Axlor's level <scp>IV</scp> human remains are convincingly Neanderthals: A reply to <scp>Gómez‐Olivencia</scp> et al.

González‐Urquijo, Jesús; Bailey, Shara E.; Lazuén, Talía

doi:10.1002/ajpa.24252

Cited by 6 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…In their reply, González-Urquijo et al (2021) do not present any new information that contradicts the description made by de Barandiarán or by González-Urquijo's own team in previous reports and publications (Barandiarán, 1980;González Urquijo et al, 2006;Rios Garaizar et al, 2003). Moreover, some of the interpretations and data presented by González-Urquijo et al (2021) As stated in our original publication, the body of evidence points to a modern human classification for these teeth, with very high probabilities in one of the most informative teeth, the M 1 . Though speciesspecific morphologies exist, dental size and shape are variable in both species and unable to unquestionably discriminate between them, particularly for specimens that do not show the most extreme species-specific traits.…”

Section: Regardingmentioning

confidence: 53%

“…Additionally, González-Urquijo et al (2021) estimate that between 30% and 37% (between 9 and 11) of the outline semilandmarks are missing in Axlor's M 1 (see their Figure 1, where they provide a new outline for Axlor's M 1 ). This outline assumes that landmarks 22-28 are affected by wear, and thus the suggested outline enlarges both the metacone and, especially, the hypocone.…”

Section: Regardingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The human remains found in 1967 in Axlor: Still not convincingly Neandertals: A reply to González‐Urquijo et al

Gómez‐Olivencia

López‐Onaindia

Sala

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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In 2020, we published a study that described all the human remains found during J. M. de Barandiarán's excavations in Axlor (Dima, Biscay). Our study first presented two deciduous teeth and a parietal fragment found in an undisturbed Mousterian context, all of which show morphological features consistent with a Neandertal classification (G omez-Olivencia et al., 2020). Our study also reassessed the human remains previously described by Basabe (1973), likely belonging to a single individual and traditionally classified as a Neandertal (see e.g., Rostro Carmona, 2013). However, our metric and morphological assessment suggested stronger affinities with modern humans.Recently, a reply to our article has been published, focusing on the remains previously published by Basabe (1973). In their reply, González-Urquijo et al. (2021, p. 553) state that "Axlor's level IV human remains are convincingly Neanderthals," thus concluding that our taxonomic classification "is not supported by the anatomical evidence" and that the "balance of the evidence-morphological and stratigraphic-is most consistent with a Neandertal classification for these teeth" (González-Urquijo et al., 2021, p. 557). These authors take issue with two aspects: the taxonomic classification of the human remains found in 1967 and the discussion and reinterpretation of the stratigraphic context of these remains.Here, we address the points raised by González-Urquijo et al.(2021) regarding the taxonomic attribution of the human remains found in 1967, the dental morphological analysis and the stratigraphic study.The human remains found in 1967 comprise four teeth (left P 4 -M 3 ) found on September 7, 1967 in the square 13F at a depth of 265 cm. Two of these teeth (M 1 and M 2 ) were found in a maxillary fragment. Additionally, a left canine was found on September 8 in the square 13 E at a depth of 285 cm (G omez-Olivencia et al., 2020: figure S6). Two of these teeth (the C 0 and the M 2 ) are currently lost, and therefore, our taxonomic assessment was based on the P 4 , M 1 and M 3 . All these remains were originally attributed to the Mousterian

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Section: Regardingmentioning

confidence: 53%

Section: Regardingmentioning

confidence: 99%

The human remains found in 1967 in Axlor: Still not convincingly Neandertals: A reply to González‐Urquijo et al

Gómez‐Olivencia

López‐Onaindia

Sala

et al. 2022

American Journal of Biological Anthropology

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“…These recent analyses identified two teeth stemming from Layers IV and V as belonging to Neanderthals and also confirmed the taxonomic and stratigraphic identification of a Neanderthal cranial fragment from Layer VIII identified during the Barandiarán excavations (Gómez-Olivencia et al, 2020). Other hominin remains, described initially by Basabe (1973), have recently come under debate, with some researchers suggesting a Homo sapiens taxonomic identification and an origin from the upper layers of the stratigraphy that may have been redeposited due to earlier disturbances of the site during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries (Gómez-Olivencia et al, 2020, 2023), while others support the original assignment to Neanderthals and argue against any influence of disturbance (González-Urquijo et al, 2021). A recent reply to the latter marks the end of this debate (Gómez-Olivencia et al, 2023), which will likely only be definitively solved using biomolecular evidence and direct dating.…”

