Abstract.
During
the
Late
Pleistocene,
stadial
and
interstadial
fluctuations
affected
vegetation,
fauna,
human
groups
that
were
forced
to
cope
with
these
pronounced
climatic
environmental
changes
in
time
space.
These
especially
abrupt
during
Marine
Isotopic
Stage
(MIS)
3.
However,
little
is
still
known
about
local
regional
conditions
experienced
by
hominins
Europe.
Here
we
reconstruct
trends
northern
Iberia
considering
stable
isotopic
composition
of
ungulate
skeletal
tissues
found
archaeological
deposits
dated
between
80
15,000
cal
BP.
The
carbon
oxygen
preserved
carbonate
fraction
tooth
enamel
provides
a
reliable
high-resolution
proxy
food
water
consumed
animals,
which
indirectly
related
environment,
climate,
allowing
us
estimate
paleotemperatures
rainfall
data.
This
study
presents
44
bovine,
equid,
cervid
teeth
from
five
sites
Vasco-Cantabrian
region
(El
Castillo,
El
Otero,
Axlor,
Labeko
Koba,
Aitzbitarte
III)
one
Mediterranean
area
(Canyars),
where
evidence
attested
Mousterian
Magdalenian.
isotope
values
reflect
animals
feeding
on
C3
plants
mix-feeder
diet
mainly
developed
open
environments.
value
ranges
point
differentiated
ecological
niches
for
equids
bovines,
Aurignacian
region.
Temperature
estimations
based
compositions
obtained
indicate
colder
more
arid
than
nowadays
Aurignacian.
contemporary
site
shows
slightly
lower
temperatures
an
period
when
graze
landscapes.
In
region,
MIS2,
Gravettian
data
landscape
opening,
whereas
Magdalenian
warmer
but
arid.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
9(38)
Published: Sept. 22, 2023
It
has
been
proposed
that
climate
change
and
the
arrival
of
modern
humans
in
Europe
affected
disappearance
Neanderthals
due
to
their
impact
on
trophic
resources;
however,
it
remained
challenging
quantify
effect
these
factors.
By
using
Bayesian
age
models
derive
chronology
European
Middle
Upper
Paleolithic
transition,
followed
by
a
dynamic
vegetation
model
provides
Net
Primary
Productivity,
macroecological
compute
herbivore
abundance,
we
show
continental
regions
where
ecosystem
productivity
was
low
or
unstable,
disappeared
before
just
after
Homo
sapiens
.
In
contrast,
with
high
stable
witnessed
prolonged
coexistence
between
both
species.
The
temporal
overlap
H.
is
significantly
correlated
carrying
capacity
small-
medium-sized
herbivores.
These
results
suggest
abundance
released
pressure
secondary
consumers
guild,
which
likelihood
human
Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
648, P. 112285 - 112285
Published: May 26, 2024
The
impact
of
Late
Pleistocene
climatic
oscillations,
volcanism
and
the
diverse
terrain
Armenian
Highlands
affected
hominin
population
dynamics
movements
through
region.
To
test
different
scenarios
for
period
50–25
ka
regarding
expansion,
adaptive
response,
intra-population
interactions
extinction,
we
need
local
on-site
paleoclimatic
data
found
in
association
with
occupations.
However,
this
approach
has
been
hampered
by
dearth
highly
uneven
spatiotemporal
recovery
from
prehistoric
sites
across
In
study,
analyze
multiple
assemblages
fossil
micromammals
Middle
Paleolithic
(LMP)
Lusakert-1
rockshelter
(two
fossil-yielding
strata;
<55
ka)
Early
Upper
(EUP)
Aghitu-3
Cave
(four
∼39–24
using
geometric
morphometric-aided
taxonomy,
to
quantify
representation
species
among
abundant
arvicoline
genera
(Microtus
Chionomys;
mean
=
58%
assemblages).
We
combined
quantitative
species-level
reconstructions
(Bioclimatic
Model;
14
rodent
taxa)
determine
changes
habitat
composition
as
well
temperature
precipitation
shifts
during
Middle–Early
Paleolithic.
Taphonomic
analysis
was
conducted
establish
isotaphonomy
assemblages.
shows
higher
than
present-day
absolute
temperatures
series
occupations
at
both
Aghitu-3,
making
it
unlikely
that
activity
coincided
extreme
cold-climate
phases.
