Skeletal Element Abundance Research Articles

Combining quantification, sex, age, and utility patterns to interpret two dugong bone mounds from Woeydhul Island (Western Torres Strait, Australia)

The analysis of dugong bone mounds in the Torres Strait Islands has traditionally focused on ritualized deposition and treatment of remains, the distinction between formalized ritual and midden refuse, and their socio-political and spiritual role within Torres Strait Islander seascapes. Research has consistently targeted the abundance of specific skeletal elements in a mound, with interpretations frequently based on the calculation of common quantitative units (i.e., NISP and MNI) or relative weight to assess proportional representation. Far less research has focused on the taphonomic history and processes embodied by these mounds. This paper presents a novel zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of dugong bone mounds where qualitative and quantitative data are combined. Through the analysis of two assemblages from Woeydhul Island (Western Torres Strait, Australia), this paper provides inferences regarding deposition time span and formalized depositional behaviors. Our research examines the age distribution of represented animals and differential butchery practices associated with anatomical provenance, while also suggesting new methods for identification of sex ratios in these assemblages. Our results provide new approaches to investigate dugong hunting by past Torres Strait communities, proposing the combination of sex, butchery patterns, and meat utility indices to interpret the meaning of dugong bone mounds in the Western Torres Strait.

Late Holocene tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) resource depression and distant patch use in central California: Faunal and isotopic evidence from King Brown and the Emeryville Shellmound

Previous research has documented declines in the abundance of high-return resources including tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes) over the past three millennia in central California, suggesting the occurrence of resource depression. We test the hypothesis that hunting depressed tule elk in this setting by articulating stable isotope analyses from 88 directly dated tule elk specimens with data on the age structure and skeletal part representation from the King Brown and Emeryville Shellmound sites. Late Holocene trends in stable isotopes and modeled climatic variation are inconsistent with climate-based population declines. However, at King Brown, located within the Central Valley and vast tule elk freshwater marsh and grassland habitat, increasing isotopic diversity, a decline in mean age, and increasing abundance of high-utility skeletal elements suggest local depression stimulated the increasing use of distant elk patches. Although faunal trends are consistent with the depression of elk at Emeryville, the site is located on the shore of the San Francisco Bay where limited elk habitat existed, and no evidence of distant elk patch use is indicated. This analysis underscores how human behavioral responses to resource depression can vary in relation to the local ecology as they affect patch use economics for specific prey and demonstrates how such responses can be deciphered through stable isotope and faunal data.

Coast-proximal inland archaeology and the Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis)

Recent archaeological research in coastal areas of British Columbia has focused on investigations of coastline sites and marine-based subsistence. This study differs in its investigation of the High Burrow Site (DhSh-2), a late Holocene coast-proximal inland camp at which terrestrial taxa comprised the majority of the faunal assemblage and Vancouver Island marmot (Marmota vancouverensis) was the most numerous taxon represented. Analysis of the marmot assemblage indicated that bone density mediated attrition influenced the relative abundance of skeletal elements more so than did the transport of marmot portions away from the site. The distribution of marmot bones at coastline sites supports this conclusion and may link changes in regional settlement patterning across south Vancouver Island with the decline of marmot hunting at High Burrow in the late prehistoric. This study thus draws our focus from coastlines upland to interior landscapes as vital components in the interpretation of prehistoric subsistence and settlement along the coast.

From owl prey to human food: taphonomy of archaeological small mammal remains from the late Holocene wetlands of arid environments in Central Western Argentina

The present study analyses small mammal bone and tooth accumulations recovered in three open-air archaeological sites from northern Mendoza (Argentina) in the central Monte Desert, one of the most arid rangelands of South America. The sites, with radiocarbon dates between ca. 2100 and 400 years BP, are located on the margins of a now-extinct swamp that formed a more widespread wetland environment in the past. In order to recognize the agents responsible for such bone and tooth accumulations, a taphonomic analysis was conducted evaluating relative abundances of skeletal elements, breakage patterns, digestive corrosion, signs of anthropic activity and post-depositional processes. The taphonomic analysis allowed the detection of owls and humans as the agents responsible for small mammal accumulations. On the one hand, the low proportion and degree of digested diagnostic elements, among other taphonomic processes, suggest owl pellet-derived small mammal assemblages. On the other hand, the thermo-altered elements detected, some showing a differential burning pattern, the abundance of large-sized and gregarious small mammals and the identification of cut-marks on a caviid femur shaft are possibly due to human exploitation/consumption of small mammals.

Hunting and skeletal element abundance of guanaco during the Holocene of Sierras of Córdoba, Argentina

The guanaco (Lama guanicoe) was the most important faunal resource exploited by past people from Sierras of Córdoba (Argentina). However, their relative taxonomic abundance decreased across the Holocene in relation to other small-taxa, which has been interpreted as an evidence of resource depression resulted from changes in the distribution of grassland and human hunting pressure. If the encounter rate with L. guanicoe decreased and hunters needed to travel greater distances to pursue a prey, it should be expected that the pattern in mean utility of body parts would parallel changes in the taxonomic composition of the assemblage. The expectation is that early archaic assemblages will have greater body-parts diversity than late prehispanic assemblages, reflecting a high encounter rate and a more complete deposition of entire carcasses. Conversely, late prehispanic people should respond to the greater cost of hunting by reducing transportation loads, carrying high-ranked body part of carcass to camps. The aim of this article is to test these predictions using a comprehensive analysis of the skeletal part representation from a suite of Holocene archaeological sites dated at 7400-to-360 years BP. The high and low-utility body part frequency observed during the initial and later phases reveals a more dynamic view of late prehispanic site formation process and raises new inquiries regarding whether different taphonomic histories of assemblages can have substantial influence on the skeletal element abundance.

Taphonomy of small mammal bone accumulations generated by the Chaco owl (Strix chacoensis, Strigiformes) from the Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina): a contribution to South American archaeological and palaeontological studies

The present study analyses the taphonomic features of recent small mammal bone and teeth accumulations recovered from pellets generated by Strix chacoensis in a Natural Protected Area in the central Monte Desert of Mendoza, Argentina. In order to identify the taphonomic signature of this predator in the formation of zooarchaeological and palaeontological accumulations, taxonomic profiles, relative abundances, bone breakage patterns and digestive corrosion were evaluated. Taphonomic results locate S. chacoensis in modification category 2 (intermediate). Although the general taphonomic patterns detected in the present study were similar to a typical owl pattern, some differences from that pattern were detected. This sample showed lesser relative abundances of skeletal elements, greater loss of teeth and a larger number of incisors modified by digestion than those generated by other strigiforms. The comparison with reported archaeological accumulations suggested that the small mammal remains recovered in some sites from the Monte Desert may correspond to the predatory activity of S. chacoensis. The identification of the action of S. chacoensis in archaeological and palaeontological small mammal bone and teeth accumulations is a promising tool to evaluate the conservation status of native forests in the past.

Taphonomy of bird (Aves) remains at Laili Cave, Timor-Leste, and implications for human-bird interactions during the Pleistocene

The significance of the role of birds in hominin evolution in Island Southeast Asia is not clear. Few avian vertebrate deposits have been recovered from archaeological or fossil sites in the region, and their association with either hominin or natural deposition in caves and rock shelters complicates their usefulness in hominin behavioural and palaeoecological reconstructions. In this paper, we assess the taphonomic history of the Pleistocene avian vertebrate remains recovered from Laili Cave, Timor-Leste, dated to between ca. 44.6 to 11.2 ka and in association with abundant lithic material. We use avian taxonomic composition, skeletal element abundance, and bone surface modification data to determine the agent of avian skeletal deposition. Our analyses indicate that the small grassland and woodland birds (quail, buttonquail, song birds), which dominate the assemblage, were deposited by avian predators (probably barn owls) throughout the sequence. Humans possibly hunted the small quantity of larger birds (imperial pigeon, duck). The bird remains suggest that grasslands, woodland savannahs, wetlands, and forest environments were present locally during the Pleistocene.

A model of hunter-gatherer skeletal element transport: The effect of prey body size, carriers, and distance

Zooarchaeologists frequently use the relative abundance of skeletal elements in faunal assemblages in conjunction with foraging theory models to infer subsistence decisions made by prehistoric hunter-gatherers. However, foraging models applied to ethnoarchaeological cases have had variable success linking skeletal transport decisions with foraging predictions. Here, we approach this issue with the well-known Hadza data to statistically model the skeletal element transport decisions in response to distance from the residential hub and the number of carriers available for carcass transport. We compare our modeling approach to the traditional skeletal element utility curves from Binford's work with the Nunamiut, and to the more recently proposed Shannon evenness measure. Our approach, based on standard yet powerful statistical modeling techniques, can help researchers gain increased insight into the prey part transport responses of hunter-gatherers. Our analyses treat individual prey skeletal elements by body size as the response variable. The results of this analysis suggest that utility curves, and the Shannon evenness approach as a proxy for utility curves, are problematic for making statements about prehistoric foraging from zooarchaeological data. Transport distance does not explain a significant portion of small prey (size class 2) skeletal element transport variation. However, distance explains a great deal of transport variation in large prey (size classes 4 and 5). Inferences from skeletal element profiles should be made relative to prey body size and the discard probability of individual elements. Understanding the influence of these variables allows construction of a framework for testing archaeological element profiles against ethnographically derived transport models.

The Taphonomy of the Final Middle Stone Age Fauna from Sibudu Cave, South Africa

This study applies a taphonomic analysis to the final Middle Stone Age faunal assemblage from Sibudu Cave, South Africa, by assessing bone surface modifications, breakage patterns and skeletal element abundances. Cut marks, percussion marks, severe fragmentation and the high frequency of burned bone combine to demonstrate that human behaviour was the principal agent in the assemblage's formation. These results are consistent with previous research on earlier occupations of Sibudu during the Middle Stone Age. Moreover, this assemblage is proposed to reflect regular site maintenance and cleaning. This conclusion is consistent with previous research that demonstrates systematic site maintenance during the Middle Stone Age at Sibudu and emphasises this behaviour as being a consistent activity for Middle Stone Age foragers. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Tortoise taphonomy and tortoise butchery patterns at Blombos Cave, South Africa

Tortoises are one of the most common faunal components at many Palaeolithic archaeological sites across the Old World. They provide protein, fat, and other ‘animal’ resources in a ‘collectable’ package. However, for most sites their interpretation as human food debris is based only on association, rather than demonstrated through taphonomic analysis. Because of their very different anatomical configuration compared to mammals, it is difficult to conduct such analyses by directly applying the taphonomic methods used to interpret large mammal assemblages. Tortoise-specific taphonomic analysis is presented here for the Still Bay layers at the important Middle Stone Age (MSA) site of Blombos Cave (BBC), Western Cape, South Africa. Research on MSA subsistence systems at sites such as BBC has almost exclusively relied on analysis of large ungulate remains, in spite of the fact that many of these key sites contain equal or greater numbers of tortoise fragments. In this analysis we show that human modification is common on the BBC tortoises, and that there are consistent patterns of fragmentation and burning that indicate set processing sequences including cooking while in the shell, hammerstone percussion, and human chewing of limbs. The almost exclusive dominance of the angulate tortoise, Chersina angulata, is confirmed by full skeletal element analyses rather than only counts of single elements such as humeri. The sex distribution can be reconstructed for this species, and is female-biased. For all tortoise assemblages, taxonomic and skeletal element abundance data should be calculated from a sample of complete elements, or at minimum the entoplastron and humerus. A sample of shell and limb/girdle elements should also be subjected to microscopic bone surface modification analysis, as modifications are often rare or subtle but highly informative. Using this approach, analysis of breakage patterns, bone surface modification, and burning patterns can be understood together to specifically reconstruct tortoise collection, processing, and human dietary significance across a range of archaeological sites.

Taphonomic Analysis of Micromammal Remains from Striped Owl (Pseudoscops clamator) Pellets in Northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina: Implications for Archaeological Sites Formation

AbstractThe main objective of this study was to determine the taxonomic and taphonomic characteristics of the micromammal remains recovered from pellets of Pseudoscops clamator (striped owl), collected at three localities in northeastern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina (Punta Lara Natural Reserve, 34°49'02,6''S, 58°03'03,9''W; Costanera Sur Ecological Reserve, 34°36'6,44" S, 58°21'33,22" W; Los Robles Park, 34°40'22,03''S, 58°52'18,88''W). The main taphonomic variables (e.g. evidence of digestive action, breakage patterns and relative abundance of skeletal elements) suggest that this owl mainly produces intermediate to moderate modification. On the other hand, P. clamator preyed mainly upon large‐sized (>150 g) micromammals (e.g. Lutreolina crassicaudata, Cavia aperea, Holochilus brasiliensis and Rattus sp.), and to a lesser degree on medium‐ (50–150 g) and small‐sized species (<50 g) (e.g. Scapteromys aquaticus, Calomys sp., Oligoryzomys flavescens, Akodon azarae and Mus musculus). Fossil assemblages with a dominance of large‐sized micromammals are commonly associated with humans as agents of accumulation. However, this study demonstrates that this owl produces assemblages with abundant large‐sized micromammals, which introduces an equifinality problem. In that sense, digestive corrosion marks, breakage patterns and the relative abundance of skeletal remains are the main attributes to differentiate P. clamator from humans, as agents of accumulation. Finally, our results might serve as an analytical model for the taphonomic interpretation of the fossil record of micromammals from paleontological and archaeological sites, which fall within the distributional range and habitat of P. clamator. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A report on late Quaternary vertebrate fossil assemblages from the eastern San Francisco Bay region, California

Here we report on vertebrate fossil assemblages from two late Quaternary localities in the eastern San Francisco Bay region, Pacheco 1 and Pacheco 2. At least six species of extinct mammalian megaherbivores are known from Pacheco 1. The probable occurrence of Megalonyx jeffersonii suggests a late Pleistocene age for the assemblage. Pacheco 2 has yielded a minimum of 20 species of mammals, and provides the first unambiguous Quaternary fossil record of Urocyon, Procyon, Antrozous, Eptesicus, Lasiurus, Sorex ornatus, Tamias, and Microtus longicaudus from the San Francisco Bay region. While a radiocarbon date of 405 ± 45 RCYBP has been obtained for a single bone sample from Pacheco 2, the possibility that much of the assemblage is considerably older than this date is suggested by (1) the substantial loss of collagen in all other samples for which radiocarbon dating was unsuccessfully attempted and (2) the occurrence of Microtus longicaudus approximately 160 km to the west of, and 600 m lower in elevation than, its present range limit. The taphonomic data and limited stratigraphic information for the two localities suggest deposition of bones within a riparian system. Multiple lines of evidence including the taxonomic composition and the relative abundance of skeletal elements point to the original accumulation of most, if not all, of the small vertebrate remains at Pacheco 2 by owls. Based on taxonomic composition, Pacheco 1 appears to have been located in a mosaic of grassland and woodland habitats, and Pacheco 2 in moist woodland with dense underbrush and a body of freshwater.

Distinguishing Bearded Vulture Activities within Archaeological Contexts: Identification Guidelines

ABSTRACTIn Europe, the bearded vultureGypaetus barbatusis currently an endangered species limited now to high mountain areas, but had a broader geographical distribution in the past. It breeds on ledges in limestone cliffs, in habitats similar to those also selected by prehistoric human groups. This species feeds mainly on bones of medium‐sized ungulates that are processed before ingestion at bone‐breaking sites or ossuaries; bone remains subsequently accumulate at their nesting places leading to potential mixing with human‐derived or carnivore‐derived assemblages. This fact could lead to incorrect palaeoeconomic interpretations that can be avoided if the taphonomic contribution of this bird of prey is correctly identified. Here, we present some key features to distinguish its presence in archaeo/palaeontological contexts. Bone surface alterations, breakage patterns and skeletal profiles are recorded. Several prehistoric, historic and modern assemblages accumulated by bearded vultures are studied. In addition, a new utility index based on bearded vulture dietary preferences that can be compared with skeletal element abundance in terms of %MAU (Minimal Animal Units) has been defined. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

‘Residues of parts unchewable’: stages two and three of a multivariate taphonomic analysis of the Dunefield Midden bovid bones

This paper presents the second and third stages of a multivariate taphonomic analysis of the bovid bone assemblage from Dunefield Midden (DFM), a Later Stone Age site on South Africa's west coast. The second stage investigates bovid skeletal element abundance and longbone fragmentation patterns at the site. The third stage integrates these data with bone modification data (Stewart 2010) to explore overall taphonomic variability between three different bovid size subgroups – small, small-medium and large. The results suggest that humans were the prime agents of assemblage formation, though carnivores are also implicated as contributors to density mediated attrition. The predominant taphonomic signatures of all bovid size classes are consistent with within-bone nutrient acquisition by the site's occupants. However, major differences are apparent between the subgroups in element representation, longbone portion abundance and fragmentation patterning. These differences are shown to reflect variation in processing/food-preparation behaviours related to carcass size. It is suggested that whereas intensive fragmentation of large bovid bones resulted from efforts to render bone grease, the small bovid bone assemblage was structured by marrow extraction. Further, small bovid elements with high marrow utility may have been preferentially targeted and treated in more standardised fashion. The small-medium bovids, most of which are domesticates (sheep), exhibit intermediate patterning between the other two, but this may be a sampling issue related to their relative scarcity at DFM.

