Miriam Cubas
Research Associate

Profile

Biography

I completed my undergraduate at the University of Alcalá de Henares (Spain) and my DEA and PhD at the University of Cantabria (Spain). My PhD dissertation (2010) involved the mineralogical and chemical analysis of Neolithic pottery in the Cantabrian region (North of Spain). It was focused on the characterization of the different manufacturing processes as an approach to technology transfer mechanisms differentiating between the local and the foreign origin of the vessels allowing the connection of  this technology with the subsistence basis.

In 2015, I joined to the BioArCh group and to the Department of Archaeology at the University of York as a Marie Curie Postdoctoral Research Fellow. My research  project (CerAM, 2015-2017) was focused on the role of pottery in the transition to farming in the Atlantic Coast of Europe. By applying the latest chemical and molecular analysis we reconstructed the use of pottery during this key transition of Atlantic Southern Europe.

Currently, I have a postdoctoral position at the Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi, in Spain, analyzing pottery assemblages from Neolithic sites along the Atlantic Arc and I join as Research Associate of the Department of Archaeology at the University of York. This project is funded by the Diputación Foral de Gipuzkoa (Neolithisation processes along the Atlantic Arc -NeoArc-).

Career

October 2017. Programa Fellows Gipuzkoa de atracción y retención de talento. Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi. Project: Neolithisation processes along the Atlantic Arc (NeoArc)

2015-2017. Marie Curie Research  Fellow. BioArCh-Department of Archaeology. University of York. Project: First ceramics of Atlantic Europe: manufacture and function (CerAM)

2013-2015. Postdoctoral Researcher. University of Cantabria

2011-2012. Fellow of the Museum of Prehistory and Archaeology of Cantabria

2010. PhD. University of Cantabria

2009-2010. Predoctoral Researcher. University of Cantabria

2005-2009. Predoctoral Fellow. University of Cantabria

Publications

Selected publications

Books

Cubas, M.  (2013) La aparición de la cerámica en la región Cantábrica. BAR International Series (2566). Oxford. (ISBN 9781407311876)

Articles

2017.

Cubas, M. (2017) Identifying manufacturing groups through the mineralogical analysis of prehistoric pottery: the example of the Cantabrian Region. ARCHEOLOGICKÉ ROZHLEDY (ISSN: 0323-1267) LXIX: 246-260.

Arias, P., Diniz, M., Cubas, M., Duarte, C., Iriarte, I.; Salzmann, C., Teichner, F.  Teira, L. C. (2017) Looking for the traces of the last hunter-gatherers: Geophysical survey in the Mesolithic shell middens of the Sado valley (southern Portugal). QUATERNARY INTERNATIONAL 435: 61-70.

Hierro Gárate, J. A.; Gutiérrez-Cuenca, E.;  Cubas, M. & Bolado del Castillo, R. (2017) Un terminal de cinturón altomedieval de la cueva del Aspio (Ruesga, Cantabria) (DOI: 10.1344/Pyrenae2017.vol48num1.6). PYRENAE 48/1: 137-156.

Fonseca, H. J.; Crespo, M.; Rodríguez Marcos, J. A.; Martín Ramos, P.;  Cubas, M. y Sánchez Carro, M. A. (2017) Aproximación a la arquitectura del barro en el yacimiento de El Casetón de la Era (Villalba de los Alcores, Valladolid). In Álvarez Rodríguez, A.; Tejedor Rodríguez, C. y García Vázquez, I. ARQUEOLOGÍA EN EL VALLE DEL DUERO: DEL PALEOLÍTICO A LA EDAD MEDIA 5: 107-124. Valladolid:  Glyphos Publicaciones.

2016

Álvarez-Fernández, E., Álvarez-Alonso, D., Bécares, J., Carral, P., Carriol, R.-P., Chauvin, A., Cubas, M., Cueto, M., Domingo, R., Douka, K., Jordá, J. F., Murelaga, X., Portero, R., Rivero, O., Tapia, J., Tarriño, A., Teira, L. C. (2016) Nouvelles données sur le Magdalénien infériur de la Région Cantabrique: le Niveau F de la grotte de El Cierro (Ribadesella, Asturies, Espagne). L’ANTHROPOLOGIE 120: 537-567.