A
multivariate
comparison
taxonomic
abundances
(genus
level)
a
wider
sample
regional
(MP)
(UP)
cave
(Hovk-1,
Kudaro-1,
Mezmaiskaya,
Satsurblia
Dzudzuana)
indicates
possibility
cold-period
occupation
only
two
sites,
Mezmaiskaya
Layers
3
2
Kudaro-1
Layer
3.
surmise
manufacturers
LMP
lithic
industries
Caucasus
were
adapted
these
challenging
environments,
thus
undermining
arguments
rapid
climate
change
LMP/EUP
could
alone
have
determined
course
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
10(26)
Published: June 26, 2024
The
Iberian
Peninsula
is
a
key
region
for
unraveling
human
settlement
histories
of
Eurasia
during
the
period
spanning
decline
Neandertals
and
emergence
anatomically
modern
humans
(AMH).
There
no
evidence
occupation
in
central
Iberia
after
disappearance
~42,000
years
ago
until
approximately
26,000
ago,
rendering
"nobody's
land"
Aurignacian
period.
Abrigo
de
la
Malia
provides
irrefutable
settlements
dating
back
to
36,200
31,760
calibrated
before
present
(cal
B.P.)
This
site
also
records
additional
levels
around
32,420
26,260
cal
B.P.,
suggesting
repeated
this
territory.
Our
multiproxy
examination
identifies
change
climate
trending
toward
colder
more
arid
conditions.
However,
climatic
deterioration
does
not
appear
have
affected
AMH
subsistence
strategies
or
their
capacity
inhabit
region.
These
findings
reveal
ability
groups
colonize
regions
hitherto
considered
uninhabitable,
reopening
debate
on
early
Upper
Paleolithic
population
dynamics
southwestern
Europe.
Quaternary Research,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
116, P. 108 - 132
Published: July 17, 2023
Abstract
During
the
last
glacial
period,
rapidly
changing
environments
posed
substantial
challenges
to
Neanderthal
populations
in
Europe.
Southern
continental
regions,
such
as
Iberia,
have
been
proposed
important
climatic
“buffer”
zones
during
phases.
Contextualising
and
ecological
conditions
Neanderthals
faced
is
relevant
interpreting
their
resilience.
However,
records
of
ecosystems
they
exploited
across
Iberia
exhibit
temporal
spatial
gaps
coverage.
Here
we
provide
new
evidence
for
palaeotemperatures,
vegetation
structure,
prey
herbivore
ecology
late
Pleistocene
(MIS
5–3)
northern
Spain,
by
applying
multiple
stable
isotope
tracers
(
δ
18
O,
13
C,
15
N,
34
S)
skeletal
remains
associated
with
occupations
at
Axlor
Cave,
Bizkaia.
The
results
show
little
change
over
time
indicate
different
occupations.
Large
within-layer
isotopic
variability
nitrogen
sulphur
suggests
presence
a
mosaic
environment
variety
ecotones
that
were
prey.
We
implement
combination
carbonate
phosphate
O
measurements
estimate
palaeotemperatures
using
cost-effective
workflow.
targeted
use
anchor
summer
peak
winter
trough
areas
enables
high-precision
seasonal
palaeoclimatic
reconstructions.
Journal of Human Evolution,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
202, P. 103665 - 103665
Published: April 7, 2025
The
Marine
Isotope
Stage
3
is
a
context
of
considerable
climatic
instability.
Establishing
the
link
between
global
climate
changes
and
their
impact
on
local
ecological
contexts
prey
exploited
by
human
populations
challenging.
Still,
it
necessary
to
understand
better
conditions
where
humans
lived
unravel
how
they
adapted
fluctuating
environmental
conditions.
Here,
we
address
this
question
studying
250
osteodental
elements
from
animals
hunted
consumed
groups
at
Isturitz,
rich
well-documented
French
archaeological
site
one
earliest
in
Western
Europe
Aurignacian
technoculture
has
been
attested.
To
do
so,
set
up
multiproxy
approach
(archaeozoology,
three-dimensional
dental
microwear
texture
analyses,
stable
isotopic
analyses
δ18O
δ13C
enamel
bioapatite
δ13C,
δ15N,
δ34S
bone
collagen)
that
informs
us
timeline
first
years
last
few
days
an
animal's
life.
We
reconstructed
ecologies
paleoenvironments
during
different
phases
Isturitz.
Our
findings
indicate
occupations
Isturitz
occurred
under
cold
arid
conditions,
rapidly
becoming
even
cooler
drier.
