Abstract
Pollen from hyena coprolites are useful to describe palaeovegetation and to infer palaeoclimatic conditions. In previous studies, sedimentological and palynological analyses of the Mousterian Gabasa Cave (Pyrenean foothill region, northeast Spain) have not been able to provide detailed palaeoenvironmental information. In this study, coprolites of the extinct cavern hyena (Crocuta crocuta) from Gabasa Cave were used for pollen analysis with the goal of establishing the regional environmental history between >50 700 and >39 900 yr BP 14C (AMS). Eight of the twelve coprolites analyzed contained well-preserved and rich pollen assemblages. They indicated the development of a mosaic glacial landscape that included Pinus and Juniperus woodlands and steppes of Chenopodiaceae, Poaceae, Artemisia, and Asteraceae. Pollen for mesophilous and thermophilous trees and shrubs are also present, suggesting the location of nearby refugia of temperate and Mediterranean vegetation.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