Cubas, M., Altuna, J.; Álvarez-Fernández, E.; Armendariz, A.; Fano, M. A.; López-Dóriga, I.; Mariezkurrena, K.; Tapia, J.; Teira, L. C. & Arias, C. (2016) Re-evaluating the Neolithic: the impact and consolidation of farming  practices in the Cantabrian region (northern Spain). JOURNAL OF WORLD PREHISTORY 29(1): 79-116.

Arias, P., Cubas, M., Fano, M. A., Álvarez Fernández, E., Araújo, A. C., Cueto, M., Duarte, D., Fernández Sánchez, P., Iriarte, E., Jordá Pardo, J. F., López-Dóriga, I. L., Núñez, S., Salzmann, C., Tapia, T., Teichner, F., Teira, L. C., Uzquiano P., y Vallejo, J. (2016)  Une nouvelle approche pour l’étude de l’habitat mésolithique dans le nord de la Péninsule Ibérique: Recherches dans le site au plein air d’El Alloru (Asturies, Espagne). BULLETIN DE LA SOCIÉTÉ PREHISTORIQUE FRANCAISE. Séances de la Société Préhistorique Française 6: 159-190.

Tapia, J., Cubas, M., Ceberio, M., Moraza, A., Agirre-Mauleón, J., Alonso, E., Álvarez-Fernández, E., Areso, P., Armendariz, A., Castaños, P., Etxeberria, F., Garmendia, J., Herrasti, L., Iriarte Chiapusso, M. J., Pérez, D., Uriz, A. y Zapata, L. (2016) San Adrian: un nuevo yacimiento de la Edad del Bronce en el Norte de la Peninsula Ibérica. MUNIBE (Arkeologia-Antropologia) 67: 363-375.

Cubas, M., García-Moreno, A., Mingo, A., Barba, J. y Canales, J. (2016) Contribución al estudio de la cerámica neolítica en la cuenca del río Mundo (Albacete). In Parras, B. y Sanz, R.               ACTAS DE LA PRIMERA REUNIÓN CIENTÍFICA DE ARQUEOLOGÍA DE ALBACETE: 297-312. Albacete: Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses "Don Manuel". Excma. Diputación de Albacete

García Moreno, A., Cubas, M., Davidson, I., Garate, D., López-Dóriga, I., Marín Arroyo, A. B., Ortiz, J. E., Polo, A., Rios Garaizar, J., San Emeterio, A. y de Torres. T. (2016) Revisión y estudio multidisciplinar del yacimiento de la Cueva del Niño (Aýna, Albacete). In Parras, B. y Sanz, R. ACTAS DE LA PRIMERA REUNIÓN CIENTÍFICA DE ARQUEOLOGÍA DE ALBACETE: 253-270. Albacete:  Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses "Don Manuel". Excma. Diputación de Albacete

Mingo, A., Barba, J., Uzquiano, P., Casas, M., Benito, A., Yravedra, J. Cubas, M.,. Galante, J. A., Avezuela, B., Martín, I., López Precioso, F. J., Hernández, J., y Palacios, E. (2016) El yacimiento mesolítico de Cueva Blanca (Hellín, Albacete): 6 años de investigación multidisciplinar. In Parras, B. y Sanz, R.         ACTAS DE LA PRIMERA REUNIÓN CIENTÍFICA DE ARQUEOLOGÍA DE ALBACETE: 271-286. Albacete: Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses "Don Manuel". Excma. Diputación de Albacete

Mingo, A., Cubas, M., Yravedra, J., Uzquiano, P., Benito, A., Canales, J., Galante, J. A., Avezuela, B., López Precioso, F. J., Bellardi, M., Hernández, J., y Palacios, E. (2016) Resultados preliminares de los trabajos efectuados en el yacimiento del Neolítico antiguo de Pico Tienda III (Hellín, Albacete).In Parras, B. y Sanz, R. ACTAS DE LA PRIMERA REUNIÓN CIENTÍFICA DE ARQUEOLOGÍA DE ALBACETE: 287-296. Albacete: Instituto de Estudios Albacetenses "Don Manuel". Excma. Diputación de Albacete

Bolado del Castillo, R. &  Cubas, M.La Cueva del Aspio (Ruesga). Nuevas intervenciones arqueológicas. In CANTABRIA. Nuevas evidencias arqueológicas (ISBN 978-84-943297-6-0): 91-118. Santander: ADIC-editorial Los Cántabros.

