Middle Pleistocene Steppe Lion Remains from Grotte de la Carrière (Têt Valley, Eastern Pyrenees)

Altres ajuts: Acord transformatiu CRUE-CSICAltres ajuts: Open Access Funding provided by Universitat Autonoma de Barcelona. This work has been funded by the Direction Regionalle des Afaires Culturelles of the French Government (DRAC Occitaine) and the Agencia Estatal de Investigación-European Regional Development Fund of the European Union (CGL2017-82654-P, AEI/FEDERUE). LS is supported by the FI AGAUR fellowship (ref. 2020 FI_B1 00131) funded by the Secretaria d'Universitats i Recerca de la Generalitat de Catalunya and the European Social FundLate Pleistocene cave lions are one of the most iconic species of Northern Hemisphere Quaternary taphocoenoses. Despite their often-scarce record in cave environments, their ubiquitous distribution across Eurasia and North America assemblages attests to their position as top ice-age predators. Nevertheless, the origins of these former large felids, their distribution during the Middle Pleistocene, and their paleoecology during co-existence with the scimitar-toothed cat Homotherium remain debated. Here we describe for the first time an abundant collection of large-sized and stout felid remains from the recently discovered site of Grotte de la Carrière in Eastern Pyrenees, with an estimated age corresponding to MIS 9. Our results highlight the larger size of Middle Pleistocene lions compared to Late Pleistocene ones as well as a trend of decreasing in size, which has been previously stated by other authors. Grotte de la Carrière steppe lions have similar morphological and biometrical parameters to those of other samples from MIS 11-9, being larger and stouter than younger latest Middle Pleistocene-Late Pleistocene forms and slightly smaller than older MIS 15-12 forms

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Open access funding provided by Max Planck Society. This project has received funding by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under grant agreements no. 803147-RESOLUTION (to S.T.), no. 771234-PALEoRIDER (to W.H.), no. 864358 (to K.M.), no. 724703 and no. 101019659 (to K.H.). K.H. is also supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG FOR 2237). E.A. has received funding from the Van de Kamp fonds. PACEA co-authors of this research benefited from the scientific framework of the University of Bordeaux’s IdEx Investments for the Future programme/GPR Human Past. A.G.-O. is supported by a Ramón y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2017-22558). L. Sineo, M.L. and D.C. have received funding from the Italian Ministry of University and Research (MUR) PRIN 2017 grants 20177PJ9XF and 20174BTC4R_002. H. Rougier received support from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences of CSUN and the CSUN Competition for RSCA Awards. C.L.S. and T. Saupe received support from the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund (project no. 2014-2020.4.01.16-0030) and C.L.S. received support from the Estonian Research Council grant PUT (PRG243). S. Shnaider received support from the Russian Science Foundation (no. 19-78-10053).Peer reviewe

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

: Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants

Palaeogenomics of Upper Palaeolithic to Neolithic European hunter-gatherers

Publisher Copyright: © 2023, The Author(s).Modern humans have populated Europe for more than 45,000 years1,2. Our knowledge of the genetic relatedness and structure of ancient hunter-gatherers is however limited, owing to the scarceness and poor molecular preservation of human remains from that period3. Here we analyse 356 ancient hunter-gatherer genomes, including new genomic data for 116 individuals from 14 countries in western and central Eurasia, spanning between 35,000 and 5,000 years ago. We identify a genetic ancestry profile in individuals associated with Upper Palaeolithic Gravettian assemblages from western Europe that is distinct from contemporaneous groups related to this archaeological culture in central and southern Europe4, but resembles that of preceding individuals associated with the Aurignacian culture. This ancestry profile survived during the Last Glacial Maximum (25,000 to 19,000 years ago) in human populations from southwestern Europe associated with the Solutrean culture, and with the following Magdalenian culture that re-expanded northeastward after the Last Glacial Maximum. Conversely, we reveal a genetic turnover in southern Europe suggesting a local replacement of human groups around the time of the Last Glacial Maximum, accompanied by a north-to-south dispersal of populations associated with the Epigravettian culture. From at least 14,000 years ago, an ancestry related to this culture spread from the south across the rest of Europe, largely replacing the Magdalenian-associated gene pool. After a period of limited admixture that spanned the beginning of the Mesolithic, we find genetic interactions between western and eastern European hunter-gatherers, who were also characterized by marked differences in phenotypically relevant variants.Peer reviewe

Estratègies cinegètiques i aprofitament animal en el pas del MIS-3 al MIS-2 al nord-est de la península Ibèrica

So as to understand how hunter-gatherer communities faced the climatic deterioration that ended in the last glacial maximum, the research of this PhD thesis is focused on the study of osteoarchaeological remains retrieved from the residential contexts of Iberian Middle Gravettian (c. 28.5-31 ka cal BP) and Final Gravettian (c. 23.5-30 ka cal BP) levels of Arbreda Cave. The methodical examination of faunal remains of small mammals (erinaceids and leporids), carnivores and ungulates has allowed us to reach the principal target: investigate in depth hunting strategies and practices as well as dietary habits and animal raw material exploitation in the northeast of Iberian Peninsula during the transition from MIS-3 to MIS-2. The archaeozoological analysis suggests a hunt focused on familial groups of horses and red deer among ungulates as well as rabbits and hedgehogs among small prey. The taphonomic study points to an intensive management of products obtained from hunt. Concerning ungulates, an exhaustive exploitation was carried out: it is observed different kinds of butchery activities, marrow extraction and use of bone as fuel and raw material to make “less-elaborated” tools. With regard to small prey, the carcasses were whole carried to the site, where they were butchered, cooked and consumed. The spatial distribution analysis reveal that hunter-gatherer communities established themselves in particular areas of the cave, close to the north wall and beneath the existing roof of the shelter. The low level of space organization complexity in activity areas supports the idea that occupation would not have been long. As far as seasonality is concerned, although hunter-gatherers frequented the site throughout the year, the most intensive use took place between spring and autumn during the Middle Gravettian and from early spring to early summer during the Final GravettianAmb la finalitat de comprendre com les societats caçadores-recol·lectores s’adaptaren a l’empitjorament climàtic que desembocà al darrer màxim glacial, la recerca d’aquesta tesi doctoral es focalitza en l’estudi de les restes osteoarqueològiques dels contextos residencials del Gravetià mitjà ibèric (c. 28,5-31 ka cal BP) i del Gravetià final (c. 23,5-30 ka cal BP) de la cova de l’Arbreda (Serinyà). El metòdic examen de les restes faunístiques de petits mamífers (erinaceids i lepòrids), carnívors i ungulats ha permès assolir el principal propòsit perseguit: aprofundir en el coneixement de les estratègies i pràctiques de caça així com dels hàbits alimentaris i l’aprofitament de les matèries primeres d’origen animal al nord-est de la península durant el pas del MIS-3 al MIS-2. L’anàlisi arqueozoològica indica una caça dirigida, principalment, cap a la predació de grups familiars de cavalls i cérvols pel que fa als ungulats, i del conill i l’eriçó pel que respecte a les petites preses. L’estudi tafonòmic apunta a una explotació intensiva dels productes derivats de la caça. Els ungulats foren objecte d’un aprofitament exhaustiu: es documenten diversos tipus d’activitats de carnisseria, l’obtenció del moll de l’os i l’ús de l’os com a combustible, així com la confecció d’útils «poc elaborats». Les carcasses de les petites preses foren aportades d’una peça al jaciment, on foren processades, cuinades i consumides. L’anàlisi de distribució espacial revela que les comunitats caçadores-recol·lectores s’establiren en unes àrees concretes del jaciment, sobretot a tocar de la paret nord de la cova, lloc que durant el Gravetià es trobava protegit per la cornisa de tova calcària. El baix nivell de complexitat de l’organització espacial de les àrees d’activitat dona suport a la idea que les ocupacions no haurien estat gaire prolongades. A partir dels indicadors d’estacionalitat, s’ha pogut reconèixer que si bé s’haurien produït ocupacions al llarg de l’any, aquestes haurien tingut lloc de manera més destacada entre primavera i tardor durant el Gravetià mitjà i entre primavera i principis d’estiu durant el Gravetià finalPrograma de Doctorat en Ciències Humanes, del Patrimoni i de la Cultur

Les intervencions arqueològiques a la Cova de Mollet III durant les campanyes dels anys 2014-2015 (Parc de les coves prehistòriques de Serinyà)

Jornades d’Arqueologia de les Comarques de Girona (13es : 2016 : Banyoles). Tretzenes Jornades d’Arqueologia de les Comarques de Girona : Banyoles, 10 i 11 de juny de 2016Descripció dels treballs i resultats de les campanyes d'excavacions arqueològiques de 2014 i 2015, realitzades a la Cova de Mollet III, situada entre les coves de l’Arbreda i la de Mollet

Late Pleistocene Mediterranean lynx remains from Avenc del Marge del Moro (NE Iberian Peninsula)

