Subsistence behavior during the Initial Upper Paleolithic in Europe: Site use, dietary practice, and carnivore exploitation at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria)

Smith, Geoff; Spasov, Rosen; Martisius, Naomi L.; Sinet‐Mathiot, Virginie; Aldeias, Vera; Režek, Željko; Ruebens, Karen; Pederzani, Sarah; McPherron, Shannon P.; Sirakova, Svoboda; Sirakov, Nikolay; Tsanova, Tsenka; Hublin, Jean‐Jacques

doi:10.1016/j.jhevol.2021.103074

Cited by 18 publications

(23 citation statements)

References 94 publications

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“…The unidentifiable fragments from both excavation campaigns were sorted into body size groups, ranging from small to large (based on cortical thickness and spongiosa composition, Krönneck and Staesche, 2017). While this is a common practice in zooarchaeological studies (Morin, 2012; Smith et al ., 2021), several ZooMS studies have illustrated such body size classes may not be an accurate predictor of taxonomic identity (Sinet‐Mathiot et al ., 2019; Brown et al ., 2021c). Cross‐checking the body size class assignments for the major taxa from Salzgitter, a similar variability between these body size classes and species identity was observed (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a second step, the available find numbers were linked to data available from recent faunal analysis [including weight (g), body size class (large, medium‐large, medium, medium‐small, and small] and bone element (Staesche, 2017). A third step involved a zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of each bone fragment based upon previous methodologies (Smith, 2015; Sinet‐Mathiot et al ., 2019, 2023; Smith et al ., 2021; Ruebens et al ., 2022). Attributes recorded include tissue type (trabecular, cortical or indeterminate), bone element (long bone, flat bone, cranial, rib, indeterminate), bone surface readability (0%, 1–50%, 51–99%, 100%), weathering stage (0–5), abrasion (0%, 1–50%, 51–99%, 100%), break morphology (fresh, dry, indeterminate), non‐anthropogenic modifications (carnivore tooth marks, breakage, digestion) and anthropogenic modifications (cut marks, chopping marks, scraping marks, marrow fractures) (Behrensmeyer, 1978; Binford, 1981; Lyman, 1994; Fisher, 1995; Fernandez‐Jalvo & Andrews, 2016).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neanderthal subsistence, taphonomy and chronology at Salzgitter‐Lebenstedt (Germany): a multifaceted analysis of morphologically unidentifiable bone

Ruebens

Smith

Fewlass

et al. 2023

J Quaternary Science

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Pleistocene faunal assemblages are often highly fragmented, hindering taxonomic identifications and interpretive potentials. In this paper, we apply four different methodologies to morphologically unidentifiable bone fragments from the Neanderthal open-air site of Salzgitter-Lebenstedt (Germany). First, we recorded zooarchaeological attributes for all 1362 unidentifiable bones recovered in 1977. Second, we applied zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (ZooMS) to 761 fragments, and calculated glutamine deamidation values. Third, we assessed the collagen preservation of 30 fragments by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIR) and, finally, we pretreated 10 bones with high predicted collagen values for radiocarbon dating. All returned dates at, or beyond, the limit of radiocarbon dating, indicating an age of older than 51 000 years ago. The ZooMS faunal spectrum confirms a cold environment, dominated by reindeer, alongside mammoth, horse and bison. The low occurrence of carnivore modifications (1%) contrasts with an abundance of human modifications (23%). Cut marks and marrow fractures were observed across reindeer, horse and bison. The mammoth remains are less well preserved and show a lower degree of human modifications, indicating, perhaps, a different taphonomic history. Overall, this study illustrates the importance of retaining, studying and incorporating the unidentifiable bone fraction to optimize interpretations of site formation and subsistence behaviour at Palaeolithic sites.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Neanderthal subsistence, taphonomy and chronology at Salzgitter‐Lebenstedt (Germany): a multifaceted analysis of morphologically unidentifiable bone

Ruebens

Smith

Fewlass

et al. 2023

J Quaternary Science

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“…These large long bone fragments have previously been taxonomically identified as Bos/Bison through ZooMS using destructive sampling. We determined by visual inspection that they show good surface preservation with clear anthropogenic traces including cut marks, marrow fractures or damage from reshaping lithic tools 49 , 50 , 51 . We defined two regions of interest (ROI) on each bone surface, represented by two squares of 1 × 1 cm each.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The effect of eraser sampling for proteomic analysis on Palaeolithic bone surface microtopography

