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.
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 Geochronology,
Год журнала:
2024,
Номер
83, С. 101572 - 101572
Опубликована: Июнь 23, 2024
The
existing
radiocarbon
(14C)
dating
framework
for
Lagar
Velho
is
broadly
consistent
but
provides
limited
constraint
on
several
geoarchaeological
complexes
(GCs)
and
does
not
favour
detailed
chronological
comparisons
across
all
sectors
of
the
site;
including
stratigraphically
disconnected
child
burial
complex
in
east
area
broader
archaeological
sequence
central-west
area.
In
this
study,
we
undertake
a
complementary
assessment
Rock
Shelter
using
single-grain
quartz
OSL,
TT-OSL
combined
U-series/ESR
fossil
teeth,
with
aim
establishing
more
comprehensive
reconstructions
events
placing
human
occupation
firmer
regional
climatic
context.
Expanding
original
also
compare
published
14C
datasets
against
widely
used
sample
quality
indicators
(i.e.,
organic
preservation
contamination
proxies)
to
ensure
reliable
our
new
luminescence
ages.
Eight
samples
pass
stratigraphic
hygiene
criteria
are
included
final
evaluations.
Ten
twelve
optical
produce
homogeneous
equivalent
dose
(De)
indicative
suitable
daylight
exposure.
replicate
De
exhibit
pronounced
scatter,
enhanced
potential
insufficient
bleaching
residual
doses
some
karst
settings.
enamel
dated
span
relatively
low
natural
ranges,
necessitating
inclusion
maximum
(Dmax)-adjusted
response
curve
fitting
additional
background
noise
subtraction
avoid
biases
up
13%.
Stratigraphically
ages
(n=26)
spanning
full
infill
obtained
four
different
methods,
providing
robust
interpretive
underscoring
significant
role
OSL
refining
early
Upper
Palaeolithic
histories
Iberia.
Bayesian
modelling
dataset
reveals
site
accumulation
history
35,750–23,440
cal.
BP
improved
age
constraints
GCs;
particularly
al,
bs,
tc,
gs
ls
deposits
that
were
previously
undated
or
imprecisely
constrained.
refined
29,410–28,280
BP,
potentially
occurring
within
Greenland
Interstadial
4.
Comparison
modelled
GC
from
west-central
areas
enables
temporal
correlations
depositional
site.
This
analysis
suggests
Late
Gravettian
statistically
indistinguishable
based
current
evidence.
assessments
reveal
three
periods
at
Velho:
(including
shorter
duration
event)
31.6–26.0
ka
end
Heinrich
Stadial
(HS)
3
until
emergence
HS2;
Terminal
26.5–24.5
coinciding
Middle
Solutrean
25.2–23.4
extending
HS2
3.
timing
these
occupations
during
late
Marine
Isotope
Stage
(MIS)
MIS
2
highlights
significance
central
western
Portugal
supporting
populations
when
much
Europe
was
experiencing
extreme
cold,
aridity
expanded
glacial
coverage.
PLoS ONE,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
20(4), С. e0319712 - e0319712
Опубликована: Апрель 23, 2025
Understanding
the
factors
that
influence
geographic
range
of
extinct
megafaunal
species
is
crucial
for
reconstructing
their
ecology
and
extinction
dynamics.
For
extant
herbivores,
it
has
been
demonstrated
large
body
mass
provides
potential
greater
range.
Allometric
scaling
relationships
are
observed
in
placental
mammals
but
have
not
well-established
marsupials,
particular,
marsupial
megafauna.
Here,
we
employ
a
phylogenetic
generalised
least
squares
regression
model
using
macropodids
to
estimate
home
ranges
individuals
from
genus
Protemnodon.
The
predicts
mean
11.6
±
5.8
km
2
This
prediction,
centred
on
Mt
Etna
caves,
incorporates
several
distinct
geological
features
with
variable,
known
87
Sr/
86
Sr
isotope
ratios.
Fossil
Protemnodon
recovered
cave
deposits
at
returned
values
similar
host
limestone,
which
systems
formed,
broader
Mount
Alma
Formation.
similarity
suggests
foraged
close
where
they
were
fossilised,
indicating
smaller
than
predicted.
Smaller
body-mass
unexpected,
attributed
unique
combination
individual
behaviour,
diet
and/or
locomotion
regime
within
stable
rainforest
environments.
Our
results
suggest
that,
foraging
megaherbivores
may
be
more
strongly
associated
environmental
quality
rather
mass.
New
in-situ
uranium-thorium
single-grain
TT-OSL
ages
refine,
agreement
with,
previous
interpretations
chronology,
rainforest-adapted
fauna
persisted
until
280
ka.
We
propose
small
environment,
such
as
rainforests,
predisposed
these
megafauna
after
280ka,
driven
by
an
increasingly
dry
unstable
climate.
underscore
need
regionally
specific
biologies
individuals,
populations
when
considering
pathways
Pleistocene
fauna.
Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
4
Опубликована: Май 8, 2025
Aquatic
environments
are
highly
dynamic.
They
characterized
by
rapid
and
often
unpredictable
transformations
driven
sea-level
fluctuations,
climate
change,
tectonic
activity,
anthropic
land-and-sea
use
practices
that
result
in
large-scale
environmental
shifts.
Globally,
archaeology
has
documented
how
people
adapt
respond
to
these
changes
altering
subsistence
strategies,
settlement
patterns,
travel
routes,
technologies
meet
the
challenges
of
a
constantly
transforming
aquascape.
Coastal
regions,
particular,
have
both
challenged
sustained
human
populations,
offering
abundant
resources
while
also
requiring
significant
adaptability
response
regular
and,
at
times,
substantial
sea
level
fluctuations
from
terminal
Pleistocene
throughout
Holocene.
Using
an
interdisciplinary
approach
pairs
coastal
geomorphology
archaeology,
we
investigated
Mid-
Late
Holocene
development
barrier
island
southeast
Victoria,
Australia–the
which
prompted
wider
inshore
ecosystem
transformations.
Results
archaeological
excavations
demonstrate
responded
flexibly
adjusting
their
lifeways
strategies
over
short
time-scales
through
firing
landscape,
shaped
surrounding
ecosystems
return.
Understanding
populations
navigated
past
changes,
immediate
adaptive
responses
long-term
cultural
transformations,
provides
valuable
insights
into
resilience
societies
face
uncertainty.