Smith, P. & Cubas, M. (2016) Excavación y análisis de la cerámica prehistórica en la cueva 3167 de Seldesuto (Matienzo, Ruesga). In Sanz Palomera, G. (eds.) ACTUACIONES ARQUEOLÓGICAS EN CANTABRIA 2004-2011: 147-154. Santander: Consejería de Cultura. Gobierno de Cantabria.

Cubas, M.  & Armendariz, A. (2016) La cerámica de la Edad del Bronce del yacimiento de San Adrian. In SAN ADRIAN-LIZARRATE. La historia de Gipuzkoa a través del túnel de San Adrian (ISBN 978-84-944251-3-4): 57-62. San Sebastián: Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi.

Fonseca, H. J.; Crespo, M.; Cubas, M.; Rodríguez, J. A. y Sánchez, M. A. (2016) Estudio petrográfico de fragmentos de manteado del yacimiento calcolítico precampaniforme de "El Casetón de la Era" (Villalba de los Alcores, Valladolid). In REHABEND. 6th Euro-American Congress on Construction pathology, rehabilitation technology nd heritage management (ISBN 978-84-608-7940-4): 45-153. Santander: Serigrafías Serimar, S. A.

Sánchez, M. A.; Cubas, M.; Castro, R.; Gutiérrez-Medina, M.; Bruschi, V.; Bolado del Castillo, R., Ontañón, R. y Arias, P.  (2016) Petrographic study of Iron Age pottery samples from Alto de la Garma hillfort (North Spain): assessment of the calcite dissolution caused by weathering. In REHABEND. 6th Euro-American Congress on Construction pathology, rehabilitation technology and heritage management (ISBN 978-84-608-7940-4): 18-144. Santander: Serigrafías Serimar, S. A.

2015

Fano, M.A.; Cubas. M.; Wood, R. (2015) The first farmers in Cantabrian Spain: contribution of absolute chronology to understand an historical process. Quaternary International, 364: 153-161.

Arias, P., Cubas, M., Fano, M. A., Jordá, J. F., Salzmann,  C:, Teichner, F., and Teira, L. C. (2015) Where are the “Asturian” dwellings? Preliminary results of an integrated survey programme on the late Mesolithic and the early Neolithic of northern Spain. Antiquity, 89: 783-789.

2014

Cubas, M.; Doherty, C.;  García-Heras, M.; De Pedro, I.; Méndez, D.  and Ontañón, R. (2014) Pottery manufacturing during the Neolithic in the North of Spain. Raw material procurement and modification in the cave of Los Gitanos (Castro Urdiales, Spain). Archaeometry 56/S1: 19-35.

Álvarez-Fernández, E.; Altuna, J.; Barrera-Mellado, I.; Cubas, M.; Fernández-Gómez, Mª. J.; Fernández R.; Gruet, Y.; Mariezkurrena, K. & Ontañón, R. (2014) Évolution de l’exploitation des ressources animales dans la région cantabrique entre 4500 et 2000 cal BC : la grotte de Los Gitanos (Cantabrie, Espagne). Comptes Rendus Palevol 13: 307-316.

2013

Cubas, M. , R. Bolado del Castillo, E. Pereda Rosales y P. Fernández de la Vega (2013) La cerámica en Cantabria desde su aparición (5000 cal BC) hasta el final de la Prehistoria: técnicas de manufactura y características morfo-decorativas (The pottery in Cantabria since its apparition (5000 cal BC) to the end of the Prehistory: manufacturing, techniques and morphodecoratives characteristics). Munibe (Antropologia-Arkeologia) 64: 69-88.

2012

Cubas, M.; García-Heras, M.; Méndez, D.; De Pedro, I; Zapata, L.; Ibáñez, JJ y González, J. E. (2012) La tecnología cerámica de los niveles IV y III en el yacimiento de Kobaederra (Cortézubi, Vizcaya). Aprovisionamiento y modificación de las materias primas (Pottery technology of levels IV and III in Kobaederra site (Cortézubi, Vizcaya). Supply and modification of raw materials). Trabajos de Prehistoria 69/1: 51-64.

