The fossil avian assemblage from Cova Foradada (Calafell, Spain) during the Late Pleistocene to Holocene transition

Abstract

The end of the Pleistocene to the Holocene is a moment of particular interest, as several environmental changes coincided with some significant culture shifts: the Middle-to-Upper Palaeolithic and the Palaeolithic to Neolithic transitions. Here we present the analysis of the environmental conditions during this period in the Northeast Iberian Peninsula, based on the bird remains from Cova Foradada (Calafell, Tarragona), a site known for its archaeological record, including the symbolic use of imperial eagle phalanges. The stratigraphic sequence of the site is divided into five units, spanning from the Late Pleistocene (Units V to III) to the Northgrippian (Units II and I). A total of 1310 avian remains from these five units have been analysed, revealing the presence of at least 25 bird taxa. This suggests a landscape dominated by open areas with forest or scattered trees. The presence of four species, currently absent around the site, could be related to habitat expansions during colder periods, or to sporadic visits to the area. The layers in Unit IV show a trend towards a reduction in woodlands and an increase of open areas, which may be related to the Heinrich 4 event (ca. 40Ka). The layers in Unit III show the lowest proportion of woodlands and the highest proportions or rocky areas in the sequence. In the Holocene units the presence of water bodies is indicated by the presence of aquatic taxa. Diurnal birds of prey appear to be the main contributors to the bird accumulation, and probably also contributed to the accumulation of leporids. The impact of humans on birds at the site has been documented in several remains, confirming the mixed origin of the avian accumulation and contributing to increasing cases of interaction between humans and large diurnal raptors during Iberian prehistory.