La amplitud de la dieta cárnica en el Pleistoceno medio peninsular: una aproximación a partir de la Cova del Bolomor (Tavernes de la Valldigna, Valencia) y del subnivel TD10-1 de Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos).

La diversificación de la subsistencia se caracteriza por la incorporación de diferentes especies a la dieta. Desde el enfoque de la Revolución de Amplio Espectro, se han propuesto diferentes explicaciones, a menudo interconectadas, para dar respuesta a la diversidad dietaria observada al final del Pleistoceno en Europa y Próximo Oriente. Éstas incluyen factores demográficos, ecológicos, nutricionales y tecnológicos, así como la propia movilidad de los grupos. Para algunos investigadores, esta diversificación, basada principalmente en la adquisición sistemática de pequeños animales, es controvertida en momentos anteriores al Paleolítico superior en Europa. Sin embrago, en esta tesis se presentan evidencias de consumo antrópico de pequeños animales a partir del nivel XVII (MIS 9), XI (MIS 6) y IV (MIS 5e) de la Cova del Bolomor (Valencia, España) y del subnivel TD10-1 (MIS 9) de Gran Dolina (Burgos, España). En estos yacimientos la amplitud de la dieta no sólo se basa en la incorporación de pequeños animales a los ungulados, sino también en el aprovechamiento ocasional de carnívoros. A partir de los datos obtenidos, los cambios en la dieta no parecen ser lineales en el tiempo y en el espacio, sino que parecen estar condicionados por la diversidad comportamental, el patrón ocupacional y las características propias del medio circundante.Subsistence diversification is achieved by adding different species to a diet. From the Broad Spectrum Revolution approach, several explanations have been proposed to explain this diversity in the food at the end of Pleistocene in Europe and Near East, such as demographic, ecological, nutritional and technological aspects, and mobility of hunter-gatherer groups. For several authors, this diversification, mainly based on the systematic acquisition of small prey, is still a highly debated topic during the pre-Upper Palaeolithic times in Europe. In this study, evidence of human use of small animals for food are presented from level XVII (MIS 9), XI (MIS 6) and IV (MIS 5e) of Bolomor Cave (Valencia, Spain) and from the TD10-1 sublevel (MIS 9) of Gran Dolina (Burgos, Spain). At these sites, the anthropogenic use of faunal resources not only is focused on small animals but also on large and small carnivores, in addition to ungulates. From the data obtained, changes in diet do not seem to be linear in time and space, but these seem to be influenced by behavioral diversity, occupational pattern and characteristics of the environment

The avian remains from El Juyo, Lower Magdalenian Cantabrian Spain

El Juyo is one of the Cantabrian sites of Iberia known from long ago for its important Lower Magdalenian sequence. The present study reports the results of the zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the avian remains recovered at the site, which complements the archaeological and palaeoecological data already avail-able. The remains recovered are limited, but they seem to indicate that humans were the main accumulating agent in the site, with sporadic presence of owls' activity. Additionally, humans could have used birds for other purposes than as a dietary resource, as suggested by cut marks observed on two wing bones.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Elephants and humans in Iberia: a zooarchaeological approach

Proboscidean remains in Iberian Pleistocene sites were first discovered many centuries ago. Some of them were recovered together with lithic tools, leading researchers to associate them with human activities. However, in recent decades, several ta- phonomic works have provided new perspectives based on more precise methods and analyses. El- ephant skeletal remains are common in open-air sites, where they appear in anatomical or semi-an- atomical connections. This is the case in the Early Pleistocene sites of Orce (Granada) and La Boella (Tarragona); the Middle Pleistocene sites of Tor- ralba and Ambrona (Soria), Áridos (Madrid) and Solana del Zamborino (Granada); and the early Late Pleistocene sites of the Manzanares terraces (Madrid). Nevertheless, several caves also show iso- lated remains of these very large animals, which are sometimes difficult to explain from a taphonomic point of view. Most of them appear in assemblag- es where anthropogenic activities were dominant, such as the case of Bolomor Cave (Valencia) during the Middle Pleistocene or the Abric Romaní and Teixoneres Caves (Barcelona) at the end of the Middle Palaeolithic. This study reviews the best- known cases with a special focus on the evolution of the relationship between elephants and humans in this specific geographic area.The symposium and the volume "Human-elephant interactions: from past to present" were funded by the Volkswagen Foundation

Early evidence of stone tool use in bone working activities at Qesem Cave, Israel