2011

Álvarez-Fernández, E.; Chauvin, A.; Cubas, M.; Arias, P. & Ontañón, R. (2011) Mollusc shell sizes in archaeological contexts in northern Spain (13,200 to 2,600 cal bc): new data from La Garma A and Los Gitanos (Cantabria). Archaeometry 53/5: 963-985.

Cubas, M.  y Fano, M. (2011). Los primeros campesinos del Cantábrico: una revisión de la información disponible y de los modelos propuestos (Early farmers in Cantabrian Spain: a review of the available data and the proposed models). Férvedes 7: 77-86.

2009

Cubas, M. (2009) Tendencias en la investigación de la cerámica neolítica en la  región cantábrica (Trends on the research about Neolithic pottery in the Cantabrian region). Munibe (Antropologia-Arkeologia) 60: 187-200.

Cubas, M. y Ontañón, R. (2009) The material evidence of the “production sequence”. The case of the pottery ensemble of Los Gitanos cave (Castro Urdiales, Cantabria, Spain). Journal of the Iberian Archaeology 12: 7-22.

2008

Cubas, M. (2008) La producción cerámica en la primera mitad del V milenio cal BC: el caso de la Región Cantábrica (Pottery production during the first half of the V millennium cal BC: the example of the Cantabrian region). In Hernández, M. et al. (eds.) IV Congreso del Neolítico Peninsular: 282-289. Alicante: Museo de Arqueología de Alicante. 

Research

Overview

Main research interests

- Role of pottery technology in the transition to the farming practice in the Atlantic Coast of Europe. My research involves the analysis of organic residues at  Atlantic shoreline sites from Portugal, Spain and France.

- Adaptation of the first farming groups to coastal environments. The last hunter-gatherers in the region  were adapted to the coastal environments, my research evolves to analyse how these coastal adaptations were assumed by the first farming communities.

- Human adaptation to the environments of the Early Holocene in the Atlantic Coast of Europe.  My research involves the mineralogical analysis of the earliest pottery evidence in this area with the aim of establishing the dynamic of the introduction of this technology.  

Projects

Neolithisation processes along the Atlantic Arc (NeoArc)

NeoArc will be focused on Mesolithic-Neolithic sites in the region including relevant archaeological information about the role of one of the paradigmatic industries traditionally linked to the Early Neolithic: the pottery. This approach will enable us to refine our perceptions of cultural interaction during the Prehistory, allowing NeoArc make contributions to historical, ethnographic and sociological studies.

In order to carry such geographically broad research, Gipuzkoa region offers a unique setting with core sites where pottery has been found, a key location where new dynamics flourished during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition. Its geographical position in the centre of the Atlantic Arc offers an unique opportunity to develop this project integrating the archaeological approach from the Iberian Peninsula and France.

First ceramics of Atlantic Europe: manufacture and function (CerAM)

The arrival of farming had important consequences on many aspects of human society, from health to ideology. The study of this process therefore constitutes a key theme in prehistory and archaeology. One of the traits traditionally associated with the transition to farming in Europe is the introduction of pottery technology. For centuries, archaeologists have documented the appearance and dispersal of ceramic vessels across the European continent, using them as a proxy for the shift to farming, domestication and sedentism, collectively known as the Neolithic transition. However, the role of pottery in the transition to farming is unclear. In other parts of world there are examples of both pre-farming pottery production and aceramic farming communities. With new research the basis that has underpinned centuries of Neolithic research is beginning to be questioned. Crucially, only by understanding the use and function of pottery can this technology be meaningfully linked to farming. By applying the latest chemical and molecular analysis, CERAM aims to reconstruct the use of pottery during this key transition focusing on the sequence of Atlantic Southern Europe.

External activities

Memberships

Membership

Sociedad de Ciencias Aranzadi (2010-present)

Collaborations

I collaborate with different projects in Portugal, Spain and Argentina funded by different National and International Institutions. Also, my current project includes the organic residue analysis of three geographical areas: Portugal, Spain and France.