Altres ajuts: CERCA Programme/Generalitat de CatalunyaDuring 2011, an international team of scientists successfully obtained for the first-time paleoDNA data from different samples of Lynx remains from the Iberian Peninsula. These results showed that these remains belonged to the species Lynx pardinus, which is, at present, one of the most critically endangered felids. One of the remains sampled in the aforementioned study comes from a small chasm called Avenc del Marge del Moro in the Garraf Massif, with an estimated absolute chronology of 21 ka. Further morphological studies reinforced the last evidence, corroborating the presence of Lynx pardinus from the Early to Late Pleistocene in Southern Europe. Here, we provide for the first time a detailed description of the lynx remains from Avenc del Marge del Moro, which consist of a remarkably complete fossil cranium, as well as several dentognathic and postcranial remains. In the light of the evidence reported the last 10 years for fossil L. pardinus and its past distribution throughout southern France and the Iberian and Italian Peninsulas, we further suggest a formal change of the vernacular name of this species to 'Mediterranean lynx'. This also provides novel insight for future reintroduction opportunities of this species alongside the north Mediterranean coast in order to enhance its survival possibilities in wild ecosystems

The Middle to Late Pleistocene vertebrate assemblage from Cova 120 (Alta Garrotxa, Eastern Pyrenees)

Cova 120 is a karstic originated horizontal gallery of approx. 25m located in the southern side of the Eastern Pyrenees at 460m a.s.l. Field surveys conducted from 1985 to 1989 and, more recently, from 2003 to 2006 enabled us to describe a long chronological sequence comprised between the Bronze Age (layers II-III) and the Middle-Late Pleistocene (layers IV-IX, from 57,9 Ka to MIS7) (Agustí et al. 1991; Martín and Terradas, 2007). Here we describe, for the first time, the vertebrate assemblage from the lower layers of the assemblage (MIS4-7). The preliminary faunal list is composed by: Panthera pardus, Lynx pardinus, Felis sylvestris, Ursus spelaeus s.l., Crocuta sp., Canis lupus, Vulpes vulpes, Capra pyrenaica, Cervus elaphus, Bos/Bison, Marmota marmota, Oryctolagus cuniculus, Microtus oeconomus, M. nivalis, M. arvalis-agrestis, M. duodecimcostatus, Pliomys lenki, Glis glis, Eliomys quericinus, Apodemus sylvaticus and Spermophilus sp. The mammal assemblage is composed basically by more than 70% remains of Capra and secondarily carnivores, specifically P. pardus (3%) and Ursus (6%). The primary taphonomic analyses suggest that this accumulation was produced, mainly by leopards as happened in the really close Cova S’Espasa site (Sauqué et al., 2018), however other accumulation agents as hominins or small carnivores as Lynx or Vulpes are not a priori discarded.Peer reviewe

Magdaleniense en la cueva de la Arbreda (Serinyà, Pla de l'Estany, Cataluña)

[EN] Recent fieldworks in the Abreda cave have made it possible to reinterpret the data available on level A, the last from the Pleistocene, deposited before a wide red clay stratum with Neolithic ceramics, which closes the sequence in that site. Level A displays extreme archaeological poverty, and until now we described is simply as Post Solutrean. Now for the first time we rcan attribute it, at least in good part, to the Middle Magdalenian because of stratigraphic and typological reasons. A radiocarbon dating of 14C AMS 13,704 += 41 uncal BP confirms this attribution. Until now, the Magdalenian was only known in Serinyà in the Bora Gran d'En Carreras, as it was missing in all the sites in the Reclau area.[ES] Las últimas campañas de excavación en la cueva de la Arbreda han permitido reinterpretar los antiguos datos disponibles sobre el nivel A, el último de edad pleistocena, que precede un potente estrato de arcillas rojkas con cerámicas y restos neolíticos que sella el yacimiento. Es de una extrema pobreza arqueológica y hasta ahora lo calificábamos simplemente como postsolutrense. Ahora por primera vez podemos atribuirlo, por lo menos en buena parte, al Magdaleniense Medio, por razones estratigráficas y tipológicas, Una datación 14C AMS 13.704 += uncal BP confirma esta atribución. Hasta ahora el Magdaleniense solo era conocido en Serinyà en la Bora Gran d'En Carreras, pues faltaba en todos los yacimientos del paraje del Reclau.Peer reviewe

Les excavacions a la cova de l'Arbreda durant les campanyes de 2014 i 2015

Jornades d’Arqueologia de les Comarques de Girona (13es : 2016 : Banyoles). Tretzenes Jornades d’Arqueologia de les Comarques de Girona : Banyoles, 10 i 11 de juny de 2016Descripció dels resultats dels treballs de les excavacions arqueològiques a la cova de l'Arbreda durant les campanyes de 2014 i 201