For a long while, the controversy surrounding several bone tools coming from pre-Upper Palaeolithic contexts favoured the view of Homo sapiens as the only species of the genus Homo capable of modifying animal bones into specialised tools. However, evidence such as South African Early Stone Age modified bones, European Lower Palaeolithic flaked bone tools, along with Middle and Late Pleistocene bone retouchers, led to a re-evaluation of the conception of Homo sapiens as the exclusive manufacturer of specialised bone tools. The evidence presented herein include use wear and bone residues identified on two flint scrapers as well as a sawing mark on a fallow deer tibia, not associated with butchering activities. Dated to more than 300 kya, the evidence here presented is among the earliest related to tool-assisted bone working intended for non-dietary purposes, and contributes to the debate over the recognition of bone working as a much older behaviour than previously thought. The results of this study come from the application of a combined methodological approach, comprising use wear analysis, residue analysis, and taphonomy. This approach allowed for the retrieval of both direct and indirect evidence of tool-assisted bone working, at the Lower Palaeolithic site of Qesem Cave (Israel)

The exceptional presence of megaloceros giganteus in North-Eastern Iberia and Its palaeoecological implications: the case of Teixoneres cave (Moià, Barcelona, Spain)

In this article we announce the discovery of the first remains of Megaloceros giganteus found in Catalonia (north-eastern Iberia) from the Late Pleistocene: a fragment of maxillary. Dated between 35,000 and 37,000 cal BP, it is also among the youngest occurrence of this taxon in the Iberian Peninsula, while its last known occurrence is dated to the Neolithic period. Through a comparison with the giant deer of the northern Pyrenees, we analyzed the herbivore guilds in which this taxon was associated to understand the context in which it was able to enter the Iberian Peninsula. By comparing its diet with those of specimens from Northern Europe, we detail the ecological adaptations of this taxon in this new environment. We suggest that Megaloceros accompanied the migrations of cold-adapted species by taking advantage of the opening of corridors on both sides of the Pyrenees during the coldest periods of the Late Pleistocene. The diet of the Iberian individuals, which is oriented towards abrasive plants, suggests an adaptation to a different ecological niche than that found in Northern European individuals. The northern Iberian Peninsula may have been an extreme in the geographical expansion of M. giganteus. More specimens will be needed in the future to establish the variability of the southern Megaloceros populations.ARQ001SOL183-2022 and 2021-SGR-01237; Projects PID2019-103987GB-C31; (CEX2019-000945-M); PID2020-114462GB-I00; PID2019-104949GB-I00; RYC2019-026386-I; CEX2019-000945-M; Grant 101024230info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

The Anthropogenic Use of Firewood During the European Middle Pleistocene: Charcoal Evidence from Levels XIII and XI of Bolomor Cave, Eastern Iberia (230- 160 ka)

Human control of fire is a widely debated issue in the field of Palaeolithic archaeology, since it involved significant technological innovations for human subsistence. Although fire evidence has been the subject of intense debate regarding its natural or anthropogenic nature, most authors agree that combustion structures represent the most direct evidence of human control of fire. Wood charcoal fragments from these contexts represent the fuel remains that result from humans' collection of firewood, which means they can reveal significant behavioural and palaeoenvironmental information relevant to our understanding of Middle Palaeolithic societies. In this work, we present anthracological data derived from combustion structure 2 (level XIII, ca. 230 ka, MIS 7) and combustion structure 4 (level XI, ca. 160 ka, MIS 6) from Bolomor Cave, which are chronologically among the earliest combustion structures found in Europe. The present work discusses how the presence of black pine and / or scots pine in both levels sheds light on the characterisation of the local landscape. Additional analyses focussing on the pre- and post-depositional processes affecting charcoal preservation point to biodegradation patterns. The aim of this work is to provide the first discussion concerning the anthracological data derived from Bolomor Cave in order to contribute to the general debate regarding the use of fire during the European Middle Pleistocene

From tortoises to elephants: the impact of elephants in the broad spectrum diet at Bolomor Cave (MIS 9–5 Spain)

Animal exploitation strategies have occupied a prominent place in the debate about the timing and nature of the modern human behavior. The discussions have basically focused on the ability to make an intensive use of seasonal resources, to hunt large or dangerous animals and to exploit fast-moving small game. Both large-sized herbi- vores and small prey are therefore considered a key variable to assess fundamental aspects of the evolution of subsistence strategies. In this work we present zooarchaeological data from the Middle Pleistocene site of Bolomor Cave (Valencia, Spain, MIS 9–5e), which has been interpreted as a habitat place. Its taxonomic representation extends from very large-sized herbivores (elephants, hippopot- amuses and rhinoceroses) to very small-sized an- imals (lagomorphs, birds and tortoises), or even exotic animals like macaque. Elephant specimens are documented along the stratigraphic sequence from level Ia, IV, V, XII, XIII and XVII. Most of the elephant individuals are immature and partial- ly represented. Nevertheless, the bone fragments recovered coincide with the general anatomical profile of the medium- and large-sized ungulates, which is mainly characterized by stylopodials, zeu- gopodials and mandibles. Evidence of human use of small prey from the earliest phases of site oc- cupation (sublevel XVIIc) is also attested in form of cut marks, intentional bone breakages, human tooth marks and burning patterns. The exploita- tion of small prey, alongside to the very large game identified at the site, indicates a generalist human behavior based on a broad spectrum diet (BSD), which contributes to document the diversity in the lifestyles of the human communities of the Euro- pean Middle Pleistocene.The symposium and the volume "Human-elephant interactions: from past to present" were funded by the Volkswagen Foundation

