Cova Foradà

Cova Foradà (or Cova Foradada)^[1] is an archaeological site consisting of a cave with remains of Neanderthals near Oliva, in the Province of Valencia, Spain.^[2] The most complete skeleton of a Neanderthal ever found on the Iberian peninsula was found there in 2010. One of the Neanderthals whose remains were found in the cave used a toothpick to alleviate pain in his teeth caused by periodontal disease and dental wear.^{[citation needed]}

Location and description

The karst cave is located 5 kilometres (3.1 mi) southeast of the village of Oliva,^[3] at 3.5 kilometres (2.2 mi) from the coast of the Mediterranean, and archaeological excavations have taken place since 1977.^[4] The cave is found in a low hill, one of a group of hills called the Muntanyetes de Oliva, the last part of the Serra de Mustalla before the floodplain that ends at the coast.^[5] It has been occupied since the Middle Paleolithic, including in the Mousterian and Mesolithic periods, and in the Bronze Age.^[2] Its environment was rich and varied, with mountains on one side and lagoons on the other.^[3]

Archaeological finds

A maxilla (almost complete, with a number of teeth), a molar, a fibula, and four fragments of a cranium belonging to two humans were found between 2000 and 2003, in what appeared to be a layer from the Mousterian. All fragments except for the molar were from an adult, who died at between 35 and 45 years old; the molar was from a child of around 2.5 years old. The maxilla showed periodontal disease and heavy dental wear, which must have caused considerable pain; there was a significant gap (8.05 mm for the canine) between the teeth and the alveolar bone. The person attempted to alleviate the discomfort with a toothpick, as evidenced by two grooves on the distal surface of two of the remaining teeth: "the habit of using a tool to pick the teeth may be considered early evidence of medical treatment to alleviate sore gums".^[2]

In 2010, in further excavations on the same spot where the maxilla was found, an almost complete skeleton of a Neanderthal was found, the most complete skeleton (with the bones still attached to the spine) ever found on the Iberian peninsula.^[3]

In 2019, it was reported that archeologists found a necklace featuring eagle claws, which suggests symbolic purposes.^[6]

Research

Excavations have been led by José Aparicio Pérez, for the archaeological department of the Provincial Government of Valencia.^[7]

See also

• List of Neanderthal sites

References

Notes

Bibliography

• Aparicio Pérez, José (2015). "Cova Foradà (Oliva. Valencia)" (PDF). Serie arqueológica (in Spanish). 24: 10–35. ISSN 0213-9219.
• Lozano, Marina; Subirà, Maria Eulàlia; Aparicio, José; Lorenzo, Carlos; Gómez-Merino, Gala (2013). "Toothpicking and Periodontal Disease in a Neanderthal Specimen from Cova Foradà Site (Valencia, Spain)". PLOS ONE. 8 (10): e76852. Bibcode:2013PLoSO...876852L. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0076852. PMC 3797767. PMID 24146934.
• Gómez‐Merino, Gala; Lorenzo, Carlos; Subirà, Eulàlia; Lozano, Marina; Aparicio, José (2018). "Conservation methodology applied to the Homo neanderthalensis remains from Cova Foradà site (Oliva, Valencia, Spain)". International Union for Prehistoric and Protohistoric Sciences.
• "Hallada en la Cova Foradà de Oliva la conexión anatómica más completa de un neandertal". El Mundo (in Spanish). 29 September 2010. Retrieved 13 August 2019.
• Rubio, Beatriz (18 August 2007). "La Cova Foradada de Oliva, el yacimiento 'más completo'". El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 August 2019.

External links

• "Cova Forada de Oliva, Territorio Neandertal"