Leopards as taphonomic agents in the Iberian Pleistocene, the case of Racó del Duc (Valencia, Spain)

Sauqué, Víctor; Sanchís, Alfred

doi:10.1016/j.palaeo.2017.01.016

Cited by 23 publications

(24 citation statements)

References 80 publications

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“…In the Mediterranean area there is no record of the cave bear (Villaluenga 2009), and references to hyena and lion presence in the caverns are very scarce. In the Valencian region during the Middle Palaeolithic and the beginning of the Upper Palaeolithic, the action of hyenas in the caves was less marked than in the Cantabrian and other peninsular areas, while the role of other carnivores could be greater than hitherto believed, with cases of leopard-created accumulations of fauna in caves during phases of human absence having recently been documented in several peninsular sites (Sauqué and Sanchis 2017;Sauqué et al 2018;Sanchis et al 2019).…”

Section: Faunal Datamentioning

confidence: 87%

Neanderthal Spatial Patterns and Occupation Dynamics: A Focus on the Central Region in Mediterranean Iberia

et al. 2020

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This paper focuses on the study of some Middle Palaeolithic assemblages from Mediterranean Iberia to examine Neanderthal occupation patterns and territory management strategies, paying special attention to raw material procurement and technological behaviours, zooarchaeological data and microspatial patterning. The site occupation types are variable, and some of the results may have more importance than is immediately apparent, but there does not seem to be a single cultural, functional, temporal or environmental explanation. Rather, the wide variability in the technical behaviours observed can be explained with reference to the particular requirements of the populations in each specific region. The results obtained allow us to interrogate the data and, drawing comparisons with the southwest European context, establish an initial approach to Neanderthal subsistence strategies and mobility in a region so far little known in this regard.

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Section: Faunal Datamentioning

confidence: 87%

Neanderthal Spatial Patterns and Occupation Dynamics: A Focus on the Central Region in Mediterranean Iberia

et al. 2020

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“…Their accumulations often show a high degree of taxonomical specialisation for mammals of relatively small size, such as Iberian ibex ( Capra pyrenaica ) or chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ), alongside leopard remains. Their assemblages follow typically felid patterns, being dominated by prime-age adults, with high representation of complete limb bones, phalanges, and vertebrae, showing low fragmentation and relatively low tooth-mark counts per specimen 48 , 49 , 63 . Such a pattern differs strikingly from the nature of the highly-fragmented bone assemblage and near-absence of vertebrae documented in the upper levels of CNERQ Complex 2, where medium- to large-size animals abound, predominantly cervids.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Leopards are solitary and opportunistic hunters which usually protect their caches from other social predators 60 – 63 . Their accumulations often show a high degree of taxonomical specialisation for mammals of relatively small size, such as Iberian ibex ( Capra pyrenaica ) or chamois ( Rupicapra rupicapra ), alongside leopard remains.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hyaenas and early humans in the latest Early Pleistocene of South-Western Europe

Linares‐Matás

Ruiz

Uriarte

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Throughout the Pleistocene, early humans and carnivores frequented caves and large rock-shelters, usually generating bone accumulations. The well-preserved late Early Pleistocene sedimentary sequence at Cueva Negra del Estrecho del Río Quípar (CNERQ) has provided substantial evidence concerning the behavioural and adaptive skills of early humans in Western Europe, such as butchery practices, lithic technology or tending fire, whilst also bearing witness to the bone-altering activities of carnivores. Recent fieldwork has allowed the re-examination of the spatial and taphonomical nature of the macrofaunal assemblage from the upper layers of Complex 2. These layers are somewhat different from most of the underlying sequence, in showing quite a high representation of cranial and post-cranial bones of large mammals, including several Megaloceroscarthaginiensis antlers. The presence of Crocuta sp. at Cueva Negra represents one of the earliest instances of this genus in Western Eurasia. Identification of several juvenile Crocuta sp. remains alongside coprolites and bones with carnivore damage, indicates sporadical hyaenid denning activity. Furthermore, the presence of bones with percussion and cut-marks near to several hammerstones suggests a clear albeit limited anthropogenic input. We interpret the available taphonomical and spatial evidence from these layers as reflecting a multi-patterned palimpsest, likely representing the non-simultaneous and short-lived co-existence of hyaenas, humans, and other small carnivores in the Cueva Negra palaeolandscape during the final phase of sedimentation preserved at the site.

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“…Several studies converge on the limited capability of the large and medium felids (genera Panthera, Puma, and Acinonyx) to modify bones. As recently proved, medium-sized felids, like the leopard (Sauqué & Sanchis 2017;Sauqué et al 2014Sauqué et al , 2018, are true bone accumulators, although lions can be bone accumulators under determined conditions (Arriaza et al 2016;Brain 1981;Stiner et al 2012). However, their position in the food web and their gregarious behaviour indicate that this species is not a typical bone collector (Schaller 1972).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Taphonomic analysis of horse remains from Mousterianand Aurignacian Units from Bize-Tournal Cave(Aude, France)

Marín¹,

Rodríguez-Hidalgo²,

Saladié³

et al. 2020

Comptes Rendus Palevol

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The study of ungulate assemblages is essential to understand hominins and carnivore behavior and interactions. For this reason, many studies involve the taphonomic analysis of faunal remains, focusing on the identification of the various biotic actors. This study looks at the horse assemblages from Mousterian and Aurignacian Units I, II and III from Bize-Tournal cave with the aim to characterizing the nature of this accumulation. Here we show that the horse remains in these units are mainly the consequence of carnivoran activity. Unit II also clearly evidences the fact that the assemblage is the result of hyena activity. Our analysis indicates a predominance of cranial remains and lower long limb bones (metapodials). The mortality profiles of the three units are different, although two are classic of a cursorial predator. Taphonomical and statistical analysis indicated that carnivores were the main modifying agent at the three units. Our results demonstrate that hominins played a minor role in horse accumulation. Additionally, it seems that there was little difference in the exploitation in this specie by Mousterian and Aurignacian groups, and this probably took place during short, sporadic hominin occupations.

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Leopards as taphonomic agents in the Iberian Pleistocene, the case of Racó del Duc (Valencia, Spain)

Cited by 23 publications

References 80 publications

Neanderthal Spatial Patterns and Occupation Dynamics: A Focus on the Central Region in Mediterranean Iberia

Neanderthal Spatial Patterns and Occupation Dynamics: A Focus on the Central Region in Mediterranean Iberia

Hyaenas and early humans in the latest Early Pleistocene of South-Western Europe

Taphonomic analysis of horse remains from Mousterianand Aurignacian Units from Bize-Tournal Cave(Aude, France)

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