Intramuscular Fat Selection in Rabbits Modifies the Fatty Acid Composition of Muscle and Liver Tissues

[EN] Simple Summary Intramuscular fat content improves the juiciness, tenderness, and flavor of meat, but it can also affect its nutritional quality. A divergent selection experiment for intramuscular fat content was performed on rabbits for 10 generations to study the metabolism of the selected and correlated traits. The direct response to selection and the correlated responses in the meat fatty acid content, in the liver fat and its fatty acid content, and in plasma metabolic markers related to liver metabolism were studied. Increasing intramuscular fat content led to higher fat deposition in the carcass, but not in the liver. The fatty acid contents of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle and liver were modified after selection, for which the microbiome composition also played an important role. A higher concentration of plasma lipids was found in the low-IMF line, probably due to a lower uptake by the muscle and adipose tissue. This study was conducted on two rabbit lines divergently selected for intramuscular fat (IMF) content in the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle. The aim was to estimate the direct response to selection for IMF after 10 generations, and the correlated responses in carcass quality traits, meat fatty acid content, liver fat and its fatty acid content, and in plasma metabolic markers related to liver metabolism. Selection for IMF content was successful, showing a direct response equivalent to 3.8 SD of the trait after 10 generations. The high-IMF line (H) showed a greater dissectible fat percentage than the low-IMF line (L), with a relevant difference (DH-L = 0.63%, P-r = 1). No difference was found in liver fat content (DH-L = -0.04, P-0 = 0.62). The fatty acid content of both LTL muscle and liver was modified after selection. The LTL muscle had greater saturated (SFA; DH-L = 5.05, P-r = 1) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA; DH-L = 5.04, P-r = 1) contents in the H line than in the L line. No relevant difference was found in polyunsaturated fatty acids content (PUFA; P-r = 0.05); however, greater amounts of C18:2n6 (DH-L = 3.03, P-r = 1) and C18:3n3 (DH-L = 0.56, P-r = 1) were found in the H than in the L line. The liver presented greater MUFA (DH-L = 1.46) and lower PUFA (DH-L = -1.46) contents in the H than in the L line, but the difference was only relevant for MUFA (P-r = 0.86). The odd-chain saturated fatty acids C15:0 and C17:0 were more abundant in the liver of the L line than in the liver of the H line (DH-L = -0.04, P-r = 0.98 for C15:0; DH-L = -0.09, P-r = 0.92 for C17:0). Greater concentrations of plasma triglycerides (DH-L = -34) and cholesterol (DH-L = -3.85) were found in the L than in the H line, together with greater plasma concentration of bile acids (DH-L = -2.13). Nonetheless, the difference was only relevant for triglycerides (P-r = 0.98).This research was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, project number PID2020-115558GB-C21, and by the Conselleria for Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, project number AICO/2020/349.Zubiri-Gaitán, A.; Blasco Mateu, A.; Ccalta, R.; Satué, K.; Hernández, P. (2022). Intramuscular Fat Selection in Rabbits Modifies the Fatty Acid Composition of Muscle and Liver Tissues. Animals. 12(7):1-12. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani1207089311212

New quantitative method for dental wear analysis of small mammals

The application of dental wear study to murids has always been ruled out because of their omnivorous diet, which does not leave significant wear on the dentition. Nevertheless, in our work we select Apodemus sylvaticus (wood mouse) as the object of study for several reasons: its seasonal diet, its ability to resist the gastric juices of predators, the fact that it has not undergone major morphological changes since its appearance 3 million years ago, and its widespread distribution throughout much of Europe and part of Africa. The importance of this work lies in the modifications we make to the dental wear methodology for its application to murids. These enable us to obtain quantitative data on the entire tooth surface. The sample chosen was a total of 75 lower first molars from two different archaeological sites: Teixoneres cave and Xaragalls cave. The chronology of the samples chosen ranges from Marine Isotope Stages 5-3. The data obtained reveal that the part of the tooth that shows most wear is the distal part (entoconid). Furthermore, the results provide us with relevant information on the types of accumulations of remains in the caves (short vs. long term), as well as on the seasonality of Neanderthal occupations during the Upper Pleistocene (MIS5-3) of the northeastern Iberian Peninsula.Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (FJC2018-038259-1). F.R., R.B. and J.R. research is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation through the projects PID2019- 103987 GB-C31, PGC2018-093925-B-C32 and PID2019-104949 GB-I00, and the ‘María de Maeztu’ excellence accreditation (CEX2019-000945-M), by the Generalitat de Catalunya and AGAUR projects CLT009/18/00054, CLT009/18/00055 and 2017-SGR-836. R.B. is supported by a Ramón y Cajal research contract by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (RYC2019-026386-I)info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio