Early Pleistocene hominins in europe: the sites of Barranco León and Fuente Nueva-3 (Orce, Spain)

The Early Pleistocene (Late Villafranchian) sites of Orce, placed in the northeastern sector of the Guadix-Baza Basin (Granada, southeastern Spain), are key to the study of the first human settlements in the European subcontinent. Evidence of human presence and anthropic activity has been found at two sites, Barranco Leon and Fuente Nueva-3. In this sedimentary basin, the hominins inhabited a mild environment rich in vegetation, which provided all resources necessary for their living, including the presence of a lake with a permanent water sheet fed by thermal springs and abundant ungulate carcasses. However, these animal resources were also focus of attention for scavenging carnivores. In Barranco León, with a chronology of 1.4 Ma, and slightly older than Fuente Nueva-3, 1.3 Ma, a deciduous tooth of Homo sp. has been unearthed in 2002 [1] and a huge assemblage of Oldowan (i. e. Mode 1) tools, made in flint and limestones, have been recovered in both localities. In addition, evidences of human modification are frequents on the bone surfaces, as cut-marks, resulting from disarticulation, defleshing and evisceration activities, and percussion marks that evidence bone fracturing for accessing marrow contents. Cut marks are mostly present on large ungulates limb bones, although a number of axial elements, as rib and vertebrae fragments, show cut marked surfaces. Percussion evidences are located almost exclusively in appendicular elements. Carnivores activities are present too, and are focused, as cut marks, on limb bones. These modifications were mostly originated by the giant, short-faced hyena of African origin Pachycrocuta brevirostris, althought the study of the fossil bones from the last four dig seasons evidence the presence of tooth marks from other carnivores of smaller body size. In any case, anthropic activity predominates in both, Barranco León and Fuente Nueva-3, which suggest a secondary access of carnivores to these areas. However, the upper archaeological level of Fuente Nueva-3, which has provided 150 coprolites and several tooth remains of P. brevirostris, is an exception to the pattern of competitive exclusion depicted above for hominins and scavenging carnivores. Taphonomic analysis of ungulate postcranial remains preserved in this level has shown increased carnivoran activity, thus evidencing a possible competition for ungulate carcasses between Homo and Pachycrocuta This work has been done in the framework of the contract Exp. B090678SV18BC funded and authorized by Consejería de Cultura de la Junta de Andalucía, and the project P11-HUM-7248 by Junta deAndalucía References:[1] Toro-Moyano, I, Martínez-Navarro, B., Agustí, J., Souday, C., Bermúdez De Castro, J.M., Martinón-Torres, M., Fajardo, B., Duval, M., Falguères, C., Oms, O., Parés, J.M., Anadón, P., Julià, R., García-Aguilar, J.M., Moigne, A.-M., Espigares, M.P., Ros-Montoya, S., Palmqvist, P., 2013. The oldest human fossil in Europe, from Orce (Spain). Journal of Human Evolution, 65, 1-9.[2] Espigares, M.P., Martínez-Navarro, B., Palmqvist, P., Ros-Montoya, S., Toro, I., Agustí, J. Sala, R., 2013. Homo vs. Pachycrocuta: Earliest evidence of competition for an elephant carcass between scavengers at Fuente Nueva-3 (Orce, Spain). Quaternary International. 295, 113 -125.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tech

Age and date for early arrival of the Acheulian in Europe (Barranc de la Boella, la Canonja, Spain)

The first arrivals of hominin populations into Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene are currently considered to have occurred as short and poorly dated biological dispersions. Questions as to the tempo and mode of these early prehistoric settlements have given rise to debates concerning the taxonomic significance of the lithic assemblages, as trace fossils, and the geographical distribution of the technological traditions found in the Lower Palaeolithic record. Here, we report on the Barranc de la Boella site which has yielded a lithic assemblage dating to ,1 million years ago that includes large cutting tools (LCT). We argue that distinct technological traditions coexisted in the Iberian archaeological repertoires of the late Early Pleistocene age in a similar way to the earliest sub-Saharan African artefact assemblages. These differences between stone tool assemblages may be attributed to the different chronologies of hominin dispersal events. The archaeological record of Barranc de la Boella completes the geographical distribution of LCT assemblages across southern Eurasia during the EMPT (Early-Middle Pleistocene Transition, circa 942 to 641 kyr). Up to now, chronology of the earliest European LCT assemblages is based on the abundant Palaeolithic record found in terrace river sequences which have been dated to the end of the EMPT and later. However, the findings at Barranc de la Boella suggest that early LCT lithic assemblages appeared in the SW of Europe during earlier hominin dispersal episodes before the definitive colonization of temperate Eurasia took place.The research at Barranc de la Boella has been carried out with the financial support of the Spanish Ministerio de Economı´a y Competitividad (CGL2012- 36682; CGL2012-38358, CGL2012-38434-C03-03 and CGL2010-15326; MICINN project HAR2009-7223/HIST), Generalitat de Catalunya, AGAUR agence (projects 2014SGR-901; 2014SGR-899; 2009SGR-324, 2009PBR-0033 and 2009SGR-188) and Junta de Castilla y Leo´n BU1004A09. Financial support for Barranc de la Boella field work and archaeological excavations is provided by the Ajuntament de la Canonja and Departament de Cultura (Servei d’Arqueologia i Paleontologia) de la Generalitat de Catalunya. A. Carrancho’s research was funded by the International Excellence Programme, Reinforcement subprogramme of the Spanish Ministry of Education. I. Lozano-Ferna´ndez acknowledges the pre-doctoral grant from the Fundacio´n Atapuerca. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

THE HORN-CORE OF HEMIBOS GALERIANUS FROM PONTE MILVIO, ROME (ITALY)

Anatomical reinterpretation of a horn-core from the Ponte Milvio site, previously ascribed to Bubalus murrensis, suggests that it belongs to the species Hemibos galerianus, originally described from the type locality of the Galerian Land Mammal Age (LMA). This is the second record in the Italian Pleistocene of this rare Bovini species, derived from the genus Hemibos of Indian origin.

THE HORN-CORE OF HEMIBOS GALERIANUS FROM PONTE MILVIO, ROME (ITALY)

Anatomical reinterpretation of a horn-core from the Ponte Milvio site, previously ascribed to Bubalus murrensis, suggests that it belongs to the species Hemibos galerianus, originally described from the type locality of the Galerian Land Mammal Age (LMA). This is the second record in the Italian Pleistocene of this rare Bovini species, derived from the genus Hemibos of Indian origin.

Pleistocene human dispersals: Climate, ecology and social behavior

The modern history of thinking about the origin of species hasbeen dominated by the relationship between environments -andtheir changes- and the process of speciation. Darwin's originalargument for evolution by means of natural selection (Darwin,1859) is an ecological argument: species ?adapt? to their physicaland biotic environments. Those best adapted to their environmentsurvive and leave more descendants than those that are less adapted.This reasoning clearly works on biological, even paleontologicalterms. But, does it work on social and cultural ones? And, if it does,how? This volume discussed these questions in the context of humanevolution, and covering both continental lands and islandsFil: Lanata, Jose Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio; ArgentinaFil: Lozano, Sergi. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; España. Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social; EspañaFil: Martinez Navarro, Bienvenido. Universitat Rovira I Virgili; España. Institut Català de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social; España. Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats; Españ

<i>Ammotragus europaeus</i> : une nouvelle espèce de Caprini (Bovidae, Mammalia) du Pléistocène inférieur à la grotte du Vallonnet (France)

Une nouvelle espèce d’Ammotragus est décrite à partir de fossiles provenant de l’ensemble III de la grotte du Vallonnet (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes, France). Ces fossiles étaient auparavant attribués au genre Ovis, mais le ré-examen de la collection dentaire du gisement ainsi que la première étude d’un fragment crânien montrant les compartiments moyens droit et gauche des sinus frontaux caudaux, les pariétaux, les temporaux et le basisphénoïde, ont permis de mettre en évidence des différences anatomiques claires avec les genres de la tribu des Caprini : Ovis, Capra, Hemitragus, et de la tribu des Ovibovini : Soergelia. À l’opposé, des similitudes sont observées avec le genre Ammotragus, connu jusqu’alors seulement en Afrique du Nord. L’ensemble III du Vallonnet est contemporain de l’épisode paléomagnétique de Jaramillo et a un âge de 1 Ma. Des dents similaires à celles de l’Ammotragus du Vallonnet ont été découvertes dans le site de Fuente Nueva-3 (Orce, Andalousie, Espagne).A new species of the genus Ammotragus is described from the assemblage III of Vallonnet cave (Roquebrune-Cap-Martin, Alpes-Maritimes, France). These remains were interpreted as Ovis, but the re-study of the dental collection from the site and a first study of a partial braincase with the basal internal region of the horn-core pedicels, the parietals, the temporals, and the basisphenoid bones, show anatomical differences with the Caprini genera Ovis, Capra, and Hemitragus and the Ovibovini genus Soergelia. At the opposite, anatomical similarities of the Vallonnet material to the extant North-African Caprini genus Ammotragus are observed. The age of Vallonnet cave is dated by palaeomagnetic techniques at about 1.0 Ma. Teeth remains similar to the Vallonnet species have been found at Fuente Nueva-3 (Orce, Andalusia, Spain).</p

First occurrence of Soergelia (Ovibovini, Bovidae, Mammalia) in the Early Pleistocene of Italy

The revision of the Early Pleistocene collection from the site of Monte Argentario (southern Tuscany, Italy), housed at the Istituto Italiano di Paleontologia Umana (Roma), revealed the occurrence of a mostly complete left horn core, attributable to a small-middle size bovid species corresponding to the genus of Asian origin Soergelia (Soergelia sp. cf. Soergelia minor). This is the first finding of the genus in the Italian Peninsula. The Monte Argentario fauna associated with Soergelia includes the African origin saber-toothed tiger Megantereon whitei and other Late Villafranchian species. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved

Le Plio-Pléistocène de la région d'Orce, province de Grenade, Espagne : bilan et perspectives de recherche

A critical review of twenty yearss of research regarding the Plio-Pleistocene formations of the Orce region (Andalusia, Spain) gives us a precise idea of our present state of knowledge and of the local potential. Various geological studies in the Orce- Venta sector (eastern part of the Guadix-Baza basin) have permitted the establishment of a lithographic sequence, and allow the positioning of numerous archaeological and paleonthological sites in relation to each other. The abundance of micro- and macrofauna at these sites has facilitated the definition of a regional biozone extending from the Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene : three zones of Pliocene (MN15, MN16, MN17)n are succeeded by three zones of lower Pleistocene (zone à Allophaiomys pliocaenicus, zone à Allophaiomys bourgondiae, zone à Stenocrianus gregaloides) and then by the first zone of the Middle Pleistocene {Arvicola canta- nia). A study of the large mammals present has revealed the "Venta Micena period" which corresponds to the arrival in southern Spain of African fauna and humans. Paleomagnetic data obtained from the sites of Cortes de Baza and Galera, which belon to the same geomorphological unit, have permitted us to propose a broad chronological framework for these biozones and the pricipal sites of Venta Micena, Fuent Nueva 3, and Barranco Leôn. These sites, which are probably chronologically very close, are unequivocally attributed to the lower Pleistocene. Venta Micena is an extraordinarily rich paleontological site (15 000 remains in 320 m2), with the first open-air hyaena den identified in Europe. Numerous studies have permitted an understanding of the formation processes of this site, and have yelded interesting data in the domains of archeozoology, taphonomy, and paleoethnology. Unfortunately, similar efforts consecrated to the study of a few human remains attributed to the genus Homo have left some uncertainties. The first systematic excavations of the archaeological sites of Barranco Leôn and Fuente Nueva 3 have yielded lithic assemblage which provide indirect but unquestionable evidence of human occupation in Andalusia during the Lower Pleistocene. These lithic assemblages, for the moment still numerically minor, are characterized by the production of flakes by several different methods, the presence of "pieces esquillées" at Fuente Nueva 3, a rarity of retouched tools, and a complete absence (at least for the moment) of bifaces or debris characteristic of their production. Furur excavation will in the near futur furnish data essential to an understanding of the cultural context of these first migrants. This generalreview of past research has also revealed certain weaknesses in our current state of knowledge, thus underlining the necesity of a neotectonic and geomorphological study of the basin. Howerver, it has most importantly shown that the Orce sector is unique in Europe, and that it a zone of major importance for western European Plio-Pleistocene research.Le bilan critique de 20 années de recherches effectuées sur les formations plio-pléistocènes de la région d'Orce (Andalousie, Espagne) permet d'avoir une idée précise des acquis et du potentiel local. Le secteur d'Orce- Venta Micena, partie orientale de la dépression de Guadix-Baza, a fait l'objet de nombreuses études géologiques qui ont établi la séquence lithostratigraphique, mais aussi et permis de positionner les gisements archéologiques et paléontologiques les uns par rapport aux autres. Leur nombre et leur richesse en microfaune et macrofaune ont facilité l'établissement d'une biozonation régionale allant du Pliocène au Pleistocene moyen : aux trois zones du Pliocène (MN15, MN16, MN17) succèdent trois zones pour le Pleistocene inférieur (zone à Allophaiomys pliocaenicus, zone à Allophaiomys bourgondiae, zone à Stenocrianus gregaloides) ainsi que la première du Pleistocene moyen, celle à Arvicola cantania. L'étude des grands mammifères a mis en évidence le "moment de Venta Micena" qui correspond à l'arrivée dans le sud de l'Espagne de faune africaine et de l'homme, moment qui se place dans deux biozones de micromammifères, celle à Allophaiomys pliocaenicus et celle à Allophaiomys bourgondiae. Les données paléomagnétiques obtenues sur les gisements de Cortes de Baza et de Galera, lesquels appartiennent à la même unité géomorphologique, autorisent à proposer un cadre chronologique large pour les biozonations et les principaux sites, Venta Micena, Fuente Nueva 3 et Barranco Leôn. Ceux-ci probablement proches dans le temps, sont incontestablement attribuables au Pleistocene inférieur. Le gisement paléontologique de Venta Micena, premier repaire de hyène de plein air identifié en Europe, est d'une extraordinaire richesse (1 5 000 restes pour 320 m2). Les nombreuses études entreprises ont précisé ses modalités de formation, et ont apporté des données intéressantes dans les domaines de Parchéozoologie, la taphonomie et la paléoéthologie. Parallèlement, le même effort consacré à l'étude des quelques restes attribués au genre Homo n'a pas permis de lever les doutes. Les premières fouilles systématiques entreprises sur les gisements archéologiques de Barranco Léon et Fuente Nueva 3 ont livré des séries lithiques, témoignages indirects mais indiscutables de la présence humaine en Andalousie durant le Pleistocene inférieur. Ces ensembles lithiques, encore numériquement faibles, se caractérisent par la production d'éclats selon plusieurs méthodes, la présence à Fuente Nueva 3 de pièces esquillées, la rareté d'outils retouchés et l'absence totale du moins, pour l'heure, de bifaces ou de déchets caractéristiques de leur fabrication. La poursuite des fouilles fournira dans un avenir proche des données essentielles sur le contexte culturel de ces premiers migrants. Le bilan général a également permis de souligner quelques faiblesses, dont la nécessité d'une étude de la néotectonique et de la géomorphologie de la dépression ; mais il a surtout montré que le secteur d'Orce, qui n'a pas d'équivalent en Europe, est une zone clef pour l'étude du Plio- Pléistocène de l'Europe de l'Ouest.La revisión critica tras 20 años de investigaciones realizadas sobre los materiales plio-pleistocenos de la región de Orce (Andalucia, España) permiten mostrar una idea precisa de los conocimientos actuales y de la potencialidad de la zona. El sector de Orce-Venta Micena y su área adyacente, parte oriental de la cuenca de Guadix-Baza, ha sido objeto de numerosos estudios geológicos, que han permitido establecer la secuencia estratigráfica y situar los munerosos yacimientos paleontológicos y arqueológicos en la série. Su gran numéro y riqueza en micro y macrofauna ha permitido establecer una biozonaciôn regional, que abarca desde el Plioceno hasta el Pleistoceno medio ; con las très biozonas del Plioceno (MN15, MN16 y MN17), sucedidas por très biozonas para el Pleistoceno inferior (zona de Allophaiomys pliocaenicus, zona de Allophaiomys bourgondiae y zona de Stenocranius gregaloides) y la primera zona del Pleistoceno medio con Arvicola cantiana. El estudio de los grandes mamiferos ha puesto en evidencia el "momento Venta Micena", que se corresponde con la Ilegada al sur de la Peninsula Ibérica de varias especies africanas y del hombre. Esta fauna se encuentra en las biozonas de micromamiferos representadas por Allophaiomys pliocaenicus y Allophaiomys bourgondiae. Los datos paleomagnéticos obtenidos en los yacimientos de las series de Cortess de Baza y de Galera, pertenecientes a la misma unidad geomorfolôgica indican una cronologia amplia para estas biozonaciones, con los principales yacimientos - Venta Micena, Fuente Nueva -3 y Barranco Leôn- prôximos en el tiempo y situados en el Pleistoceno inferior. El yacimiento paleontolôgico de Venta Micena, primer cubil de hienas en campo abierto localizado en Europa, es de una riqueza extraordinaria (1 5 000 restos en 320 m2). Los numerosos estudios realizados precisan su modelo de formaciôn y aportan interesantes datos sobre los dominios de la arqueozoologia, la tafonomia y la paleoctologia. Paralelamente, el gran esfuerzo consagrado al estudio de algunos restos atribui- dos al género Homo no ha permitido resolver las énormes dudas sobre su determinaciôn taxonômica. Las primeras excavaciones sistemâticas realizadas en los yacimientos arqueolôgicos de Barranco Leôn y Fuente Nueva -3 han librado unas industrias liticas, que son una prucha indirecta pero induiscutible de la presencia humana en Andalucia durante el Pleistoceno inferior. Estas aso- ciaciones liticas, todavia numericamente pebres, se caracterizan por la producciôn de lascas segûn distintos métodos, por la presencia en Fuente Nueva -3 de "pièces esquillées", la rareza de utiles retocados y la ausencia total, por ahora, de bifaces o de deshe- chos caracteristicos de su fabricaciôn. La continuaciôn de la excavaciôn permitirâ prôximamente evaluar los datos esenciales sobre el contexto cultural de estos primeros pobladores. La revision general, ha permitido igualmente evaluar algunas deficiencias de la investigaciôn, como es la necesidad de realizar un estudio de neotectônica y de geomorfologia de la depresiôn, pero sobretodo ha permitido ver que el sector de Orce no tiene ningûn équivalente en Europa y es, por tanto, un punto clave para el estudio del Plio- Pleistoceno del sector occidental de nuestro continente.Turq Alain, Martinez-Navarro Bienvenido, Palmquist Paul, Arribas Alphonso, Agusti Jorge, Rodriguez-Vidal Joaquin. Le Plio-Pléistocène de la région d'Orce, province de Grenade, Espagne : bilan et perspectives de recherche. In: Paléo, n°8,1996. pp. 161-204

