Enrique Cerrillo-Cuenca
Universidad Complutense de Madrid, Prehistory, Faculty Member
- Neolithic & Chalcolithic Archaeology, Iberian Prehistory (Archaeology), Archaeology of the Iberian Peninsula, Neolithic Transition, Prehistoric Archaeology, Prehistoric Settlement, and 48 moreArchaeology, Digital Archaeology, Digital Photogrammetry applied to Archaeology, Archaeological GIS, Mediterranean prehistory, Bronze Age (Archaeology), Neolithic Archaeology, Survey (Archaeological Method & Theory), Landscape, Archaeological Informatics, Agricultural landscapes, Archaeological Information Systems (AIS), Neolithic Europe, Neolithic Spain, Aerial Archaeology, Copper age, Early Neolithic pottery technology, Archaeology of shell middens, Mesolithic Archaeology, Mesolithic Europe, Mesolithic/Epipalaeolithic Archaeology, Remote sensing and GIS applications in Landscape Research, Death and Burial (Archaeology), Burial Practices (Archaeology), Burial mounds (Archaeology), Megalithic Monuments, Rock Art (Archaeology), Prehistoric Ditched Enclosures, Bronze Age Europe (Archaeology), Network Analysis, Historia de la Arqueología, Historiografía de la Arqueología, Papers De Aplicacion De Teledeteccion, Landscape Archaeology, Material Culture Studies, Archaeological Method & Theory, Funerary Archaeology, Prehistory, Archaeological Theory, Lithic Technology, Ethnoarchaeology, Social Archaeology, Mesolithic/Neolithic, Arte Rupestre Prehistórico, Tejo shell middens, LiDAR for Landscape Archaeology, History of Archaeology, and LiDARedit
- Now a lecturer at the Dpt. of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology from the Complutense University of Madrid, ... moreNow a lecturer at the Dpt. of Prehistory, Ancient History and Archaeology from the Complutense University of Madrid, I have worked for several universities and institutions. I held a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (2009-2015) at the IAM-CSIC and a Researcher position at IH-CSIC (2018-2019). My research has been mainly focused on the neolithization of inner Iberia (PhD dissertation, 2003) and the study of megalithic landscapes. My interests have expanded to other related fields like GIS in Archaeology, surface survey, computational Archaeology, 3D or image processing.edit
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This is the first monograph to focus on the study of Early Neolithic groups along the Tagus river basin, in Central Spain. The author presents the first archaeological results on the Neolithic communities in the province of Caceres,... more
This is the first monograph to focus on the study of Early Neolithic groups along the Tagus river basin, in Central Spain. The author presents the first archaeological results on the Neolithic communities in the province of Caceres, Central Spain, establishing a theoretical and methodological framework to analyse the archaeological record. A large part of the work gathers together previous archaeological research on the area and presents new data obtained from a review of museum collections, surveys, and the excavation of the site of Los Barruecos, the main archaeological reference for the Early Neolithic in the region. Other chapters cover the Early Neolithic material culture, the archaeobotanical data and an analysis of faunal remains, among other data.
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The present paper shows that is possible to record archaeological sites using 4k videos from UAVs. The here described methodology starts with the decomposition of the videos in the original frames. Considering that the recording of videos... more
The present paper shows that is possible to record archaeological sites using 4k videos from UAVs. The here described methodology starts with the decomposition of the videos in the original frames. Considering that the recording of videos is taken at a regular pace the extracted frames can be selected in different patterns to assure a proper photogrammetric restitution. In this paper, we have tested different configurations (overlapping of frames and the number of ground control points) to design an efficient protocol. The results show that the method is suitable for surveying large sites and that 4k videos can be a reliable source for producing accurate cartographic products (digital terrain models and ortho-images).