Sinet‐Mathiot

Martisius

Schulz‐Kornas

et al. 2021

Sci Rep

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Bone surface modifications are crucial for understanding human subsistence and dietary behaviour, and can inform about the techniques employed in the production and use of bone tools. Permission to destructively sample such unique artefacts is not always granted. The recent development of non-destructive proteomic extraction techniques has provided some alternatives for the analysis of rare and culturally significant artefacts, including bone tools and personal ornaments. The Eraser Extraction Method (EEM), first developed for ZooMS analysis of parchment, has recently been applied to bone and ivory specimens. To test the potential impact of the EEM on ancient bone surfaces, we analyse six anthropogenically modified Palaeolithic bone specimens from Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria) through a controlled sampling experiment using qualitative and 3D quantitative microscopy. Although the overall bone topography is generally preserved, our findings demonstrate a slight flattening of the microtopography alongside the formation of micro-striations associated with the use of the eraser for all bone specimens. Such modifications are similar to ancient use-wear traces. We therefore consider the EEM a destructive sampling approach for Palaeolithic bone surfaces. Together with low ZooMS success rates in some of the reported studies, the EEM might not be a suitable approach to taxonomically identify Pleistocene bone specimens.

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“…This raises questions about the behavioural adaptations and survival strategies of these early H. sapiens populations. In-depth analyses of recovered faunal remains are limited, partly due to poor bone preservation 14 – 16 . In general, Upper Palaeolithic H. sapiens subsistence has been correlated with a shift in site use and occupation intensity and an expansion in diet breadth, to include larger proportions of smaller and faster animals, such as fish, birds, rabbits and foxes 14 , 17 – 20 .…”

Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In-depth analyses of recovered faunal remains are limited, partly due to poor bone preservation 14 – 16 . In general, Upper Palaeolithic H. sapiens subsistence has been correlated with a shift in site use and occupation intensity and an expansion in diet breadth, to include larger proportions of smaller and faster animals, such as fish, birds, rabbits and foxes 14 , 17 – 20 . However, the subsistence strategies of H. sapiens groups during their first expansion onto the Northern European Plains 50–45 ka remain poorly understood.…”

Section: Mainmentioning

confidence: 99%

The ecology, subsistence and diet of ~45,000-year-old Homo sapiens at Ilsenhöhle in Ranis, Germany

Smith,

Ruebens,

Zavala

et al. 2024

Nat Ecol Evol

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Recent excavations at Ranis (Germany) identified an early dispersal of Homo sapiens into the higher latitudes of Europe by 45,000 years ago. Here we integrate results from zooarchaeology, palaeoproteomics, sediment DNA and stable isotopes to characterize the ecology, subsistence and diet of these early H. sapiens. We assessed all bone remains (n = 1,754) from the 2016–2022 excavations through morphology (n = 1,218) or palaeoproteomics (zooarchaeology by mass spectrometry (n = 536) and species by proteome investigation (n = 212)). Dominant taxa include reindeer, cave bear, woolly rhinoceros and horse, indicating cold climatic conditions. Numerous carnivore modifications, alongside sparse cut-marked and burnt bones, illustrate a predominant use of the site by hibernating cave bears and denning hyaenas, coupled with a fluctuating human presence. Faunal diversity and high carnivore input were further supported by ancient mammalian DNA recovered from 26 sediment samples. Bulk collagen carbon and nitrogen stable isotope data from 52 animal and 10 human remains confirm a cold steppe/tundra setting and indicate a homogenous human diet based on large terrestrial mammals. This lower-density archaeological signature matches other Lincombian–Ranisian–Jerzmanowician sites and is best explained by expedient visits of short duration by small, mobile groups of pioneer H. sapiens.

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Subsistence behavior during the Initial Upper Paleolithic in Europe: Site use, dietary practice, and carnivore exploitation at Bacho Kiro Cave (Bulgaria)

Cited by 18 publications

References 94 publications

Neanderthal subsistence, taphonomy and chronology at Salzgitter‐Lebenstedt (Germany): a multifaceted analysis of morphologically unidentifiable bone

Neanderthal subsistence, taphonomy and chronology at Salzgitter‐Lebenstedt (Germany): a multifaceted analysis of morphologically unidentifiable bone

The effect of eraser sampling for proteomic analysis on Palaeolithic bone surface microtopography

The ecology, subsistence and diet of ~45,000-year-old Homo sapiens at Ilsenhöhle in Ranis, Germany

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