Changing environments during the Middle-Upper Palaeolithic transition in the eastern Cantabrian Region (Spain): direct evidence from stable isotope studies on ungulate bones.

摘要: Environmental change has been proposed as a factor that contributed to the extinction of Neanderthals in Europe during MIS3. Currently, different local environmental conditions experienced at time when Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) met are not well known. In Western Pyrenees, particularly, eastern end Cantabrian coast Iberian Peninsula, extensive evidence Neanderthal and subsequent AMH activity exists, making it an ideal area which explore palaeoenvironments resources exploited by both human species Middle Upper Palaeolithic transition. Red deer horse were analysed using bone collagen stable isotope analysis reconstruct across A shift ecological niche horses after Mousterian demonstrates environment, towards more open vegetation, linked wider climatic change. Mousterian, Aurignacian Gravettian, high inter-individual nitrogen ranges observed herbivores. This could indicate these individuals procured from areas isotopically nitrogen. Differences sulphur values between sites suggest some variability hunting locations exploited, reflecting use parts landscape. An alternative complementary explanation is there fluctuations within formation archaeological levels, pollen, marine ice cores.