number of settlements that have been identified is considerably
smaller (Gassiot et al. 2014, 2016). A similar pattern has been recognised in the
Enveig area (Rendu 2003). It seems that this phenomenon can be extrapolated to
other parts of the Pyrenees, although it is in contrast with some palaeoecological
evidence that indicates enhanced human impact on the environment. Still, we are
not able to fully explain such discrepancy; possibly it is due to a limit in the survey
4 The Beginning of High Mountain Occupations in the Pyrenees …
97
there is no evidence for herding specialisation during Pyrenean Neolithic, but it
seems that pastoral activities were integrated within a mixed-farming system, in
which both crop and animal husbandry were practised to some extent.
Further east in the Pyrenees, this increase in human settlement in the second half
of the fourth-millennium cal BC is also seen in the Enveig mountains. In Level 2 in
Hut 75, at the site of La Padrilla, Rendu (2003) documented an occupation dated
between 3500 and 3030 cal BC. This stratum consisted of dark sediment with ash
and charcoal which was followed over 11 m
2 under a construction visible on the
surface and adjacent to some large boulders. The excavation was able to document
four hearths delimited by stone circles or semicircles about 40 cm in diameter. This
concentration of hearths might be the result of a repeated occupation of the site
during a time that is still unknown. The use of the site in the late Neolithic was
confirmed by another occupation. This is a stratum with abundant charcoal
underneath Hut/Pen 42, 35 m away from the previous deposit. A piece of charcoal
was dated to 3330–2885 cal BC.
In the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley, the pattern is similar, with a clear increase
in the number of archaeological sites after mid fourth-millennium cal BC. One of
these is the level with charcoal identified underneath the early medieval hut P008 at
Orris de la Torbera de Perafita I and which two radiocarbon determinations have
situated between 3765–3640 and 3315–2920 cal BC (Orengo et al. 2014). In the
same valley, at the nearby site of Planells de Perafita I, at 2223 m a.s.l., the same
team of archaeologists identified the base of a stone wall around an area with an
irregular shape, over 4 m in diameter, which they dated between 3325 and 2925 cal
BC. Potsherds were found in the layer associated with this occupation.
In general terms, in the three areas of the Pyrenees studied here, the archaeological evidence tends to disappear in the second half of the third-millennium cal
BC (Fig. 4.11). The exception is the site of Els Estanys, in the Madriu Valley, at
2525 m a.s.l. It consists of an architectonic ensemble composed of four rooms, a
pen and a surrounding wall. The five test excavations performed indicate an
occupation between 2470–2290 and 2195–1970 cal BC. A grain of wheat (Triticum
dicoccum) was found in one of the rooms, next to a hearth which had pottery
associated with it (Orengo et al. 2014). A little over 1 km away, at the site of Pleta
de Bacives (2528 m a.s.l.) an animal pen has been dated to the same period as the
Els Estanys pen; 2284–2041 cal BC.
Following the occupation of these two sites, evidence of human occupation
practically disappears from the Madriu-Perafita-Claror valley during the second and
first millennia cal BC (Orengo 2010). The situation is similar in Aigüestortes i
Estany de Sant Maurici National Park. Although some mid-second millennium sites
are known, the number of settlements that have been identified is considerably
smaller (Gassiot et al. 2014, 2016). A similar pattern has been recognised in the
Enveig area (Rendu 2003). It seems that this phenomenon can be extrapolated to
other parts of the Pyrenees, although it is in contrast with some palaeoecological
evidence that indicates enhanced human impact on the environment. Still, we are
not able to fully explain such discrepancy; possibly it is due to a limit in the survey
4 The Beginning of High Mountain Occupations in the Pyrenees …
97