The giant hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris: Modelling the bone-cracking behavior of an extinct carnivore

The giant hyena Pachycrocuta brevirostris was the largest bone-cracking carnivore that ever existed. With the mass of a lioness, it had massive limbs with shortened distal bones and a heavy, powerfully built mandible with robust, well-developed premolars. All these features reflect its adaptation for dismembering ungulate carcasses, transporting large pieces of them without dragging to the denning site and fracturing bones. This paper estimates the relative contribution of hunting and scavenging to the diet of this extinct hyena, using a combined biomechanical and taphonomic approach. Analysis of the bone-cracking behavior of P. brevirostris was based on the abundance of skeletal elements in the large mammals assemblage from Venta Micena (Guadix-Baza basin, southeast Spain), a locality currently interpreted as an early Pleistocene hyena den. The distribution of major limb bones of ungulates among complete elements, isolated epiphyses and diaphyses were analyzed using contingency tables and correspondence analysis. Results obtained showed that the bones with greater marrow contents (femur, humerus and tibia) were preferentially fractured by the hyenas, while those others with less nutritional value (radius and metapodials) were better represented as complete elements in the assemblage. The quantitative analysis of the preservational state of skeletal elements allowed testing specific patterns of bone modification by the giant hyenas, such as a proximodistal sequence of consumption for humerus and tibia, thus revealing the highly specialized bone-cracking behavior of P. brevirostris. Regression equations adjusted with modern carnivores for body size on craniodental and postcranial measurements provide an average estimate of mass of ∼110 kg for the giant hyena. The high moment arms for masseter and temporalis muscles indicate a substantial strength for bone fracturing with the well-developed premolar teeth. Jaw depth provided resistance against dorsoventral loads during bone-cracking activities. However, the moment arm of resistance for an object positioned at the canines reveals a loss of bite strength compared with spotted hyenas and thus less predatory abilities. These results are in agreement with the scavenging niche deduced for P. brevirostris from taphonomic analysis.

Small mammal remains recovered from two archaeological sites in the middle and lower Negro River valley (Late Holocene, Argentina): Taphonomic issues and paleoenvironmental implications

This paper presents the results of a taphonomic and paleoenvironmental analysis of small mammal remains recovered from the Negro Muerto and Angostura 1 archaeological sites. These sites (ca. 0.5 and 0.95 ka BP, respectively), are located in the middle and lower Negro River valley in northern Patagonia, Argentina. Based upon the presence of several types of evidence (cut marks, bone tools, and thermal alteration), it is proposed that Holochilus brasiliensis and cavies were acumulated by humans. At the Angostura 1 site, some remains also show evidence of having been generated by carnivores (digestion, breakage patterns, and relative skeletal element abundances). This indicates that carnivores (e.g., Puma concolor) could have contributed to the formation of the small mammal assemblages. Other small mammal species recovered at both sites (e.g., Galea leucoblephara, Microcavia australis, Akodon molinae, and Graomys griseoflavus) suggest semi-desert environmental conditions, similar to those found today. The presence of Reithrodon auritus and Oligoryzomys sp. indicate the development of open herbaceous steppe environments in proximity to bodies of water. However, the discovery of H. brasiliensis at both sites, an orizomyine of amphibious habitats and subtropical origin, and which is now absent in the area, suggests warmer and wetter conditions during this period.

Modifications on the bovid bone assemblage from Dunefield Midden, South Africa: stage one of a multivariate taphonomic analysis

A three-stage taphonomic analysis was performed on the small, small-medium and large bovid bone assemblages from Dunefield Midden, an open-air Later Stone Age site on South Africa's west coast. The results of the first stage of the analysis, which focuses on surface and subsurface bone modifications, are presented here. A forthcoming paper will detail the subsequent two stages, in which skeletal element abundance, longbone breakage patterns and overall taphonomic variability are investigated. The Dunefield Midden bovid bone assemblages are amenable to such an indepth study since they were subjected to a comprehensive refitting operation, with particular emphasis on longbone reconstruction. This enabled the systematic incorporation into the analysis of shaft fragments, a crucial yet frequently ignored component of mammalian zooarchaeological assemblages. Including shafts not only improves estimates of skeletal element abundance and thus our understanding of how prehistoric foragers acquired, transported and distributed animal carcasses, but also yields better assessments of the techniques employed for carcass butchery and bone processing. This paper explores the latter two aspects of subsistence at Dunefield Midden by integrating quantitative and configurational data on bovid bone modifications. It shows that the assemblage was principally shaped from within-bone nutrient acquisition by humans. Variation in bone modification patterning is suggested to stem largely from size-related differences in butchery effort and utility-related differences in skeletal element treatment.

