ALIMENTAÇÃO HUMANA DURANTE O PALEOLÍTICO MÉDIO E SUPERIOR NA EUROPA

Através da investigação e do processamento dos dados fornecidos por uma ampla literatura, quer-se dar uma visão geral da alimentação durante o Paleolítico Médio e Superior europeu e obter uma possível diferença na dieta entre o Neandertal e oSapiens. Para entender este amplo tema, foram selecionados os dados dos estudos sobre a relação de isótopos estáveis de carbono e nitrogênio e os restos faunísticos, dentais e vegetais

Bears and Humans, a Neanderthal tale. Reconstructing uncommon behaviors from zooarchaeological evidence in Southern Europe

Cave bear (Ursus spelaeus), brown bear (Ursus arctos), and Neanderthals were potential competitors for environmental resources (shelters and food) in Europe. In order to reinforce this view and contribute to the ongoing debate on late Neanderthal behavior, we present evidence from zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses of bear bone remains discovered at Rio Secco Cave and Fumane Cave in northeast Italy, an extended geographic area north of the Adriatic Sea. The remains from both caves come from layers dated to 49-42 ky cal. BP, and suggest close interactions between humans and bears, with data not only limited to the association of Mousterian lithic artifacts with numerous bear remains, but also the detection of clearly preserved traces of human modification such as cut and percussion marks, which enable a reconstruction of the main steps of fur recovery and the butchering process. Examples of Neanderthal bear exploitation are extremely sporadic in Europe, and Grotta Rio Secco and Grotta Fumane can be considered rare cases of remain accumulations generated by the human predation of bears of varied age classes during or near the end of hibernation. All of this evidence suggests that bears had a strategic role in the nomadic economy of Neanderthal hunting groups

Subsistence of early anatomically modern humans in Europe as evidenced in the Protoaurignacian occupations of Fumane Cave, Italy

Documenting the subsistence strategies developed by early modern humans is relevant for understanding the success of their dispersal throughout Eurasia. Today, we know that there was not a single colonization event and that the process was progressive while coping with the MIS3 abrupt climatic oscillations. Modern humans expanded into the continent by adapting to different topographic situations and by exploiting resources in diverse ecological niches. The northern part of Italy is one of the first European regions where early modern humans are documented. Here, we present the subsistence regimen adopted by the Protoaurignacian groups in two different levels in Fumane Cave based on archaeozoological data. New radiocarbon dates confirm an overlap between Uluzzian and Protoaurignacian occupations, around 42 and 41,000 cal BP, and reveal that modern humans occupied the cave from GI10 to GS9, the last level coinciding with the Heinrich Event 4. The data indicate seasonal site occupations during late spring/summer and that prey exploitation was focused mostly on ibex and chamois, killed in nearby areas. The whole faunal assemblage suggests the presence of early modern humans in a cold environment with mostly open landscapes and patchy woodlands. The estimation of net primary productivity (NPP) in Fumane, compared with other contemporaneous Italian sites, reflects how the NPP fluctuations in the Prealpine area, where Fumane is located, affected the biotic resources in contrast to known Mediterranean sites. From a pan- European perspective, the spatiotemporal fluctuation of the NPP versus the subsistence strategies adopted by Protoaurignacian groups in the continent supports rapid Homo sapiens dispersal and resilience in a mosaic of environments that were affected by significant climate changes.This research is funded by the European Research Council under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No. 818299‐SUBSILIENCE project (https:// www. subsi lience. eu). G. T. and M.V.C. were funded by the former project and later by a Juan de la Cierva Formación Grant (Ref: FJC2019-040637-I and FJC2021-047601-I) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Research and fieldwork at Fumane Cave are coordinated by the University of Ferrara (M. Peresani) in the framework of a project supported by the Ministry of Culture—SAPAB Archaeological Superintendence, public institutions (Lessinia-Regional Natural Park, B.I.M. Adige, Fumane Municipality), private associations and companies, and in collaboration with Italian and European research centres. The authors thank all the colleagues from EvoAdapta Group for the constant enriching discussions and Prof. L. G. Straus for his edition of the English in the accepted version. Finally, we are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions which have helped us to improve the manuscript

Late Neanderthal subsistence at San Bernardino Cave (Berici Hills-Northeastern Italy) inferred from zooarchaeological data