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Los estudios de aprovisionamiento del sílex en la comunidad autónoma de Extremadura están aún por desarrollarse. La incapacidad por ahora de relacionar las fuentes de aprovisionamiento del sílex conocidas con los materiales del registro... more
Los estudios de aprovisionamiento del sílex en la comunidad autónoma de Extremadura están aún por desarrollarse. La incapacidad por ahora de relacionar las fuentes de aprovisionamiento del sílex conocidas con los materiales del registro arqueológico se debe a la ausencia de análisis petrográficos, pero también a la falta de prospecciones geológicas y arqueológicas de las materias primas. En este trabajo presentamos un estado actual de la cuestión, recopilando fuentes geológicas que hasta ahora no habían sido tenidas en cuenta en la literatura arqueológica y describiendo algunos materiales, de forma macroscópica, procedentes de los trabajos que realizamos en distintos sectores de Extremadura.
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A mediados del siglo XIX comienza a fraguarse una explicación racional del pasado prehistórico en España. La asimilación de conceptos fue un proceso que no corrió pa- ralelo al de las antigüedades clásicas. Estas últimas contaban... more
A mediados del siglo XIX comienza a fraguarse una explicación racional del pasado prehistórico en España. La asimilación de conceptos fue un proceso que no corrió pa- ralelo al de las antigüedades clásicas. Estas últimas contaban con referentes materiales, formales e ideológicos inmediatos, mientras que en lo referente al “pasado remoto”, el prehistórico, el folklore había diseñado sus propias interpretaciones.
Entender como se produce la asimilación de contenidos científicos, los de las llamadas “ciencias prehistóricas”, en un ambiente como el de Extremadura, sólo es posible a través de la figura de Vicente Paredes. Paredes mantendrá contacto epistolar con las persona- lidades más influyentes de la Prehistoria peninsular de finales del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX, y tratará de ofrecer su peculiar interpretación de ese pasado primitivo a través de artículos en la Revista de Extremadura.
Entender como se produce la asimilación de contenidos científicos, los de las llamadas “ciencias prehistóricas”, en un ambiente como el de Extremadura, sólo es posible a través de la figura de Vicente Paredes. Paredes mantendrá contacto epistolar con las persona- lidades más influyentes de la Prehistoria peninsular de finales del siglo XIX y comienzos del XX, y tratará de ofrecer su peculiar interpretación de ese pasado primitivo a través de artículos en la Revista de Extremadura.
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La multiplicidad de puntos de vista sobre un mismo dominio genera la aparición de diferentes ontologías, en la mayoría de las ocasiones con información semántica complementaria. El uso conjunto de estas ontologías como una base de... more
La multiplicidad de puntos de vista sobre un
mismo dominio genera la aparición de diferentes
ontologías, en la mayoría de las ocasiones con
información semántica complementaria. El uso
conjunto de estas ontologías como una base de
conocimiento presupone la aceptación de un
contexto común. En este trabajo se propone una
ontología de contexto (OC), para definir el
contexto, y una forma de representación de los
mismos que facilita la resolución de consultas
contextuales sobre la base de conocimiento.
Las proposiciones que se pueden expresar con
OC tienen una estructura similar a la del lenguaje
natural, consiguiendo un alto grado de
expresividad. Basándonos en la ontología OC se
ha definido un espacio multidimensional (EM)
que permite expresar contextos. Asociaremos un
contexto de EM a cada ontología y a cada
consulta, y su comparación permite deducir si la
ontología es relevante para dicha consulta y, por
tanto, si debe utilizarse para obtener su respuesta.
Un mecanismo de extensión del contexto de
búsqueda puede mejorar la selección de
ontologías relevantes.
Como resultado final, se ha implementado el
sistema experimental ArqueOnto, que permite
consultar términos arqueológicos en función del
contexto.
mismo dominio genera la aparición de diferentes
ontologías, en la mayoría de las ocasiones con
información semántica complementaria. El uso
conjunto de estas ontologías como una base de
conocimiento presupone la aceptación de un
contexto común. En este trabajo se propone una
ontología de contexto (OC), para definir el
contexto, y una forma de representación de los
mismos que facilita la resolución de consultas
contextuales sobre la base de conocimiento.
Las proposiciones que se pueden expresar con
OC tienen una estructura similar a la del lenguaje
natural, consiguiendo un alto grado de
expresividad. Basándonos en la ontología OC se
ha definido un espacio multidimensional (EM)
que permite expresar contextos. Asociaremos un
contexto de EM a cada ontología y a cada
consulta, y su comparación permite deducir si la
ontología es relevante para dicha consulta y, por
tanto, si debe utilizarse para obtener su respuesta.
