Direct Dating and Physico-Chemical Analyses Cast Doubts on the Coexistence of Humans and Dwarf Hippos in Cyprus

Abstract

In the Mediterranean, the island dwarf megafaunas became extinct around the end of the Pleistocene, during a period of rapid and global climate change. In Cyprus, this coincided with the first human presence on the island, as attested by the rock shelter of Akrotiri-Aetokremnos where an Epipaleolithic anthropogenic layer (stratum 2) was found overlying a massive accumulation of pygmy hippopotamus (Phanourios minor (Desmarest, 1822)) [Boekschoten and Sondaar, 1972] bones (stratum 4). The relationship between the two layers is highly controversial and the role played by humans in hippo extinction remains fiercely debated. Here, we provide new, direct radiocarbon and physico-chemical analyses on calcined bones which elucidates the complex depositional history of the assemblage. Bone turquoise was identified using micro-PIXE analysis and depth-profiling together with Vis spectroscopy, demonstrating that these bones were not freshly burned. Bayesian modeling of the radiocarbon dates indicates that stratum 4 accumulated during the first half of the 13th mill cal BP and that calcination occurred several hundred years later. We conclude that accumulation occurred naturally during the beginning of the Younger Dryas and that Epipalaeolithic visitors subsequently used the bones as fuel, starting from the mid-13th mill cal BP. At that time, dwarf hippos were probably already extinct or at least highly endangered. Our results shed new light on the possible causes of hippo extinction, on the subsequent introduction of the wild boar and on the earliest occupation of the island by humans.

The specific vulnerability of plant biodiversity and vegetation on Mediterranean islands in the face of global change

“…The evidence of the earliest date of island colonizations by prehistoric people in the Mediterranean-a 'Palaeolithic seafaring by Stone Age sailors' (Simmons 2014)-is still disputed (Broodbank 2006;Leppard 2014;Runnels 2014), because it is often difficult to assess whether human occupation was only temporary along the coasts or has become more permanent. The first tangible traces of extended human presence on a Mediterranean island seem to exist on Cyprus around 12,500 years ago (Table 1) (Zazzo et al 2015), and the development of agriculture has occurred between 11,200 and 10,600 years ago (Vigne et al 2012). In the western Mediterranean, the oldest sporadic settlements on islands date back to the Mesolithic (ca.…”

Island extinctions: processes, patterns, and potential for ecosystem restoration

“…Steadman et al 2002). A possible exception is the extinction of many Mediterranean island megafauna species, because although their extinctions closely coincide with human arrival, there is no definitive evidence of human involvement (Bover & Alcover 2003; Vigne et al 2009; Zazzo et al 2015; Bover et al 2016). The case for hunting driving Holocene extinctions of megafauna is nevertheless well established on islands compared to continents, where the roles of humans and climate change remain contested.…”

Closing the gap: New data on the last documented Myotragus and the first human evidence on Mallorca (Balearic Islands, Western Mediterranean Sea)

“…1 Departament de Biodiversitat i Conservació, Institut Mediterrani d'Estudis Avançats, Spain 2 Australian Centre for Ancient DNA (ACAD), School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Australia by Ramis and Alcover (2004) between the last documented presence of the endemic large mammals (e.g. Benzi et al, 2007;Zazzo et al, 2015) and the first documented presence of humans (e.g. Dawson, 2013;Phoca-Cosmetatou, 2011;Phoca-Cosmetatou and Rabett, 2014;Vigne, 2015;Vigne et al, 2009;Zazzo et al, 2015).…”

“…Recent research on the chronology of the extinction of large mammals on other Mediterranean islands reduced the gap presented by Ramis and Alcover (2004) between the last documented presence of the endemic large mammals (e.g. Benzi et al, 2007; Zazzo et al, 2015) and the first documented presence of humans (e.g. Dawson, 2013; Phoca-Cosmetatou, 2011; Phoca-Cosmetatou and Rabett, 2014; Vigne, 2015; Vigne et al, 2009; Zazzo et al, 2015).…”

“…Benzi et al, 2007; Zazzo et al, 2015) and the first documented presence of humans (e.g. Dawson, 2013; Phoca-Cosmetatou, 2011; Phoca-Cosmetatou and Rabett, 2014; Vigne, 2015; Vigne et al, 2009; Zazzo et al, 2015). Excluding charcoal-based radiocarbon dates – as recommended by different authorities and as we are proceeding here – and using 2σ intervals for calibrate dates, the gap between first humans and last representatives of the Mediterranean insular megafauna exceeds currently one millennium in all cases.…”