North-eastern Italy is a key region for the study of Neanderthal way of life over a wide timeframe, as attested by over 20 Middle Palaeolithic multi-layered sites in caves, rock shelters and at open-air sites. Here we contribute to increase our understanding of Neanderthal subsistence strategies through the study of the faunal assemblage of Unit II dated to the first half of Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS3), from San Bernardino Cave. The site is located in the Berici Hills, at low altitude near the edge of a karstic plateau dissected by valleys and delimited by the alluvial lowland. Zooarchaeological and taphonomic analyses suggest that Neanderthal groups were the primary agent for the accumulation of mammal remains, and that hunting mainly focused on ungulates, such as Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus. Forested environment sustained by mild climatic conditions is also inferred by micromammals evidence. Our data suggest a selective transport of the prey - even for the roe deer - which might have implied a long distance transportation from the site. Also, it might have been related to the age of the prey or to multiple preys hunted in a single episode. The Bayesian method applied to the analysis of skeletal profiles shows a high level of attrition at the site and a greater degree of processing appendicular skeleton. Neanderthals used San Bernardino Cave as a place where carcasses processing was finalized, after an initial process at the kill-site, and then prepared for consumption. Also, discarded bones were used for lithic manufacturing. The San Bernardino evidence can be compared with productive systems for exploiting available ungulate game from other regional-scale MIS 3 Middle Palaeolithic sites.Excavations and studies at San Bernardino Cave are coordinated by the University of Ferrara (M.P.) and supported by the Ministry of Cultural Affairs and Tourism and Veneto Archaeological Superintendency (SABAPVerona, Vicenza and Rovigo), public institutions (Veneto Region - Department for Cultural Heritage, Province of Vicenza, Municipality of Mossano). Author contributions: M.P. conceived research; V.L., G.T. and M.R. analysed data; A.B.M.A. supported new radiocarbon dating; S.B. and M.R. are supported by the ERC-CoG Horizon 2020 project SUCCESS (Ref 724046 - website: http://www.erc-success.eu/); G.T. and M.P. wrote the paper with inputs from A.B.M.A., M.R. and S.B. The authors want to acknowledge Lucía Agudo Pérez for graphic support. Radiocarbon dating has been funded by the ERC-CoG Horizon 2020 project SUBSILIENCE (Ref 818299 - website: https://www.subsilience.eu/) led by A. B. Marín-Arroyo

Fate of cave bear in northeastern italy: anthropic impact, extinction chronology, stable isotope and genetic evidence