Un mecanismo de extensión del contexto de
búsqueda puede mejorar la selección de
ontologías relevantes.
Como resultado final, se ha implementado el
sistema experimental ArqueOnto, que permite
consultar términos arqueológicos en función del
contexto.
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The Tagus River basin in Extremadura region (Spain) was re-structured during the second half of 20th century, flooding a vast extension of the drainage. The lack of a global planning for assessing the impact of reservoirs on cultural... more
The Tagus River basin in Extremadura region (Spain) was re-structured during the second half of 20th century, flooding a vast extension of the drainage. The lack of a global planning for assessing the impact of reservoirs on cultural heritage forced to develop a specific actuation on Roman buildings, although not a systematic recording of the affected cultural heritage goods. This can be considered today as a first order issue when protecting the sites from the damage that the reservoirs cause. Up to the date there are not initiatives in Spain focused on the assessment of these damages. We have modelled in a GIS environment the variables that deteriorate archaeological sites with the aim of predicting their possibilities for preservation.The study case is the Alconétar area. The obtained results are useful for the management of cultural heritage and the planning of archaeological projects, increasingly frequent in areas of reservoirs.
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Resumen: En 1874 Jerónimo de Sande, un erudito local, excavó una serie de monumentos megalíticos localizados cerca del cauce del río Tajo, que constituían la necrópolis de Guadancil. En este trabajo realizamos un recorrido por la... more
Resumen: En 1874 Jerónimo de Sande, un erudito local, excavó una serie de monumentos megalíticos localizados cerca del cauce del río Tajo, que constituían la necrópolis de Guadancil. En este trabajo realizamos un recorrido por la documentación histórica disponible para desentrañar una nueva lectura de la necrópolis, así como un análisis arqueológico de los materiales que se conservan hoy en día en el Museo Arqueológico Nacional en la Colección Sande. El análisis conjunto de materiales e información histórica nos sirve para comprender mejor la inserción de los monumentos en el paisaje, pero también comportamientos sociales y culturales de las comunidades del III milenio cal BC en el interior peninsular.
Abstract: In 1874 Jerónimo de Sande, an antiquarian, excavated a series of megalithic monuments near the Tagus River, which formed the Guadancil necropolis. In this paper we gather all the available historical documentation to untangle a new interpretation of this necropolis as well as an archaeological analysis of the archaeological artefacts preserved in the Sande collection at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional. The combined analysis of artefacts and historicalinformation allows us to understand the insertion of monuments in their landscape,but also social and cultural behaviour of human communities from the 3rd millennium calBC in inland Spain
Abstract: In 1874 Jerónimo de Sande, an antiquarian, excavated a series of megalithic monuments near the Tagus River, which formed the Guadancil necropolis. In this paper we gather all the available historical documentation to untangle a new interpretation of this necropolis as well as an archaeological analysis of the archaeological artefacts preserved in the Sande collection at the Museo Arqueológico Nacional. The combined analysis of artefacts and historicalinformation allows us to understand the insertion of monuments in their landscape,but also social and cultural behaviour of human communities from the 3rd millennium calBC in inland Spain
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In this paper a method for the detection of megalithic barrows from LiDAR height data is presented. The methodology is grounded on the joint application of morphometric and morphological classification of digital terrain models,... more
In this paper a method for the detection of megalithic barrows from LiDAR height data is presented. The methodology is grounded on the joint application of morphometric and morphological classification of digital terrain models, segmentation and detection of circular patterns (Hough Transform). Since the segmentation of the data is proposed it can be considered as a GEOBIA (Geo-Object-based Image Analysis) approach to remote sensing in Archaeology. There are three major strengths in the proposed methodology: 1) the use of supercomputing (High Performance Computing) for the analysis of topographical information, 2) the development of own specific code, and 3) the use of accurate topographic descriptors for terrain analysis. The method is able to provide concrete locations that can eventually match the theoretical morphometric features of this kind of sepulchres. The application has leaded to discover new barrows in a region from Western Spain.
