Fish remains from the Neolithic site of El Mirador cave (Atapuerca, Spain): Seasonality and resource management

Ichthyoarchaeological analyses of the freshwater fish remains from levels 19 and 20 in El Mirador cave (Atapuerca, Spain) have been conducted. Fish were always present as a source of animal protein, although their importance in the human diet was not fully exploited by people during the Neolithic on the Iberian Peninsula. Two principal goals are treated here: a taxonomic study of the fish remains and a characterization of the exploitation of this resource. The results show that the human community of El Mirador cave practiced fishing, and that fish was part of their diet and social life.