L’ós de les cavernes és un dels animals més emblemàtics del Pleistocè superior final a Europa i és una espècie molt ben coneguda per la quantitat de restes localitzades a múltiples coves. Malgrat això, alguns aspectes de la seva història evolutiva, com per exemple la interacció amb els humans, l’ecologia i la cronologia de la seva extinció són encara desconeguts a l’àrea mediterrània del Sud dels Alps. Aquesta recerca té com objectiu revisar el debat sobre l’extinció i la paleoecologia dels óssos de les cavernes, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), a partir de les anàlisis arqueozoològiques, tafonòmiques i químiques de les restes trobades en alguns jaciments del Paleolític mig i superior del Nord-est d’Itàlia: Rio Secco, Fumane, Buso doppio del Broion, Paina i Trenes Caves. Les restes d’ós de les cavernes són freqüentment recuperats a les coves i, en molts casos, representen els animals més abundants dels conjunts faunístics. Les restes analitzades provenen dels nivells datats entre 49-42 ky cal. BP (Rio Secco i Fumane) i 33-23 ky cal. BP (Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina), i moltes d’elles estan associades a evidències de presència humana. Les anàlisis arqueozoològiques i tafonòmiques han estat dirigides a entendre el rol de l’impacte humà sobre les poblacions d’ós de les cavernes durant el citat rang temporal. Altres tècniques, com per exemple els isòtops estables, l’anàlisi ADN antic i datacions radiomètriques han estat aplicades als ossos d’aquests animals dels jaciments de Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina Caves, per tal d’adquirir una visió detallada de la seva ecologia, dieta, dinàmica de població i cronologia de la seva extinció. Solament una perspectiva holística com la utilitzada en aquesta tesi doctoral pot aportar llum a aquest difícil tema sobre l’extinció d’un animal tan icònic com l’ós de les cavernes. Els articles realitzats durant el període de formació permeten assenyalar que la desaparició d’aquests animals al Nord-est d’Itàlia es va produir entre els 24-23 ky cal. BP. Aquest estudi permet suportar la idea d’un potencial impacte humà com un dels condicionants més significatius de la desaparició d’aquest animal no solament en aquesta àrea geogràfica, sinó a tota Europa.El oso de las cavernas es uno de los animales más emblemáticos del Pleistoceno superior final de Europa y es muy bien conocido como especie por la cantidad de restos localizados en múltiples cuevas. A pesar de esto, algunos aspectos relacionados con su historia evolutiva, como por ejemplo la interacción con los humanos, su ecología o la cronología de su extinción, son aún desconocidos en el área mediterránea del Sur de los Alpes. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo revisar el debate sobre la extinción y la paleoecología de los osos de las cavernas, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), a partir de los análisis arqueozoológicos, tafonómicos y químicos de los restos recuperados en algunos yacimientos del Paleolítico medio y superior del Nordeste de Italia: Rio Secco, Fumane, Buso doppio del Broion, Paina y Trenes Caves. Los restos de osos de las cavernas son frecuentemente recuperados en las cuevas y, en muchos casos, ellos representan a los animales más abundantes en los conjuntos faunísticos. Los restos analizados provienen de los niveles datados entre 49-42 ky cal. BP (Rio Secco i Fumane) i 33-23 ky cal. BP (Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina), y muchos de ellos están asociados a evidencias de presencia humana. Los análisis arqueozoológicos y tafonómicos han estado dirigidos a entender el rol del impacto humano sobre las poblaciones de oso de las cavernas durante el citado rango temporal. Otras técnicas, como por ejemplo los isótopos estables, el análisis de ADN antiguo y las dataciones radiométricas han sido aplicadas a los huesos de estos animales en los yacimientos de Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina Caves, para adquirir una visión detallada de su ecología, dieta, dinámica de poblaciones y cronología de su extinción. Solamente una perspectiva holística como la utilizada en esta tesis doctoral puede aportar luz a este difícil tema sobre la extinción de un animal tan icónico como el oso de las cavernas. Los artículos realizados durante el periodo de formación permitan señalar que la desaparición de estos animales se produjo en el Nordeste de Italia entre los 24-23 ky cal. BP. Este estudio permite soportar la idea de un potencial impacto humano como uno de los condicionantes más significativos de la desaparición de este animal no solo en esta área geográfica, sino en toda Europa.Cave bears was one of the most impressive animals of the Late Pleistocene in Europe and are well known from many caves. Despite the enormous quantities fossils unearthed, some aspects of their history/habits, such as interaction with humans, ecology and extinction chronology, are still little known from the Mediterranean area in the Southern Alps. This research aims at revisiting the debate about the extinction and paleoecology of cave bear, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), through archaeozoological, taphonomic and chemical analysis of the bones of this species, from Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites of northeastern Italy. Key sites for this purpose are Rio Secco, Fumane, Buso doppio del Broion, Paina and Trene caves. Cave bear remains are very often found in these caves and, in several cases are the most frequent fossils found in the assemblages. The remains of cave bear analyzed came from layers dated 49 – 42 ky cal. BP (Rio Secco and Fumane) and 33 – 23 ky cal. BP (Buso doppio del Broion, Trene and Paina), most of them associated with evidence of human presence. Archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis were performed to better understand the role of human impact on cave bear populations during a wide span of time. Further techniques, such as a stable isotope, radiometric and ancient DNA analysis were applied to cave bear bones, selected from Buso doppio del Broion, Paina and Trene caves, in order to acquire a detailed picture of the ecology, diet, population dynamics and extinction chronology of cave bears. Only thanks this cross-disciplinary perspective was it possible to significantly improve our understanding of the difficult issue of extinction of this “iconic” animal. The articles made during this research indicate that the disappearance of these animals in Northeast Italy occurred between 24-23 ky cal. BP. This study supports the idea of a potential human impact as one of the most significant factors in the disappearance of this animal, not only in this geographical area, but throughout Europe

Fate of cave bear in northeastern italy: anthropic impact, extinction chronology, stable isotope and genetic evidence