Quantitatively evaluating the sources of taphonomic biasing of skeletal element abundances in fossil assemblages

The predominantly unknown nature and magnitude of the total taphonomic biasing that affects fossil assemblages commonly limits the testing of paleoecological hypotheses by the quantitative comparison of fossil assemblages. Multiple regression analyses of a suite of taphonomic characteristics against a measure of the total taphonomic biasing of a fossil assemblage can be used to generate a taphonomic model that identifies and quantifies many of those taphonomic processes that are important in biasing fossil assemblages. By examining the parameters of regression-based quantitative taphonomic models, key elements of the taphonomic history of a fossil assemblage can be reconstructed and such histories compared between fossil assemblages. We discuss the methodology pertinent to the building of quantitative taphonomic models and illustrate the effectiveness of such an approach using a case study considering two samples (857 specimens) of an Oligocene mammalian fossil assemblage from the Scenic Member of the Brule Formation, South Dakota. It is possible to quantify all of the taphonomic biasing affecting bone abundances in each of the two sampled assemblages using a small number of taphonomic characteristics. The most important of these characteristics is bulk density. The control of biasing by density is attributed to a combination of the increased resistance to physical damage of dense bones as well as the decreased probability of transport. Element shape and surface area to volume ratio are shown to have a significant but lesser control on assemblage biasing. Comparison of the taphonomic models for each sampled assemblage using currently viable methods demonstrates that the two assemblages are not statistically isotaphonomic. This interpretation may change with the gathering of additional data.

Long-distance carcass transport at Olduvai Gorge? A quantitative examination of Bed I skeletal element abundances

Relative abundances of skeletal elements at Plio-Pleistocene archaeological sites have long been interpreted to represent selective transport of portions of large prey. Models from optimal foraging theory suggest that the degree of carcass transport selectivity reflects transport constraints, particularly transport distance. A quantitative analysis of skeletal element abundances in five bone assemblages from Bed I, Olduvai Gorge, indicates that within the subset of elements most likely to resist attritional processes, there is no evidence for preferential transport of small or large mammals. The results suggest relatively low carcass transport costs and are most consistent with site formation models favoring short-distance carcass transport. The data are also consistent with the possibility that hominins were not responsible for transporting bones at some sites. Several Bed I assemblages, with the exception of FLK- Zinjanthropus, lack evidence of a functional relationship between flaked stone artifacts and the faunal remains, such as cut-marks or percussion-marks on bone. In conjunction with the skeletal part data, this suggests that hominin involvement with the bone assemblages was minimal at all sites but FLK- Zinjanthropus. The patterning at Bed I contrasts strongly with Middle Stone Age and Middle Paleolithic assemblages, which provide clear evidence for selective transport, suggesting higher transport costs and longer transport distances.

Biochronological, taphonomical, and paleoenvironmental background of the fossil great ape Pierolapithecus catalaunicus (Primates, Hominidae)

The Late Aragonian (late middle Miocene) stratigraphic sequence of Abocador de Can Mata (ACM) from Els Hostalets de Pierola (Vallès-Penedès Basin, Catalonia, Spain), rich in fossil vertebrate localities, provides a unique opportunity to study the evolution of western Eurasian hominoids. Among these sites, Barranc de Can Vila 1 (BCV1) recently delivered a well-preserved hominoid partial skeleton of a new genus and species, Pierolapithecus catalaunicus. On the basis of the small-mammal fauna recovered at BCV1, we infer an early MN 7 + 8 age, between 12.5 and 12 Ma, for this site. The spatial distribution of macromammal fossils, the relative abundances of skeletal elements, and their state of preservation suggest that different agents were involved in the accumulation of the P. catalaunicus individual and the remaining taxa. Carnivore marks occur on some bones of the P. catalunicus skeleton, documenting the action of predators and/or scavengers in this case. In contrast, carnivore marks are extremely rare on other macromammal remains, which seem to be derived from adjacent alluvial-fan plain areas. The small-mammal fauna from BCV1 and the large-mammal fauna from the ACM series, indicate the presence of considerably humid and warm forest environments. The compositions of the small-mammal fauna from BCV1 and from other Late Aragonian sites from the Vallès-Penedès area are similar to those from France and central Europe. The former are clearly distinct from those of Iberian inner basins, where the environment appears to have been drier, thus precluding the dispersal of hominoids into that area.