The oldest levels in the sequence indicate mountain vegetation formed by pine and
juniper, at a time when the terminus of the Valira glacier may have been at 1,300–
1,400 m a.s.l. (Riera and Turu 2012). Both at that time and in later periods, the ibex
was the main species hunted and consumed by the occupants of the rock-shelter.
However, after 8000 cal BC, the diet was diversified, and subsistence activities
included fishing trout, gathering snails and, gradually and more intensely in successive
occupations, plants such as sloe, hazel and cherry. Hunting also diversified in the
Holocene, and even though ibex still predominated, roe deer and wild boar were also
hunted. In sum, Balma Margineda appears to have been a settlement used in different
periods by hunter-gatherer groups in a context of increasingly mild climates. Changes
in the groups’ industry and diet follow the general patterns seen in hunter-gatherer
communities in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene in Iberia (Gassiot 2001).
4.2.2 Initial Occupation of the High Zones
in the Early Holocene
Unlike Montlleó, Balma Margineda displays a long occupation sequence lasting
millennia. In the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene, the human
occupations became more intense and in fact until recently this site was considered
paradigmatic of the mountain occupation in the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. In
the last few years, archaeological surveying in the Claror, Perafita and Madriu
valleys, also in Andorra (Palet 2006) and Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
National Park (Gassiot et al. 2014) have altered this view significantly. This
fieldwork has succeeded in documenting evidence of human occupations in the
sub-alpine and alpine altitudinal zones, at above 1800 m a.s.l. (Fig. 4.2).
The oldest evidence is Level 5 in Dolmen de la Font dels Coms, corresponding
to a possible phase prior to building the megalithic grave. This site is at the head of
the Baiasca valley, 6 km to the south-east of the park boundary, at 1840 m a.s.l. and
150 m below the watershed marking the western side of the river basin. Excavated
in 2002 and 2003 by the High Mountain Archaeological Group (GAAM, in
Catalan), it revealed a more complex archaeological sequence than initially
expected, with great re-use of the monument in later periods (Rappalino et al.
2007). The oldest occupation is related to a possible post-hole found when a trench
was opened in the tumulus to document its building method. The post-hole was
clearly underneath the base of the mound and was circular in cross-section, with a
diameter of nearly 20 cm and about 20 cm deep (Fig. 4.3). The top of the hole was
surrounded by pieces of schist, a local metamorphic rock, some of which were
placed vertically, marking the section of the hole. The sediment inside it contained a
large number of small pieces of charcoal, thus darkening it and making it easily
differentiable from the utterly barren earth surrounding it. One piece was dated to
8746–8563 cal BC. The level containing the top of the post-hole yielded one of
only two flint flakes found during the excavation of the site (Gassiot et al. 2014).
80
E. Gassiot Ballbè et al.
juniper, at a time when the terminus of the Valira glacier may have been at 1,300–
1,400 m a.s.l. (Riera and Turu 2012). Both at that time and in later periods, the ibex
was the main species hunted and consumed by the occupants of the rock-shelter.
However, after 8000 cal BC, the diet was diversified, and subsistence activities
included fishing trout, gathering snails and, gradually and more intensely in successive
occupations, plants such as sloe, hazel and cherry. Hunting also diversified in the
Holocene, and even though ibex still predominated, roe deer and wild boar were also
hunted. In sum, Balma Margineda appears to have been a settlement used in different
periods by hunter-gatherer groups in a context of increasingly mild climates. Changes
in the groups’ industry and diet follow the general patterns seen in hunter-gatherer
communities in the late Pleistocene and early Holocene in Iberia (Gassiot 2001).
4.2.2 Initial Occupation of the High Zones
in the Early Holocene
Unlike Montlleó, Balma Margineda displays a long occupation sequence lasting
millennia. In the transition from the Pleistocene to the Holocene, the human
occupations became more intense and in fact until recently this site was considered
paradigmatic of the mountain occupation in the Pleistocene–Holocene transition. In
the last few years, archaeological surveying in the Claror, Perafita and Madriu
valleys, also in Andorra (Palet 2006) and Aigüestortes i Estany de Sant Maurici
National Park (Gassiot et al. 2014) have altered this view significantly. This
fieldwork has succeeded in documenting evidence of human occupations in the
sub-alpine and alpine altitudinal zones, at above 1800 m a.s.l. (Fig. 4.2).
The oldest evidence is Level 5 in Dolmen de la Font dels Coms, corresponding
to a possible phase prior to building the megalithic grave. This site is at the head of
the Baiasca valley, 6 km to the south-east of the park boundary, at 1840 m a.s.l. and
150 m below the watershed marking the western side of the river basin. Excavated
in 2002 and 2003 by the High Mountain Archaeological Group (GAAM, in
Catalan), it revealed a more complex archaeological sequence than initially
expected, with great re-use of the monument in later periods (Rappalino et al.
2007). The oldest occupation is related to a possible post-hole found when a trench
was opened in the tumulus to document its building method. The post-hole was
clearly underneath the base of the mound and was circular in cross-section, with a
diameter of nearly 20 cm and about 20 cm deep (Fig. 4.3). The top of the hole was
surrounded by pieces of schist, a local metamorphic rock, some of which were
placed vertically, marking the section of the hole. The sediment inside it contained a
large number of small pieces of charcoal, thus darkening it and making it easily
differentiable from the utterly barren earth surrounding it. One piece was dated to
8746–8563 cal BC. The level containing the top of the post-hole yielded one of
only two flint flakes found during the excavation of the site (Gassiot et al. 2014).
80
E. Gassiot Ballbè et al.