Early human dispersals into the Iberian Peninsula: a comment on Martínez et al.(2010) and Garcia et al. (2011).

: Garcia et al. (2011) recently discussed early human dispersals into the Iberian Peninsula, describing several putative lithic artifacts (Martinez et al., 2010) recovered from layer 7 of the Vallpara dissection (Madurell-Malapeira et al., 2010) in Terrassa (Valles-Penedes Basin, Catalonia, Spain). According to the authors' opinion, such evidence (1) fills a gap in the chronology of early human occupation in Iberia, (2) indicates that these populations had primary and early access to carcasses, and (3) confirms that early human populations were equipped with advanced cultural traits enabling them to survive in unfavourable climatic conditions. We argue below that the record of human activity at Vallparadis (Martinez et al., 2010;Garcia et al., 2011) is doubtful and even that if confirmed, a chronological gap would remain (contra Garcia et al., 2011). Additional remarks on assertions by these authors on the Vallparadis geology, taphonomy and paleonvironment are also provided.