IPHES-CERCA participation in the 31st EAA Annual Meeting (Belgrade Virtual, 2025)
The 31st Annual Meeting of the European Association of Archaeologists (EAA), initially scheduled for Belgrade, was finally held virtually from August 27 to 30, 2025. This congress is one of the most important international meetings in the field of archaeology, with hundreds of sessions. The aim of the EAA is to foster interdisciplinary dialogue, unveil new research perspectives, and promote the role of archaeological heritage in contemporary society.
This edition, marked by its global scope and commitment to a fully digital format, addressed a wide range of topics, ranging from the exploitation of aquatic landscapes in prehistory to the use of new technologies for the analysis and dissemination of the archaeological record. IPHES-CERCA research staff had a prominent presence, coordinating sessions and presenting numerous contributions that reflect the diversity and international reach of the research conducted at the center:
1.- Mariana Nabais (IPHES-CERCA) and others. Last Interglacial mollusc exploitation in western Iberia: evidence from Gruta da Figueira Brava
Abstract: This study analyzes how MIS-5 Neanderthals systematically exploited marine resources in Figueira Brava Cave (western Iberian Peninsula). The high proportion of mollusks, along with evidence of processing and consumption, demonstrates a sustained and sophisticated coastal adaptation.
2.- Ethel Allué, Andres Robledo, María Juana Gabucio, Noa Lachman, Alba Vidal and others. Energy use and firewood-related practices among Paleolithic hunter-gatherers
Abstract: This project examines the use of fire and fuels in the Middle and Upper Paleolithic through charcoal analysis, dendroanthracology, and experimentation. The results reveal recurring patterns in the selection of wood and other fuels, with implications for understanding the living conditions and social organization of hunter-gatherer groups.
3.- Juan Manuel López-García, Mónica Fernández-García . Reconstructing southwestern Europe Quaternary environment and climate through rodent's assemblages
Abstract: This study uses small rodent remains from several sites to reconstruct the climate and landscape of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula throughout the Quaternary. The results identify key moments such as the Eemian, the Glacial Maximum, and the transition to the Holocene, providing essential data for understanding the region's environmental evolution.
4.- Javier Villalobos, Palmira Saladié, Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo . Taphonomic analysis of faunal assemblage from sublevel TD10.4 (Gran Dolina, Atapuerca, Spain)
Abstract: The faunal assemblage of sublevel TD10.4 of Gran Dolina (Atapuerca, ~400–450 ka) is analyzed, affected by diagenetic processes and carnivore activity. The study shows how post-depositional alterations influenced bone preservation and provides key information on the formation of the Pleistocene faunal record.
5.- Maria Joana Gabucio (IPHES-CERCA), Anna Rufà (IPHES-CERCA) . Archaeological sciences and opening new research perspectives (Session)
Session dedicated to the complexity of Paleolithic contexts and the need for transdisciplinary approaches. Emphasis was placed on palimpsest dissection, settlement dynamics, and mobility, integrating zooarchaeology, taphonomy, lithic technology, sedimentology, and spatial analysis to better understand Paleolithic occupations and subsistence strategies.
6.- Javier Villalobos (IPHES-CERCA), Palmira Saladié (IPHES-CERCA), Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo (IPHES-CERCA) . Taphonomic analysis of faunal assemblage from sublevel TD10.4 (Gran Dolina, Atapuerca, Spain)
Taphonomic analysis of sublevel TD10.4 (Gran Dolina, ~400–450 ka) shows that diagenetic processes and karst conditions were decisive in the modification and preservation of the bones. Carnivorous activity was also detected, but without clear evidence of direct human action. The study provides key information on the formation of Pleistocene faunal assemblages.
7.- Jordi Rosell (IPHES-CERCA), Maite Arilla (IPHES-CERCA), Ruth Blasco (IPHES-CERCA) and others. The role of scavengers in campsites: a neotaphonomic proxy for understanding human occupations.
Based on neotaphonomic studies of modern-day scavengers, it is argued that their activity could explain the uniformity observed in many Middle Paleolithic bone assemblages. This perspective is essential for correctly interpreting human employment patterns and avoiding erroneous inferences about the duration and nature of settlements.
8.- Juan Marín-Hernando (IPHES-CERCA) and others. Shedding new light on the 18b unit of El Castillo Cave: revisiting the archaeofaunal assemblage
The reexamination of Unit 18b of Castillo Cave (Cantabria) reveals specialized deer hunting by Neanderthals. The study, which combines traditional taphonomic and zooarchaeological methods with artificial intelligence, provides new insights into hunting strategies, carcass processing, and interactions with carnivores.
9.- Loïc Lebreton (IPHES-CERCA) and others. Reindeer and Neanderthals along the Saône-Rhône fluvial corridor: What subsistence strategies in Vergisson IV (MIS 4–3, Saône-et-Loire, France)?
