The role of small prey in hunter–gatherer subsistence strategies from the Late Pleistocene–Early Holocene transition site in NE Iberia: the leporid accumulation from the Epipalaeolithic level of Balma del Gai site

Abstract

In Mediterranean Europe during the Pleistocene–Holocene, transition changes in the intensification of small prey exploitation by humans are detected. In the NE of the Iberian Peninsula, these changes are mainly evidenced by an increase in the number of rabbit remains, normally exceeding the 90% of the recovered animal specimens. The archaeological site of Balma del Gai (Moia, Barcelona) provides one of the most significant archaeological records of this kind. Through zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis, our work’s aims are: to elucidate the human activity on leporids (rabbits and hares) in comparison to other predators, to understand the different ways of handling and exploiting rabbit carcasses and to assess the importance of this small prey for the Epipalaeolithic hunter–gatherers. Results on anatomical representation, breakage and bone surface modifications show that rabbit remains recovered respond to an anthropogenic contribution. High proportions of thermo-altered bones, cut marks caused by lithic tools and teeth marks are observed. All parameters indicate intense exploitation of rabbit fur and meat. This study shows clear evidence of the importance of small prey for human subsistence during this period.