L’ós de les cavernes és un dels animals més emblemàtics del Pleistocè superior final a Europa i és una espècie molt ben coneguda per la quantitat de restes localitzades a múltiples coves. Malgrat això, alguns aspectes de la seva història evolutiva, com per exemple la interacció amb els humans, l’ecologia i la cronologia de la seva extinció són encara desconeguts a l’àrea mediterrània del Sud dels Alps. Aquesta recerca té com objectiu revisar el debat sobre l’extinció i la paleoecologia dels óssos de les cavernes, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), a partir de les anàlisis arqueozoològiques, tafonòmiques i químiques de les restes trobades en alguns jaciments del Paleolític mig i superior del Nord-est d’Itàlia: Rio Secco, Fumane, Buso doppio del Broion, Paina i Trenes Caves. Les restes d’ós de les cavernes són freqüentment recuperats a les coves i, en molts casos, representen els animals més abundants dels conjunts faunístics. Les restes analitzades provenen dels nivells datats entre 49-42 ky cal. BP (Rio Secco i Fumane) i 33-23 ky cal. BP (Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina), i moltes d’elles estan associades a evidències de presència humana. Les anàlisis arqueozoològiques i tafonòmiques han estat dirigides a entendre el rol de l’impacte humà sobre les poblacions d’ós de les cavernes durant el citat rang temporal. Altres tècniques, com per exemple els isòtops estables, l’anàlisi ADN antic i datacions radiomètriques han estat aplicades als ossos d’aquests animals dels jaciments de Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina Caves, per tal d’adquirir una visió detallada de la seva ecologia, dieta, dinàmica de població i cronologia de la seva extinció. Solament una perspectiva holística com la utilitzada en aquesta tesi doctoral pot aportar llum a aquest difícil tema sobre l’extinció d’un animal tan icònic com l’ós de les cavernes. Els articles realitzats durant el període de formació permeten assenyalar que la desaparició d’aquests animals al Nord-est d’Itàlia es va produir entre els 24-23 ky cal. BP. Aquest estudi permet suportar la idea d’un potencial impacte humà com un dels condicionants més significatius de la desaparició d’aquest animal no solament en aquesta àrea geogràfica, sinó a tota Europa.El oso de las cavernas es uno de los animales más emblemáticos del Pleistoceno superior final de Europa y es muy bien conocido como especie por la cantidad de restos localizados en múltiples cuevas. A pesar de esto, algunos aspectos relacionados con su historia evolutiva, como por ejemplo la interacción con los humanos, su ecología o la cronología de su extinción, son aún desconocidos en el área mediterránea del Sur de los Alpes. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo revisar el debate sobre la extinción y la paleoecología de los osos de las cavernas, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), a partir de los análisis arqueozoológicos, tafonómicos y químicos de los restos recuperados en algunos yacimientos del Paleolítico medio y superior del Nordeste de Italia: Rio Secco, Fumane, Buso doppio del Broion, Paina y Trenes Caves. Los restos de osos de las cavernas son frecuentemente recuperados en las cuevas y, en muchos casos, ellos representan a los animales más abundantes en los conjuntos faunísticos. Los restos analizados provienen de los niveles datados entre 49-42 ky cal. BP (Rio Secco i Fumane) i 33-23 ky cal. BP (Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina), y muchos de ellos están asociados a evidencias de presencia humana. Los análisis arqueozoológicos y tafonómicos han estado dirigidos a entender el rol del impacto humano sobre las poblaciones de oso de las cavernas durante el citado rango temporal. Otras técnicas, como por ejemplo los isótopos estables, el análisis de ADN antiguo y las dataciones radiométricas han sido aplicadas a los huesos de estos animales en los yacimientos de Buso doppio del Broion, Trene i Paina Caves, para adquirir una visión detallada de su ecología, dieta, dinámica de poblaciones y cronología de su extinción. Solamente una perspectiva holística como la utilizada en esta tesis doctoral puede aportar luz a este difícil tema sobre la extinción de un animal tan icónico como el oso de las cavernas. Los artículos realizados durante el periodo de formación permitan señalar que la desaparición de estos animales se produjo en el Nordeste de Italia entre los 24-23 ky cal. BP. Este estudio permite soportar la idea de un potencial impacto humano como uno de los condicionantes más significativos de la desaparición de este animal no solo en esta área geográfica, sino en toda Europa.Cave bears was one of the most impressive animals of the Late Pleistocene in Europe and are well known from many caves. Despite the enormous quantities fossils unearthed, some aspects of their history/habits, such as interaction with humans, ecology and extinction chronology, are still little known from the Mediterranean area in the Southern Alps. This research aims at revisiting the debate about the extinction and paleoecology of cave bear, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), through archaeozoological, taphonomic and chemical analysis of the bones of this species, from Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sites of northeastern Italy. Key sites for this purpose are Rio Secco, Fumane, Buso doppio del Broion, Paina and Trene caves. Cave bear remains are very often found in these caves and, in several cases are the most frequent fossils found in the assemblages. The remains of cave bear analyzed came from layers dated 49 – 42 ky cal. BP (Rio Secco and Fumane) and 33 – 23 ky cal. BP (Buso doppio del Broion, Trene and Paina), most of them associated with evidence of human presence. Archaeozoological and taphonomic analysis were performed to better understand the role of human impact on cave bear populations during a wide span of time. Further techniques, such as a stable isotope, radiometric and ancient DNA analysis were applied to cave bear bones, selected from Buso doppio del Broion, Paina and Trene caves, in order to acquire a detailed picture of the ecology, diet, population dynamics and extinction chronology of cave bears. Only thanks this cross-disciplinary perspective was it possible to significantly improve our understanding of the difficult issue of extinction of this “iconic” animal. The articles made during this research indicate that the disappearance of these animals in Northeast Italy occurred between 24-23 ky cal. BP. This study supports the idea of a potential human impact as one of the most significant factors in the disappearance of this animal, not only in this geographical area, but throughout Europe

