[en] In this PhD, we have studied the sites between the rivers Xúquer and Ebre during the Early and Middle Neolithic (c. 7600-6200 cal BP) and their evolutionary dynamics. One of the main causes that motivated this research was the absence of an updated regional summary as a whole up to now, as well as the need to review certain clusters, due to new information gathered. The chosen cultural proxy is ceramics, together with the radiocarbon dating and the sites location, due to its proven worth in this area. Specifically, the decorative component has been used: the techniques and the symmetry of the ceramics design. For the latter, we have developed ex novo an evaluation and record system, adapting it from the Christalographical area and the contributions of certain previous studies. Along this study, we have checked the efficiency of the symmetry in the decorations as an archaeological proxy, as well as the new developed system for its quantitative evaluation, because it has corroborated the results of other variables. At the same time, it has added some complementary information. Specially interesting seems to be the geographical nuances provided by the symmetry, which show typical varieties from certain places and a higher or lesser degree of relationship between sites during chronologies where the same technique styles were used. An example of this information is the one supplied by the examination of the different symmetry types seen in the cardial decorated vases: South of the Xúquer it is quite common to find T9 with this technique, forming garlands with homothecy, whereas in the North it is not crafted with this style and is only found in two geographical groupings: Ebre Tributaries and Millars/AM. The sample has been configured following 3 main aspects: the gathering of decorated ceramics, dating and complementary information (such as the geographical location, stratigraphy and other materials) about the sites from the selected space and time. From the multiple neolithic sites existing in Xúquer-Ebre, we chose the ones with ceramics and a database with materials from 32 sites was elaborated with said ceramics. From these 32, 13 could be examined directly, among them the holes site in Costamar with 306 vases, which constitute almost 50% of the total. The sample is heterogeneous regarding its distribution in time and most levels are concentrated between the 8th and the beginning of the 7th century cal BP. Nine most common decorative models have been established, combining technique style with symmetry. Among them, model 9 predominates with impressed (Style E41), incised-impressed (E71) and decorated reliefs (E93), with symmetry T3 (TH and TV). Technique styles such as slab-and-drag (E51) are developed with two specific symmetry types: T12 (TH) and T9 (homothecy). In cardial we have observed the existence of different symmetry types between the Xúquer-Ebre areas and other neighbouring regions. The main goals were two. On the one hand, elaborate an updated corpus of materials, dating, and sites, to be able to approach different hypotheses that deal with some topics in the debate, as well on the general academical level as on the specific area and could become the starting point for future studies. Within the most remarkable facts, we have the identification of the materials from the Impressa type, cardial materials, other shells, fingerprints and peinada in the Costamar site materials. We have also observed atypical symmetries such as the mosaic in places like Costamar and Cova Fosca, where the existence of an anthropomorphic figure in ceramic has been established. On the other hand, the regional evolutionary dynamics, as well as their relation with the Peninsular East have been analysed, together with their possible causes. On a spatial scale, the main natural communication ways were analysed, which helped us establish the 6 geographical groupings we have worked with. The geographical component allowed us to analyse the differences within the region. The sites that present a clear Cardial grouping influence (in its Late stage) have been compared to the ones that do not show it. The symmetry has also marked differences between the areas, such as Bergantes, less similar to the rest of similarities such as the ones between the Coast and Millars/AM. From a chronological perspective, the period was divided in random windows with 100 years each, except at the endings of the sequence, where a span of 200 years was used, due to the characteristics of the record. A radiometric hygiene protocol was established for the dating selection and, to complete the sequence, a Bayesian approximation was carried out. Regarding time, several issues were dealt with in Cova Fosca, Diablets and Valmayor XI, and their position in the chronogram was adjusted through the study of their stratigraphy and materials. At the same time, the application of Bayesian statistics has allowed us to structure the sequence coherently. This approach has not only solved the absence of reliable radiocarbon dating, but has also allowed us a higher definition degree. This question is clearly observed in the Costamar site, where the combination of the decorative techniques and the Bayesian statistics could nuance the chronology of said site and add new information about it, such as the existence of a phase previous to Epicardial. Gathering the data from space and time, we have elaborated a chronocultural sequence, defined in 4 cultural phases. Among the most important results, the following should be highlighted: 1) The verification of symmetry as an efficient archaeological marker for the analysis of evolutionary dynamics. In this PhD, the evidence has been correlated as well with demographic aspects ("boom and bust" pattern), territorial occupation (aggregation and dispersion) as with information transmission (network analysis). 2) A detailed analysis of the neolithic population in the area from the study of the ceramic material. The identification of some rests equivalent to the Impressa ware in the Costamar site, as well as cardial, digital and peinada materials stands out. In summary, this PhD not only presents a new methodology for the study of the decorative component and its usefulness for the analysis from an evolutionary perspective, but it also updates the archaeological information from the area between the rivers Xúquer and Ebre, a key area to understand the similarities and differences between Catalonia and the southern-central Valencian counties.

