Taphonomic approach to the palynological record of burnt and unburnt samples from El Mirador Cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain)

An analysis of twelve samples from Bronze Age level MIR4 (3040 ± 40-3400 ± 40 BP), burnt to different degrees, has allowed to characterised the palynological content of the sedimentary facies generated by burning practices. The pollen and Non-Pollen Palynomorphs (NPP) remains have contributed to our understanding of the diagenetic factors that accompanied the accumulation dynamics. The taphonomic analysis has led to the detection of biases in the palynological record associated to diagenetic processes, mainly relating to burning activities, which would also have caused the variability in the NPPs. This alternative approach to archaeological samples has revealed the heterogenic nature of the taphonomic modifications found in samples with apparently the same origin.