Section: The Site Of Axlormentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Chronology Layers III to VIII of Axlor have previously been suggested to have formed during early MIS 3 and earlier, but the Beta dates generated from the site were produced without ultrafiltration removal of possible contaminants-the standard method currently applied in Middle Palaeolithic sites with a chronology close to the limit of the radiocarbon-and lack provenance information within the site (Ríos-Garaizar, 2017;Gómez-Olivencia et al, 2018;Marín-Arroyo et al, 2018;González-Urquijo et al, 2021;Sánchez Hernández, 2021; Table 1). An additional two infinite radiocarbon ages from Layer IV, produced by Marín-Arroyo et al (2018), already indicated that the sequence may be older than previously suggested.…”

Section: Reconstructing the Environmental And Ecological Setting Of T...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Late Pleistocene Neanderthal exploitation of stable and mosaic ecosystems in northern Iberia shown by multi-isotope evidence

et al. 2023

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During the last glacial period, rapidly changing environments posed substantial challenges to Neanderthal populations in Europe. Southern continental regions, such as Iberia, have been proposed as important climatic “buffer” zones during glacial phases. Contextualising the climatic and ecological conditions Neanderthals faced is relevant to interpreting their resilience. However, records of the environments and ecosystems they exploited across Iberia exhibit temporal and spatial gaps in coverage. Here we provide new evidence for palaeotemperatures, vegetation structure, and prey herbivore ecology during the late Pleistocene (MIS 5–3) in northern Spain, by applying multiple stable isotope tracers (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N, δ34S) to herbivore skeletal remains associated with Neanderthal occupations at Axlor Cave, Bizkaia. The results show little change over time and indicate stable climatic conditions and ecosystems across different occupations. Large within-layer isotopic variability in nitrogen and sulphur suggests the presence of a mosaic environment and a variety of isotopic ecotones that were exploited by Neanderthals and their prey. We implement a combination of carbonate and phosphate δ18O measurements to estimate palaeotemperatures using a cost-effective workflow. We show that the targeted use of phosphate δ18O measurements to anchor summer peak and winter trough areas enables high-precision seasonal palaeoclimatic reconstructions.

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“…The initial numerical ages obtained for Axlor during the recent excavations were based on 14 C dating of bone (outlined in the Supporting Information; Table ). These results suggested that the upper part of the Middle Palaeolithic sequence (levels F–B) ranged between ~42 and >47.5 (uncalibrated) 14 C ka bp , with several samples yielding infinite and stratigraphically inverted calibrated age ranges indicative of potential contamination issues (González‐Urquijo, et al, 2005; González‐Urquijo et al, 2021). As it appeared that the archaeological sequence extended beyond the upper age limit of 14 C dating (~50 ka), the technique was not applied to the underlying levels (S–M).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chronological constraint of Neanderthal cultural and environmental changes in southwestern Europe: MIS 5–MIS 3 dating of the Axlor site (Biscay, Spain)

Demuro

Arnold

González‐Urquijo

et al. 2023

J Quaternary Science

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The cave site of Axlor (Biscay, Spain) preserves one of the most informative Middle Palaeolithic (MP) records for the North Atlantic Iberian region, though its age remains poorly known. Here we use single‐grain optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) and single‐grain thermally transferred OSL (TT‐OSL) dating of sediments to improve the age constraint of Axlor's MP succession (levels N–B). Our new ages are consistent with the previously published terminus ante quem 14C ages for the site (>42.9 cal ka bp), and suggest the sequence accumulated during a period of ~50 kyr. Axlor's levels N–F were deposited ~100–80 ka, probably during marine isotope stage (MIS) 5d–a, while levels D and B were deposited ~70 and ~50 ka, respectively, during MIS 4 and mid‐MIS 3. Our results indicate that major faunal and technological turnovers occurred towards the end of MIS 5, potentially coinciding with broader environmental and climatic changes. Axlor's Quina record, dated here to the onset of MIS 4, is one of the oldest in Europe. Comparisons with neighbouring sites point to complex regional chronologies and development for this particular behaviour, though detailed correlations with other MP sequences remain difficult due to their poor chronological attributes. The present study highlights the important role that single‐grain optical dating can play in elucidating the broader evolution of the MP across southwestern Europe.

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Axlor's level IV human remains are convincingly Neanderthals: A reply to Gómez‐Olivencia et al.

Abstract: Gómez-Olivencia et al., (2020) recently published a description and interpretation of human remains (teeth and a parietal fragment) found in 1967-1974 at the site of Axlor in northern Iberia. Some of these teeth were previously described and referred to Neanderthals

Cited by 6 publications

References 7 publications

The human remains found in 1967 in Axlor: Still not convincingly Neandertals: A reply to González‐Urquijo et al

The human remains found in 1967 in Axlor: Still not convincingly Neandertals: A reply to González‐Urquijo et al

Late Pleistocene Neanderthal exploitation of stable and mosaic ecosystems in northern Iberia shown by multi-isotope evidence

Chronological constraint of Neanderthal cultural and environmental changes in southwestern Europe: MIS 5–MIS 3 dating of the Axlor site (Biscay, Spain)

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