Limited
are
observed
human-environment-prey
relationship
despite
unstable
significant
rainfall,
temperature,
gradual
opening
environments
some
faunal
assemblage
occurred.
suggest
similar
territories
utilized
comparable
strategies
throughout
temporal
sequence.
approach,
combining
complementary
provides
understanding
adaptation
when
Upper
Paleolithic
were
emerging
Europe.
Quaternary Science Reviews,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
315, P. 108234 - 108234
Published: July 27, 2023
The
El
Mirón
Cave
site
in
Spain
has
one
of
the
most
complete
archaeological
and
palaeontological
records
Late
Pleistocene
Iberian
Peninsula,
encompassing
last
c.
50,000
years.
Among
other
studies,
fossiliferous
record
allowed
development
various
interpretations
faunal
climatic
changes
during
this
period
time
northern
Atlantic
region
Peninsula.
addition
more
radiocarbon
dates
from
make
it
possible
to
revise
some
micromammal
sequence
carried
out
earlier
for
major
site.
small
mammals
is
used
tools
study
climate
past,
among
them
several
Arvicolinae
species
are
great
importance
Quaternary
variations,
due
their
adaptations
a
diversity
habitats.
New
methodologies
such
as
ancient
DNA
geometric
morphometric
analyses
now
permit
us
conduct
review
previously
described
at
better
differentiate
between
with
similar
morphologies,
like
Microtus
arvalis
M.
agrestis.
We
also
identified
presence
not
recorded
before
Mirón,
Terricola
pyrenaicus.
With
associations,
we
reaffirm
variations
originally
deposit,
indicating
detail
how
successive
temperature
environment
took
place
throughout
course
late
Last
Glacial
early
Postglacial
periods
(Marine
Isotope
Stages
3–1).
Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
3
Published: May 9, 2024
The
examination
of
faunal
assemblages
through
zooarchaeological
analyses
constitutes
a
fundamental
approach
for
gaining
insight
into
the
intricate
behaviours
Neanderthals.
Previous
investigations
have
primarily
focused
on
periods
relative
environmental
stability,
and
this
has
provided
wealth
relevant
archaeological
data.
However,
our
understanding
Neanderthal
resilience
during
MIS
4,
period
presumably
characterised
by
harsh
conditions,
remains
limited.
This
study
presents
first
comprehensive
analysis
from
Levels
M
P
at
Abric
Pizarro.
geographic
location
Pizarro
in
southeast
Pre-Pyrenees,
combined
with
chronometric
dating,
offers
unique
opportunity
to
explore
poorly
known
chronological
period.
detailed
comprised
taxonomic
identification,
taphonomic
age-at-death
profiling
adaptability
flexibility
diet.
findings
indicate
that
groups
incorporated
diverse
range
protein
resources
small
herbivores
(e.g.,
caprids)
very
large
Bos/Bison).
These
results
not
only
demonstrate
an
changing
environments
area
traditionally
deemed
unsuitable
long-term
occupation,
but
also
contributes
significantly
complex
exhibited
Quaternary Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
12, P. 100106 - 100106
Published: July 20, 2023
The
Gravettian
site
of
Fuente
del
Salín
Cave
is
located
in
the
northern
Iberian
Peninsula
(Cantabrian
Region,
Spain).
In
2016,
excavations
conducted
at
yielded
numerous
faunal
remains,
including
mammals
and
fish.
Researchers
also
recovered
molluscs
remains
during
1990,
1991,
2000
campaigns.
This
study
presents
results
archaeozoological
taphonomical
analyses
large
fish
these
excavations.
At
Cave,
a
high
level
bone
fragmentation
presence
burning
damage
characterizes
assemblage.
Taxonomy
game
shows
diverse
habitat
exploitation,
such
as
coastal
valleys
plains
(red
deer,
Cervus
elaphus;
horse,
Equus
ferus)
well
rocky
landscapes
(Iberian
ibex,
Capra
pyrenaica;
chamois,
Rupicapra
rupicapra).
Additionally,
show
salmonids
(Salmo
sp.),
cyprinids,
haddock
(Melanogrammus
aeglefinus),
indicating
exploitation
coastal,
demersal,
riverine
species.
taphonomic
analysis
revealed
concentrated
on
axial
elements
epiphyses,
characterized
by
temperatures
typical
carbonization
or
calcification.
scarcity
carnivore
gnawing
marks
butchering
prove
that
humans
were
main
accumulators
Cave.
Concerning
fish,
most
correspond
to
spines,
branchial
ribs,
vertebrae,
processed
removing
for
consumption.
Based
our
results,
provides
an
essential
record
subsistence
strategies
inhabitants
Cantabrian
Region
Gravettian.