First vertebrate tracks and palaeoenvironment in a MIS-5 context in the Doñana National Park (Huelva, SW Spain)

Carvalho, Carlos Neto de; Muñiz, Fernando Salmón; Galán, J.M. Poyato; Rodriguez‐Vidal, Joaquín; Gómez, Paula; Toscano, Antonio; Muñoz, Francisco Ruíz; Belo, João; Belaústegui, Zaín; Finlayson, Geraldine; Finlayson, Stewart; Guzmán, Francisco Giles; Finlayson, Clive

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2020.106508

Cited by 12 publications

(26 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…The lowest aeolian unit (U1) lies on a palaeosol (Ps2, sensu 22 ) formed by silty sands that represent an irregular surface with an average slope of 2.26º towards the SW. It is precisely on the surface of the discontinuity that separates Ps2 from U1 where coastal erosion has modelled a platform of coastal abrasion, leaving a whole series of fossil tracks and trackways and not on the U1 unit as recently published 14 , 15 . These series include all hominin footprints (named here as Hominin Trampled Surface, HTS) and the vertebrate tracks (Fig.…”

Section: The Site Of Matalascañasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…( b ) Field view of the palaeosol PS2. MTS: Matalascañas Trampled Surface 14 , 15 . HTS: Hominin Trampled Surface (this article).…”

Section: The Site Of Matalascañasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These series include all hominin footprints (named here as Hominin Trampled Surface, HTS) and the vertebrate tracks (Fig. 2 b), composed mainly by Artiodactyla, Elephantidae, Canidae and waterbirds lately named as ‘Matalascañas Trampled Surface’ (MTS) 14 , 15 .…”

Section: The Site Of Matalascañasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This leaves open the possibility that additional tracks may be unearthed nearby. Some mammal and bird footprints were identified preliminary there 14 , 15 . Among all those tracks, several hominin footprints have been found and they are the object of study of this work.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tracking late Pleistocene Neandertals on the Iberian coast

Mayoral

Díaz-Martínez

Duveau

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Here, we report the recent discovery of 87 Neandertal footprints on the Southwest of the Iberian Peninsula (Doñana shoreline, Spain) located on an upper Pleistocene aeolian littoral setting (about 106 ± 19 kyr). Morphometric comparisons, high resolution digital photogrammetric 3D models and detailed sedimentary analysis have been provided to characterized the footprints and the palaeoenvironment. The footprints were impressed in the shoreline of a hypersaline swamped area related to benthic microbial mats, close to the coastline. They have a rounded heel, a longitudinal arch, relatively short toes, and adducted hallux, and represent the oldest upper Pleistocene record of Neandertal footprints in the world. Among these 87 footprints, 31 are longitudinally complete and measure from 14 to 29 cm. The calculated statures range from 104 to 188 cm, with half of the data between 130 and 150 cm. The wide range of sizes of the footprints suggests the existence of a social group integrated by individuals of different age classes but dominated, however, by non-adult individuals. The footprints, which are outside the flooded area are oriented perpendicular to the shoreline. These 87 footprints reinforce the ecological scenario of Neandertal groups established in coastal areas.

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Section: The Site Of Matalascañasmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…( b ) Field view of the palaeosol PS2. MTS: Matalascañas Trampled Surface 14 , 15 . HTS: Hominin Trampled Surface (this article).…”

Section: The Site Of Matalascañasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Site Of Matalascañasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Tracking late Pleistocene Neandertals on the Iberian coast

Mayoral

Díaz-Martínez

Duveau

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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“…An Upper Pleistocene stratigraphic surface with vertebrate tracks and trackways, named the ‘Matalascañas Trampled Surface’ (MTS) 14 , has been exposed at the base of the ‘El Asperillo’ cliff (section 37°01′07″ N–6°35′17″ W to 37°00′36″ N–6°34′23″ W) near Torre de la Higuera at the municipality of Almonte, urban area of Matalascañas, in the vicinities of Doñana National Park (Matalascañas, Huelva, SW Spain). A significant part of MTS located in the mesotidal range was uncovered as a result of the 2020 spring storm surges (Fig.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

First tracks of newborn straight-tusked elephants (Palaeoloxodon antiquus)

Carvalho

Belaústegui

Toscano

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Tracks and trackways of newborns, calves and juveniles attributed to straight-tusked elephants were found in the MIS 5 site (Upper Pleistocene) known as the Matalascañas Trampled Surface (MTS) at Huelva, SW Spain. Evidence of a snapshot of social behaviour, especially parental care, can be determined from the concentration of elephant tracks and trackways, and especially from apparently contemporaneous converging trackways, of small juvenile and larger, presumably young adult female tracks. The size frequency of the tracks enabled us to infer body mass and age distribution of the animals that crossed the MTS. Comparisons of the MTS demographic frequency with the morphology of the fore- and hind limbs of extant and fossil proboscideans shed light into the reproductive ecology of the straight-tusked elephant, Palaeloxodon antiquus. The interdune pond habitat appeared to have been an important water and food resource for matriarchal herds of straight-tusked elephants and likely functioned as a reproductive habitat, with only the rare presence of adult and older males in the MTS. The preservation of this track record in across a paleosol surface, although heavily trampled by different animals, including Neanderthals, over a short time frame, permitted an exceptional view into short-term intraspecific trophic interactions occurring in the Last Interglacial coastal habitat. Therefore, it is hypothesized that Neanderthals visited MTS for hunting or scavenging on weakened or dead elephants, and more likely calves.

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