A taphonomic and zooarchaeological study of the Vergisson IV site documents extensive reindeer herding, complemented by horses and large bovids, in a context of significant climatic fluctuations (MIS 4-3). Cut marks and skeletal representation indicate the in-situ contribution and processing of carcasses and recurring Neanderthal uses in the Saône-Rhône corridor.
10.- Anna Rufà, Ruth Blasco, Florent Rivals, Jordi Rosell (all IPHES-CERCA). Zooarchaeological evidence and multidisciplinary perspectives where Neanderthal occupation duration: the case of Teixoneres Cave sub-unit IIIb
The analysis of subunit IIIb at Teixoneres Cave (Moià) reveals cycles of brief human visits alternating with carnivore occupations (MIS 3). The combination of methods (horizontal excavation, taphonomy, and other proxies) allows us to reconstruct temporal and spatial patterns of occupation and better understand Neanderthal subsistence strategies.
11.- Palmira Saladié, Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo (all IPHES-CERCA) – Discerning Pleistocene carnivore activity through geometric morphometrics and machine learning: an example from Cueva Fantasma (Atapuerca, Spain)
Application of geometric morphometrics and machine learning to discriminate the activity of different carnivores in Ghost Cave (level SF30A). The approach improves the identification of the accumulating/modifying agent and refines the interpretation of the deposit formation processes.
12.- Aristeidis Strimenopoulos, Marina Lozano (IPHES-CERCA) and others. Unveiling Late Prehistoric practices of the Northeastern Iberian Peninsula: a complementary approach to dental microwear analysis
Study of dental microwear in remains from four sites in Catalonia (Early and Middle Bronze Age) to infer diet and non-masticatory uses of teeth. The combination of optical and digital microscopy allows for the comparison of dietary and behavioral patterns in children and adults, men and women, demonstrating the value of complementary methodologies.
13.- Raquel Hernando, Iván Ramírez-Pedraza, Carlos Tornero, Marina Lozano (all IPHES-CERCA) Dietary practices in Late Prehistory of Northeastern Iberia: the House of Roc of the Swallows and Giant's Cave
Oral microwear analysis reveals clear differences between a high-mountain group (Roc de les Orenetes, a pastoral diet plus meat/dairy products) and a coastal group (Cova del Gigante, a mixed diet with extrinsic particles). Combined with oral pathology and isotopes, the study shows how environment and resources shape feeding strategies.
14.- Raquel Hernando, Palmira Saladié, Celia Díez-Canseco, Carlos Tornero (all IPHES-CERCA) Oral pathologies from Roc de las Golondrinas: Health and lifestyle of an Early Bronze Age population in the Eastern Pyrenees
In the burial cave (at least 51 individuals), few caries were detected, but periodontitis, enamel hypoplasia, and dental calculus were abundant. The pattern suggests a diet rich in animal protein and soft/processed foods, with metabolic deficiencies consistent with anemia or scurvy in a high-mountain setting with high physiological stress.
Strimenopoulos , Ángel Rubio-Salvador (IPHES-CERCA)
Study of non-masticatory dental grooves associated with textile activities (spinning) in samples from El Argar and other contexts in the southeastern Iberian Peninsula. The combination of SEM, digital, and confocal microscopy allows for the characterization of the marks, inferences about biological profiles, and points to possible task specialization, especially among women.
16.- Javier Sopesens Aixalà, Antonio Rodríguez-Hidalgo, Palmira Saladié Ballesté (IPHES-CERCA) Streamlined photogrammetric protocol for efficient digitization of large zoo-archaeological collection
Proposed accelerated photogrammetric protocol for digitizing thousands of bones from the IPHES-CERCA reference collection , automating steps with RealityKit and Python scripts. It reduces time and manual adjustments, manages complex surfaces, and supports open science with standard metadata for preservation and reuse.
17.- Andrés Robledo, Manuel Vaquero, Ethel Allué ( IPHES-CERCA ) The hut is warm, but not at the fair: fair experiments and fuel management at Molino del Salto (Late Upper Palaeolithic)
Fire experiments in an experimental cabin inspired by the Molí del Salt (Magdalení) to evaluate fuel and emissions management. A preference for Pinus sylvestris and the use of other taxa for specific functions are observed, with implications for health, habitat, and technological decision-making.
18.- Celia Díez-Canseco, Héctor Del Valle, Eudald Carbonell, Carlos Tornero ( IPHES-CERCA ) Mapping community pharmacy in the Pyrenées: early sheep evidence identified through ZooMS analyzes
Application of ZooMS in Bauma dels Fadrins (Queralbs) to identify domestic sheep in early Neolithic contexts in the Alt Pirineu. Preliminary data point to one of the oldest evidences of sheep in the area and will help date the arrival of sheep-producing economies in the mountains.