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The preliminary results of an archaeological survey program in the region of La Vera (Cáceres, Spain), aiming to the study of the Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement in the Tagus basin, are presented. This research lead to the detection... more
The preliminary results of an archaeological survey program in the region of La Vera (Cáceres, Spain), aiming to the study of the Mesolithic and Neolithic settlement in the Tagus basin, are presented. This research lead to the detection of a new concentration of Neolithic open-air sites in the area known as Veguillas (Jarandilla de la Vera). The sites were poorly preserved due to recent erosion processes. Yet it was possible to find a Neo- lithic structure (Veguillas), to delimite precisely the settlements, and to characterize their industries. These were mainly defined by the presence of geometric microliths knapped with the microburin technique.
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En este artículo presentamos información inédita sobre Jerónimo de Sande, bien conocido por sus excavaciones en los dólmenes de Guadancil (Garrovillas de Alconétar, Cáceres). Sande fue un coleccionista destacado, que con su labor... more
En este artículo presentamos información inédita sobre Jerónimo de Sande, bien conocido por sus excavaciones en los dólmenes de Guadancil (Garrovillas de Alconétar, Cáceres). Sande fue un coleccionista destacado, que con su labor contribuyó a formar las colecciones del Museo Arqueológico Nacional y el Museo de Cáceres. La información que presentamos sirve para contextualizar socialmente la práctica arqueológica del siglo XIX en la región, pero también para entenderla dentro de un proceso de formalización e institucionalización de la Arqueología en una escala nacional.
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A series of occupations from Epipalaeolithic to Modern Age has been recognised at the group of caves from Canaleja Valley (Romangordo, Cáceres, Spain). Artefacts belonging to different archaeological contexts have been recovered. Part of... more
A series of occupations from Epipalaeolithic to Modern Age has been recognised at the group of caves from Canaleja Valley (Romangordo, Cáceres, Spain). Artefacts belonging to different archaeological contexts have been recovered. Part of them, yet unpublished, is formed by fish hooks, matrices for their crafting,
fishing net weights… artefacts linked to the practice of fishing, whose study allows us to reflect about the economy of Late Prehistory in Extremadura region, in a place where Tagus River and its secondary streams are relevant.
fishing net weights… artefacts linked to the practice of fishing, whose study allows us to reflect about the economy of Late Prehistory in Extremadura region, in a place where Tagus River and its secondary streams are relevant.
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En el presente artículo realizamos un repaso por las técnicas de realce digital de pinturas rupestres, tanto de algoritmos y soluciones aplicadas por nosotros mismos como de otras que ya cuentan con un cierto recorrido en la literatura.... more
En el presente artículo realizamos un repaso por las técnicas de realce digital de pinturas rupestres,
tanto de algoritmos y soluciones aplicadas por nosotros mismos como de otras que ya cuentan con un cierto
recorrido en la literatura. Quizás es el momento óptimo, ya que nos encontramos ante un incremento de
los trabajos que adoptan técnicas digitales para la documentación de arte rupestre. Pretendemos ofrecer
una actualización de los métodos publicados con breves comentarios, así como una serie de reflexiones finales
que apuntan algunas posibles tendencias de evolución de las técnicas.
In this paper we do a review about the techniques of digital enhancement of paintings in rock art considering
algorithms and solutions applied by ourselves as well as others that have been published during the last
years. Nowadays is perhaps an optimum time to do such a review, since the number of research papers on
the application of digital techniques for rock art documentation has increased. We intend to offer an actualization
of the methods with brief comments as well as some thoughts that point out future methodological
developments.
tanto de algoritmos y soluciones aplicadas por nosotros mismos como de otras que ya cuentan con un cierto
recorrido en la literatura. Quizás es el momento óptimo, ya que nos encontramos ante un incremento de
los trabajos que adoptan técnicas digitales para la documentación de arte rupestre. Pretendemos ofrecer
una actualización de los métodos publicados con breves comentarios, así como una serie de reflexiones finales
que apuntan algunas posibles tendencias de evolución de las técnicas.
