A sedimentary ancient DNA perspective on human and carnivore persistence through the Late Pleistocene in El Mirón Cave, Spain

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 16(1)

Published: Jan. 2, 2025

Abstract Caves are primary sites for studying human and animal subsistence patterns genetic ancestry throughout the Palaeolithic. Iberia served as a critical refugium in Europe during Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), 26.5 to 19 thousand years before present (cal kya). Therefore, it is key location understanding population dynamics this event. We recover analyse sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) data from lower archaeological stratigraphic sequence of El Mirón Cave (Cantabria, Spain), encompassing (1) Late Mousterian period, associated with Neanderthals, (2) Gravettian (c. 31.5 cal kya), Solutrean 24.5–22 Initial Magdalenian (d. 21–20.5 kya) periods, anatomically modern humans. identify 28 taxa including Fifteen these had not been identified archaeozoological (i.e., faunal) record, presence hyenas Magdalenian. Additionally, we provide phylogenetic analyses on 70 sedaDNA mtDNA genomes fauna densest Iberian Pleistocene sampling C. lupus . Finally, three sequences levels. These sequences, along published data, suggest haplogroup continuity Solutrean/Last period.

Language: Английский

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From meat availability to hominin and carnivore biomass: A paleosynecological approach to reconstructing predator-prey biomass ratios in the Pleistocene

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 108474 - 108474

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Reconstructing the conditions and circumstances under which human lineage evolved is of great interest to those disciplines related evolution, especially in fields such as archaeoecology paleoecology. A mathematical model was presented almost a decade ago aimed reconstructing populations that Pleistocene paleoecosystems could support. This followed paleosynecological perspective, being focused on: (i) estimating availability meat resources paleoecosystems, these are vital for survival; (ii) measuring level competition among members carnivore guild, including hominins. The has been applied since then several localities Europe, with particular emphasis on Orce Sierra de Atapuerca sites. In this study, we use predator-prey biomass ratios compare outputs values measured present-day African ecosystems. results obtained confirm our approach provides estimates broadly similar extant However, tend be slightly higher than expected, probably due weight species satisfy part their nutritional requirements other from large herbivores. allows us assume performs relatively well, although it room methodological improvements.

Language: Английский

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Balkan Neanderthals: The Late Pleistocene palaeoecological sequence of Pešturina Cave (Niš, Serbia)

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 330, P. 108600 - 108600

Published: March 21, 2024

The Central Balkans are a key biogeographical region in Southern Europe, influenced by central European-Mediterranean climate, which acted as refugium for flora and fauna, favored the dispersion of Neanderthals migration modern human populations during Late Glacial Period. This study presents pollen analyses sediment hyaena coprolites from Pešturina Cave Serbia to reconstruct vegetation landscapes faced Balkan early Anatomically Modern Humans between MIS 5e-3. Between 5e-5c (archaeological layers 4c 4b) 5b-5a (layer 4a), semi-forested environments prevailed, characterized Pinus, deciduous Quercus, Tilia other angiosperm woody taxa, accompanied heliophytes such Artemisia Poaceae. During 4-3 (layers 3-2), was dominated Artemisia-Poaceae steppes with Quercus patches, conifers legumes. Overall across sequence, assemblages highly diverse include number trees sclerophylls. In addition, occurrence several herbaceous taxa reinforces view that were outstanding endemicity. Upper Palaeolithic hominins lived refugium, offering multiple opportunities survival warm interstadials and, more critically, cold stadials Pleistocene.

Language: Английский

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Carrying capacity and meat availability for the Neanderthal groups in the upper valley of the Lozoya River (Madrid, Spain): a key region for the study of their ecosystems in Central Iberia

Archaeological and Anthropological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 17(4)

Published: March 21, 2025

Language: Английский

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Aurignacian groups at Isturitz (France) adapted to a shifting environment upon their arrival in Western Europe ∼42,000 years ago

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.

Language: Английский

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Landscape and subsistence in NW Iberia during the Middle Palaeolithic (MIS3): Faunal analysis of Cova Eirós (Triacastela, Galicia, Spain)

Journal of Archaeological Science Reports, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 64, P. 105149 - 105149

Published: April 17, 2025

Language: Английский

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Slow it down: evolution of human metabolism over two million years

Historical Biology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 1 - 20

Published: May 14, 2025

Language: Английский

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Who made the Oldowan? Reviewing African hominin fossils and archaeological sites from 3.5 million years ago

Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 79, P. 101704 - 101704

Published: May 24, 2025

Language: Английский

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Competing forces: Subsistence strategies and human-carnivore interactions during the middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition in Northern Iberia

Quaternary Science Reviews, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 334, P. 108703 - 108703

Published: May 9, 2024

The comparative assessment of dietary choices as part landscape use strategies deployed by Neanderthal and Anatomically Modern Human populations in Eurasia constitutes a fundamental avenue Palaeolithic research. increasing number taphonomic assessments enables better understanding what remains were brought to sites human hunters versus mammalian carnivores or raptors. A zooarchaeological approach can further elucidate the spatio-temporal dynamics interaction between terms prey choice during this transitional period. To achieve objective, we conducted an examination data, carnivore indices, other relevant variables across 36 Middle Early Upper northern Iberia. These encompass 126 archaeological layers dating from 50,000 30,000 years ago. Our comprehensive bibliographic meta-analysis reveals that occupations both groups at region punctuated episodes influenced carnivores. This observation implies Iberia Marine Isotope Stage 3 generally characterised instability limited short periods, often seasonal nature. From perspective, combined taxonomic species richness assemblage diversity highlights range proportion acquired these different are similar, although Humans engaged sustained trend towards diversification even with assemblages heavily dominated one taxon.

Language: Английский

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Carrying Capacity, Available Meat and the Fossil Record of the Orce Sites (Baza Basin, Spain)

Quaternary, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 7(3), P. 37 - 37

Published: Aug. 27, 2024

The Early Pleistocene sites of Orce in southeastern Spain, including Fuente Nueva-3 (FN3), Barranco León (BL) and Venta Micena (VM), provide important insights into the earliest hominin populations Late Villafranchian large mammal communities. Dated to approximately 1.4 million years ago, FN3 BL preserve abundant Oldowan tools, cut marks a human primary tooth, indicating activity. VM, 1.6 old, is an outstanding site because it preserves exceptionally rich assemblage mammals predates presence hominins, providing context for pre-human conditions region. Research suggests that both hominins giant hyenas were essential accumulation skeletal remains at BL, with secondary access meat resources exploited by saber-toothed felids. This aim this study aims correlate relative abundance herbivores these their estimates Carrying Capacity (CC) Total Available Biomass (TAB) using PSEco model, which incorporates survival mortality profiles estimate parameters paleoecosystems. Our results show: (i) similarities between quarries VM3 VM4 (ii) BL-D (level D), suggesting similar formation process; (iii) role humans would be FN3-LAL (Lower Archaeological Level), although greater influence due horses small species; (iv) FN3-UAL (Upper Level) shows expected CC values FN3/BL, consistent natural trap quicksand scenario, where species trapped according body mass, as there rhinos mammoths weight per unit area exerted legs. Given usefulness approach, we propose apply first have been proposed function traps.

Language: Английский

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