Integrating conservation strategies into archaeological research: insights from the Early Pleistocene site of Barranc de la Boella (Tarragona, Spain)

Lucía López-Polín; Andrea Díaz-Cortés; Elena Moreno-Ribas; Noé Valtierra; Irene Cazalla; Laura Gómez Morgado; Júlia Jiskoot; María Martínez; Ana Montemayor; Janire Múgica; Blanca Sicilia; Antonio Pineda; Josep Vallverdú; Palmira Saladié

doi:10.14568/cp39872

Authors

Lucía López-Polín Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002 Tarragona, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5810-4115
Andrea Díaz-Cortés Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Museum Conservation Institute, Smithsonian Institution, 4210 Silver Hill Road, Suitland, Maryland 20746, United States https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5629-4226
Elena Moreno-Ribas Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002 Tarragona, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0947-6457
Noé Valtierra Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0731-2667
Irene Cazalla Natural History Museum Abu Dhabi, GCM9+884 Al Saadiyat Island, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8790-4560
Laura Gómez Morgado Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Júlia Jiskoot Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain
María Martínez Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Ana Montemayor Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain https://orcid.org/0009-0000-3969-719X
Janire Múgica Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Blanca Sicilia Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain
Antonio Pineda Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain; UMR 7194 HNHP (MNHN-CNRS-UPVD), Département Homme et Environnement, Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 1 Rue René Panhard, 75013, Paris, France https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3767-8590
Josep Vallverdú Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002 Tarragona, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3177-3263
Palmira Saladié Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social (IPHES-CERCA), Zona Educacional 4, Campus Sescelades URV (Edifici W3), 43007 Tarragona, Spain; Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Departament d’Història i Història de l’Art, Avinguda de Catalunya 35, 43002 Tarragona, Spain https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1730-8461

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.14568/cp39872

Keywords:

Conservation, Archaeology, Bone, Lithics, Coprolites

Abstract

Stone tools and faunal remains are abundant in the archaeological record, serving as key focal points for research and important features of museum exhibitions. Nevertheless, they are under-represented in the conservation literature. This article reports on the conservation of over 2,000 finds from the Early Pleistocene site of Barranc de la Boella (Spain) recovered during field seasons 2007-2023. It focuses on osteological remains, lithic artefacts and coprolites (fossil faeces), detailing the workflow from the fieldwork to the laboratory, specifying the criteria and techniques employed for each group of materials. In the absence of clear guidelines, the archaeological study approaches adopted for each group of finds helped define the conservation strategies. Therefore, conservation treatments are naturally aligned with the research aims, making conservation an integral part of the research project. We conclude by emphasising the importance of sharing conservation practices to inspire innovation in conservation techniques.

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