In this paper we do a review about the techniques of digital enhancement of paintings in rock art considering
algorithms and solutions applied by ourselves as well as others that have been published during the last
years. Nowadays is perhaps an optimum time to do such a review, since the number of research papers on
the application of digital techniques for rock art documentation has increased. We intend to offer an actualization
of the methods with brief comments as well as some thoughts that point out future methodological
developments.
Research Interests:
A detailed pollen analysis has been carried out on two sediment cores taken from a marsh area located in the Doñana National Park, southwestern Spain. The studied sedimentary sequences contain a similar late Holocene record of vegetation... more
A detailed pollen analysis has been carried out on two sediment cores taken from a marsh area located in the Doñana National Park, southwestern Spain. The studied sedimentary sequences contain a similar late Holocene record of vegetation and climate and show a progressive aridification trend since at least 5000 cal. yr BP, through a decrease in forest cover in this area. Long-term vegetation changes shown here (semi-desert expansion and Mediterranean forest decline) paralleled declining summer insolation. Decreasing summer insolation most likely impacted negatively on tree growing season as well as on winter precipitation in the area. Superimposed on the long-term aridification trend were multi-centennial scale periods characterized by forest reductions or increases in arid and halophytic plants that can be interpreted as produced by enhanced droughts and/or by local geodynamic processes. These are centered at ca. 4000, 3000–2500, and 1000 cal. yr BP, coinciding in timing and duration with well-known dry events in the western Mediterranean and other areas but could have also been generated by local sedimentary or geodynamic processes such as a marine transgression in a subsidence context and extreme wave events (EWEs). The alternation of persistent North Atlantic Oscillation modes probably played an important role in controlling these relatively humid–arid cycles.
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During the 1960 and 1970 decades, several engineering works were performed along the Tagus River for producing hydroelectric energy; consequently areas with high potential archaeological were flooded. Since the heritage preservation... more
During the 1960 and 1970 decades, several engineering works were performed along the Tagus River for producing hydroelectric energy; consequently areas with high potential archaeological were flooded. Since the heritage preservation polices were in an early stage, the works didn’t count with impact evaluation assesses, and a system- atic documentation of heritage was never performed. Nowadays, there is awareness for engaging in activities directed to the underwater heritage that lies in continental waters, which should lead to a discussion about how to face its preservation. Current laws do not reflect the status of this specific underwater heritage, consequently, the sites are consid- ered as conventional terrestrial archaeological heritage. It seems evident that is necessary to develop techniques to boost the gathering of information on the sites and their environments, which should be also dedicated to analyse and model the agents that aggravate its deterioration.
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In this paper we present the recent advances on the characterization of burial caves from Extremadura region (Spain). We present an appraisal of actualised data, which includes recent absolute dates and anthropological data. We briefly... more
In this paper we present the recent advances on the characterization of burial caves from Extremadura region (Spain). We present an appraisal of actualised data, which includes recent absolute dates and anthropological data. We briefly discuss about the interpretation of collective burial caves and the observed rituals from Early Neolithic to Copper Age.
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A multidisciplinary analysis of cores and geomorphic patterns in the marshes of Doñana National Park (SW Spain) has yielded new evidence regarding the sedimentary infilling and geomorphological evolution of the Guadalquivir estuary during... more
A multidisciplinary analysis of cores and geomorphic patterns in the marshes of Doñana National Park (SW Spain) has yielded new evidence regarding the sedimentary infilling and geomorphological evolution of the Guadalquivir estuary during the Holocene. The sedimentation and geomorphological disposition have been strongly conditioned by neotectonic activity along a set of SW-NE alignments, interrupted by other alignments that follow E-W and NW-SE directions. The most conspicuous of the SW-NE alignments is the Torre Carbonero-Marilópez Fault (TCMF). South of this fault, the estuary experienced a marked subsidence from about 4000 to 2000 cal. yr BP through a series of sedimentary sequences of retrogradation and aggradation within the context of relative sea-level rise. From c. 2000 cal. yr BP to the present the subsidence has remained relatively dormant, with progradation of the littoral systems and infilling of the marshland progressing within a context of sea-level stability. Our results reveal that neotectonic activity is a critical factor that must also be reckoned with in any attempt to understand the Holocene geomorphological evolution in the Guadalquivir estuary.