Direct evidence of megamammalcarnivore interaction decoded from bone marks in historical fossil collections from the pampean region

Pleistocene South American megafauna has traditionally attracted the interest of scientists and the popular media alike. However, ecological interactions between the species that inhabited these ecosystems, such as predator-prey relationships or interspecific competition, are poorly known. To this regard, carnivore marks imprinted on the fossil bones of megamammal remains are very useful for deciphering biological activity and, hence, potential interspecific relationships among taxa. In this article, we study historical fossil collections housed in different European and Argentinean museums that were excavated during the 19th and early 20th centuries in the Pampean region, Argentina, in order to detect carnivore marks on bones of megamammals and provide crucial information on the ecological relationships between South American taxa during the Pleistocene. Our results indicate that the long bones of megafauna from the Pampean region (e.g., the Mylodontidae and Toxodontidae families) exhibit carnivore marks. Furthermore, long bones of medium-sized species and indeterminate bones also present punctures, pits, scores and fractures. Members of the large-carnivore guild, such as ursids, canids and even felids, are recognised as the main agents that inflicted the marks. We hypothesize that the analysed carnivore marks represent the last stages of megaherbivore carcass exploitation, suggesting full consumption of these animals by the same or multiple taxa in a hunting and/or scavenging scenario. Moreover, our observations provide novel insights that help further our understanding of the palaeoecological relationships of these unique communities of megamammals.Fil: Chichkoyan, Karina Vanesa. Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Institut Català  de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social; EspañaFil: Figueirido, Borja. Universidad de Málaga; EspañaFil: Belinchón, Margarita. Museo de Ciencias Naturales de Valencia; EspañaFil: Lanata, Jose Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio. Universidad Nacional de Río Negro. Instituto de Investigaciones en Diversidad Cultural y Procesos de Cambio; ArgentinaFil: Moigne, Anne Marie. Musée de l’Homme; FranciaFil: Martinez Navarro, Bienvenido. Universitat Rovira i Virgili. Institut Català  de Paleoecologia Humana i Evolució Social; España. Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avancats; Españ

On the limits of using combined U-series/ESR method to date fossil teeth from two Early Pleistocene archaeological sites of the Orce area (Guadix-Baza basin, Spain)

The combined U-series/electron spin resonance (ESR) dating method was applied to nine teeth from two Early Pleistocene archaeological sites located in the Orce area (Guadix-Baza Basin, Southern Spain): Fuente Nueva-3 (FN-3) and Barranco León (BL). The c