Analisi archeozoologica e tafonomica preliminare di un campione faunistico dal sito di Ponticelli di Malalbergo

I livelli relativi alle prime fasi di vita dell’abitato portato in luce in via Ca’ Bianca, datati al passaggio fra il Bronzo medio 3 e il Bronzo recente 1 (1450-1225 a.C.), hanno restituito un consistente numero di reperti faunistici, a testimonianza di un’intensa frequentazione dell’area destinata, in queste fasi, a scopi abitativi. Al momento sono stati analizzati in dettaglio circa 150 frammenti ossei selezionati in maniera mirata, ed in accordo con le indagini condotte sugli altri reperti archeologici, da tutti i contesti indagati (sito 5A, 5B e 5C) durante le operazioni di scavo. Questa analisi di dettaglio, seppur condotta su di un ristretto ma significativo campione faunistico, ha permesso però precise valutazioni tafonomiche che hanno contribuito alla ricostruzione di un piccolo tassello dell’economia del sito che si mostra, già da queste prime informazioni raccolte, spiccatamente legato alla cultura terramaricola, tipica di tutta la Pianura Padana

I PRIMI OCCUPANTI DELLE PREALPI CARNICHE.

Nelle Prealpi Carniche un ampia cavit\ue0 di natura carsica conserva le testimonianze archeologiche pi\uf9 recenti degli ultimi gruppi neandertaliani nell\u2019Italia nord-orientale. La Grotta del Rio Secco, sull\u2019Altopiano di Pradis (PN), a 580 metri s.l.m, offre un panorama completo delle attivit\ue0 e delle strategie adattative di questi primi abitanti durante il Paleolitico medio.In the Carnic Prealps a large carsic cavity preserves archaeological evidences of the last Neanderthals in Nordeastern Italy: is Rio Secco Cave, situated at an elevation of 580 m. a.s.l. on the Pradis Plateau (PN), that offer us a complete overview about the subsistence and adaptive strategies of first Prealps inhabitants during Middle Paleolithic

Bovines, food resource and prey during middle and upper Palaeolithic in north-east Italy. !e case studies of Fumane cave and San Bernardino cave.

Abstract: In northern Italy, Grotta di Fumane (VR) Grotta di San Bernardino Cave (VI) give us important data for the interpretation of exploitation dynamics Pleistocene’s large bovines, Bos primigenius and Bison priscus in a chronological period between 50-25 Ky BP. +e archaeozoological study was carried out on the bovines remains found in the archaeological units: A8, A9, A5, A5+A6, A6 (Musterian Levallois); A3 e A4 (Uluzzian); A2, A2R, A1, D6, D3+D6 e D3 (Aurignazian); D1c, D1d, D1e e D1f (Gravettian and Hyenas den) of Fumane Cave and IV and II (Musterian) of San Bernardino Cave. +rough the study of bone surfaces we have attempted to reconstruct strategies, methods and practices of butchery adopted by the different groups of Palaeolithic hunters. The taphonomic analysis indicates human being as the main responsible for the accumulation of remains of the large bovines, and put it in comparison with the carnivorous that have attended the two cavities, alternated with man

I PRIMI OCCUPANTI DELLE PREALPI CARNICHE.

Nelle Prealpi Carniche un ampia cavità di natura carsica conserva le testimonianze archeologiche più recenti degli ultimi gruppi neandertaliani nell’Italia nord-orientale. La Grotta del Rio Secco, sull’Altopiano di Pradis (PN), a 580 metri s.l.m, offre un panorama completo delle attività e delle strategie adattative di questi primi abitanti durante il Paleolitico medio.In the Carnic Prealps a large carsic cavity preserves archaeological evidences of the last Neanderthals in Nordeastern Italy: is Rio Secco Cave, situated at an elevation of 580 m. a.s.l. on the Pradis Plateau (PN), that offer us a complete overview about the subsistence and adaptive strategies of fi rst Prealps inhabitants during Middle Paleolithic