This article examines the role played by marine resources for hunter-gatherer groups of the Middle/Upper Pleistocene in the geohistorical region around the Straits of Gibraltar, on the basis of new evidence collected at the rock shelter of Benzú (North Africa). The stratigraphic sequence at Benzú has been dated to between 254 and 70 ka. The excavations have revealed the exploitation of marine gastropods and bivalves, alongside fish. The most common taxon in the sequence is the genus Patella. The analysis of the molluscs and their spatial distribution shows that these animals were purposely collected by humans, probably as a food source. In order to contribute to the debate about the origins and scale of the exploitation of marine resources during the Middle and Upper Pleistocene, the evidence collected at Benzú is interpreted within the broader context of North Africa and southern Europe. The similarity of groups of Homo sapiens sapiens in North Africa and Homo sapiens neanderthalensis in southern Europe in terms of lifestyle and subsistence strategies is interpreted as reflecting equally similar social and economic practices, in spite of the diversity of anthropological perspectives on the relationship between humans and the environment currently in vogue.We wish to thank the Spanish Ministry of Culture (Madrid, Spain) for the permission to carry out the excavation (2006: SGPPH/LLB/lms73/06), (2007: SGPPH/LLB/Tmc92/7), (2008: SGPPH/LMS92/07), and the city of Ceuta for funding the project in agreement with the University of Cadiz (Grants numbers provided by the Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta are: 65.933/20 (01), 47.849/3 (03), 007086, 77.891/3 (09), 96.478/2 (2010), 0-094/2011, 124.111/3 (2011), 23.685/(13)). The excavation also has the support of project HAR2013-43599-P (MINECO).Peer Reviewe

[EN] The Shelter of Benzú is located near the city of Ceuta, in North Africa. We are currently working on the final stage of the scientific report of the activities carried out in the last years. We have done an evaluation, although still not final, of geological, stratigraphic, chronological, and ecological data as well as the different resources used by prehistoric societies. We emphasize the technological data for the archaeological products and for lifestyles. Geological and paleoecological bases of the historical region of the Strait of Gibraltar provide great similarities between the European and North African shores. The shelter of Benzú has a sequence of seven archaeological levels with a clearly defined technology belonging to Mode 3 concept. The similarities with the sets of the southern Iberian Peninsula are evident. We also emphasize the exploitation of marine resources by hunter-gatherer societies since the beginning of the Middle Pleistocene sequence. With these archaeological bases and the context of recent studies in the North African region, we value the possible relationships and contacts between societies on both sides of the historical region of the Strait of Gibraltar.[FR] L’abri de Benzú est situé dans la ville de Ceuta, en Afrique du Nord. Nous apportons ici un bilan sur la géologie, la stratigraphie, la chronologie, l’écologie et les ressources utilisées par les sociétés préhistoriques de ce site. Nous mettons l’accent sur les données technologiques issues du mobilier archéologique et sur les modes de vie. Les fondements géologiques et paléo-écologiques de la région historique du détroit de Gibraltar offrent de grandes similitudes entre les rives africaine et européenne de cet espace. L’abri de Benzú dispose d’une séquence de sept couches stratigraphiques en relation avec un faciès technologique précis qui renvoie au Mode 3-Paléolithique moyen. Les similarités avec les contextes appartenant au Sud de la péninsule Ibérique sont significatives. De plus, nous souhaiterions souligner l’exploitation des ressources marines par les sociétés de chasseurs-cueilleurs, depuis le début de la séquence stratigraphique au cours du Pléistocène moyen. Avec cet ensemble de données archéologiques et le cadre offert par des études récentes sur ce secteur du Nord de l’Afrique, nous tentons d’évaluer les relations et contacts possibles entre les deux rives de la région géo-historique du détroit de Gibraltar.Nous remercions la Ciudad Autónoma de Ceuta (numéros de subventions : 65.933/20 (01), 47.849/3 (03), 007086, 77.891/3 (09), 96.478/2 (2010), 0-094/2011, 124.111/3 (2011), 23.685/(13)) pour le financement apporté à notre recherche dans le cadre d’une convention avec l’université de Cadix.Peer reviewe