[es] Esta Tesis doctoral se centra en del estudio de las dinámicas evolutivas durante el Neolítico Antiguo (7600 al 6200 cal BP) en el interfluvio Xúquer-Ebre. Para ello se ha considerado como marcador cultural el registro cerámico en combinación con las dataciones radiocarbónicas, puesto que este binomio se ha mostrado muy eficaz en relación a la temática de esta Tesis. En concreto, se ha utilizado el componente decorativo: las técnicas y la simetría de los diseños en la cerámica. Para este último caso, se ha desarrollado una propuesta metodológica para su registro y valoración, a partir de la adaptación de los procedimientos establecidos desde la Cristalografía. Los objetivos principales eran dos. Por un lado, elaborar un corpus renovado de materiales, dataciones y yacimientos, desde el cual poder abordar diferentes hipótesis, que tratan algunas de las cuestiones en debate tanto a nivel académico general como de la zona en particular. Por otro lado, se han analizado las dinámicas evolutivas regionales así como su relación con las del este peninsular y sus posibles causas. Entre los principales resultados debe destacarse: 1) La constatación de la simetría como un marcador arqueológico eficaz para el análisis de las dinámicas evolutivas. En esta Tesis, esta evidencia se ha correlacionado con aspectos demográficos (ciclo de auge-caída), patrones de ocupación territorial (agregación-dispersión) y transmisión de la información (análisis de redes). El ciclo de auge y caída se ha dividido en tres fases a partir de los datos actuales. También se ha constatado la relación en determinados momentos y lugares entre variables evolutivas como transmisión de la información, concentración de la población y complejidad decorativa. 2) Un análisis detallado del poblamiento neolítico en la región a partir del estudio del material cerámico, entre los que debe destacarse la identificación de algunos restos asimilables al horizonte Impressa en el yacimiento de Costamar, así como materiales cardiales, digitados y peinados. Durante este estudio espacial, se analizaron las principales vías de comunicación natural, lo que sirvió para establecer las 6 agrupaciones geográficas con las que se ha trabajado. El componente geográfico nos ha acercado a las diferencias dentro de la región y así, no solo se han realizado comparaciones con regiones externas, sino también internas. 3) El establecimiento de cuatro fases cronoculturales en el periodo señalado y la comparativa con las dinámicas evolutivas de las regiones cercanas, así como el estudio de la influencia del evento climático 7.1k en los diferentes procesos señalados. 4) La utilidad de la estadística bayesiana para completar la secuencia cronocultural y aportar hipótesis razonables para aquellos lugares arqueológicos no datados, así como para resolver ciertos problemas en el registro. A todo ello hay que añadir el descubrimiento de una figurilla antropomorfa en cerámica, perteneciente al yacimiento de Cova Fosca (Ares), que no presenta paralelos cercanos durante el Neolítico Antiguo. En definitiva, esta Tesis Doctoral no solo presenta una nueva metodología para el estudio del componente decorativo y su utilidad para el análisis desde una perspectiva evolutiva, sino que también actualiza la información arqueológica del interfluvio Xúquer-Ebre; región clave para comprender las similitudes y divergencias entre Catalunya y las comarcas centro-meridionales valencianas.