MULTIVARIATE-ANALYSIS OF REMAINS OF MOLLUSCAN FOODS CONSUMED BY LATEST PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE HUMANS IN NERJA CAVE, MALAGA, SPAIN

Nerja Cave is a karstic cavity used by humans from Late Paleolithic to post-Chalcolithic times. Remains of molluscan foods in the uppermost Pleistocene and Holocene sediments were studied with cluster analysis and principal components analysis, in both Q and R modes. The results from cluster analysis distinguished interval groups mainly in accordan ce with chronology and distinguished assemblages of species mainly acc ording to habitat. Significant changes in the shellfish diet through t ime were revealed. In the Late Magdalenian, most molluscs consumed con sisted of pulmonate gastropods and species from sandy sea bottoms. The Epipaleolithic diet was more varied and included species from rocky s horelines. From the Neolithic onward most molluscs consumed were from rocky shorelines. From the principal components analysis in Q mode, th e first factor reflected mainly changes in the predominant capture env ironment, probably because of major paleogeographic changes. The secon d factor may reflect selective capture along rocky coastlines during c ertain times. The third factor correlated well with the sea-surface te mperature curve in the western Mediterranean (Alboran Sea) during the late Quaternary. (C) 1997 University of Washington.