19.- Filippo Zangrossi, Mª Gema Chacón, Palmira Saladié, José Vallverdú, Manuel Vaquero ( IPHES-CERCA ) Accessory spatiotemporal dynamics in lithic assemblages through informatic technologies: high-resolution analysis of Abric Romaní, Middle Palaeolithic (Capellades, Barcelona, Spain)
A 3D methodology (GIS, modeling, statistics, and graph theory) was used to dissect the palimpsest at the Abric Romero M level (~54.5 ka). The high-resolution approach integrates repeats and spatial variables to interpret technological overlaps and sequences in the lithic record.
20.- Juan I. Morales, Mourad Farkouch, Robert Sala-Ramos, Mª Gema Chacón ( IPHES-CERCA The role of resource availability in shaping lithic technological behavior: insights from Sahb el Ghar 3 (Aïn Beni Mathar, Morocco)
An open-air MSA assemblage of 674 artifacts displays flexible strategies (Levallois, biface, unipolar) influenced by the abundance of local chalcedony. Low retouching and minimal platform preparation suggest pragmatic decisions oriented toward immediate resources and needs.
21.- Juan Ignacio Morales ( IPHES-CERCA ) Prehistoric archeology in Spanish education: analyzing gaps between research and school curricula
Diagnosis of the gap between research and secondary school/high school curricula in Prehistory in Spain: biased, outdated, and lacking in social literacy. The project proposes bases for measuring impact and ways to update key topics (migration, climate change, care) and strengthen the humanities.
22.- Irene González-Molina, Amelia Bargalló, Gema Chacón, Bruno Gómez de Soler, Palmira Saladié, José Vallverdú, Manuel Vaquero ( IPHES-CERCA ) Stones in transit: analyzing the mobile toolkits from levels M and P of Abric Romaní (Capellades, Spain)
Analysis of mobile toolkits at the M (discoid/expeditious) and P (Levallois/laminar) levels to assess whether their composition reflects mobility or technological context. Raw Material Units and refits show already configured parts introduced and transport decisions linked to Neanderthal strategies.
23.- Ana Abrunhosa, Andrea Alías Sotos ( IPHES-CERCA ) Connecting past and present: inspiring young minds through prehistoric outreach
Heritage education experience in primary school (Montessori, Porto) with practical workshops (tools, art, archaeology). We advocate for expanding programs in Portugal with materials appropriate for ages 6-9, integrating current research and sustainability to bridge the school-university gap.
24.- María Juana Gabucio, Patricia Martín, Ana Abrunhosa, Andrea Alías ( IPHES-CERCA ) Archaeologists sifting through trash: from Paleolithic waste to contemporary challenges
The "Archaeologists Removing Trash" outreach program connects prehistoric waste management with current challenges (SDG 2030). Immersive workshops and talks for families and schools have been implemented at local and international events, with positive reception and plans for expansion.
25.- Leopoldo Pérez ( IPHES-CERCA) Experimental insights into cooking, processing, and preservation of rabbits during the Palaeolithic
Experiments with rabbits (roasting, smoking, and drying) to compare bone modifications and better interpret the use of small prey items without obvious cut marks. The results help to identify cooking/preservation techniques in the Mediterranean archaeological record.
26.- Celia Díez-Canseco, Carlos Tornero ( IPHES-CERCA ) Patrilineality and female exogamy in Late Chalcolithic mountain community at the Eastern Pyrenees
Genomes from 65 Late Chalcolithic individuals at Roc de les Orenetes reveal strong patrilineality and possible female exogamy (gender imbalance and absence of daughters). With no recent inbreeding and no rockrose ancestry, the case demonstrates complex organization before the major demographic changes of the Bronze Age.
27.- Brice Lebrun, Javier Sopesens Aixalà, Antonio Rodríguez Hidalgo, Palmira Saladié Ballesté. Streamlined photogrammetric protocol for efficient digitization of the large zoo-archaeological collection.
This presentation describes an innovative and efficient photogrammetric protocol to rapidly digitize the IPHES-CERCA osteological collection, made up of thousands of specimens with complex geometry. Using frameworks such as RealityKit and scripts in Python, the generation of 3D models is optimized, reducing calculation time and manual tasks. The automation and management of technical challenges allow digital replicas to be obtained in a few minutes, following the principles of open science and with standardized metadata.
28.- Brice Lebrun, Javier Sopesens Aixalà, Antonio Rodríguez Hidalgo, Palmira Saladié Ballesté. The open-access digitalized osteological collection of IPHES-CERCA
The COR-IPHES osteological collection, initiated in the 1980s-1990s and with more than 300 individuals from 80 species, is a key resource for zooarchaeological and paleontological research. It is currently being digitized using a fast and precise photogrammetric protocol, which generates high-quality 3D models even in complex bones. The project follows the FAIR and open science principles, with standardized metadata and online repositories, to guarantee the accessibility and reuse of the data on an international scale.