Paleoenvironmental context of Neanderthal occupations in northeastern Iberia: The small-mammal assemblage from Abric Romaní (Capellades, Barcelona, Spain)

Combined palaeoecological methods using small-mammal assemblages to decipher environmental context of a long-term Neanderthal settlement in northeastern Iberia

“…These processes are consistent with a fossiliferous rock-shelter context (Fern' andez-Jalvo, 1992) and the depositional fossiliferous microenvironment previously described for level O from Abric Romaní (Ferna 'ndez-García et al, 2018). Such microenvironment is indeed characterized by wet conditions and weak water flows and flooding, which is expected for this kind of travertine formation (C' aceres et al, 2012;Ferna 'ndez-García et al, 2018;Gabucio et al, 2012;Vallverdú et al, 2012). A different pattern for small-mammal assemblages from levels E and D was not detected, despite their different sedimentary conditions that are closer to a cave environment (Vallverdú et al, 2005b;Vaquero et al, 2013).…”

“…In some cases, as in level J, manganese oxide occurs inside fissures and below chemical corrosions produced by roots, indicating the order of postdepositional processes: humidity changes for water activation, followed by subsequent flooding and organic matter decomposition and posterior mosses activity. These processes are consistent with a fossiliferous rock-shelter context (Fern' andez-Jalvo, 1992) and the depositional fossiliferous microenvironment previously described for level O from Abric Romaní (Ferna 'ndez-García et al, 2018). Such microenvironment is indeed characterized by wet conditions and weak water flows and flooding, which is expected for this kind of travertine formation (C' aceres et al, 2012;Ferna 'ndez-García et al, 2018;Gabucio et al, 2012;Vallverdú et al, 2012).…”

“…The remains of amphibians and squamate reptiles are scarce at the site (e.g., Bufo bufo sensu lato, Epidalea calamita, Rana temporaria), and their presence is related to a wet and cold forest environment. According to pollen analysis, periods when open-landscapes species occurred are related to stadial phases, which complemented with previous past temperatures estimations based on small-vertebrate studies, has led to climatic correlations by Burjachs et al (2012), Ferna 'ndez-García et al (2018, Lo 'pez-García (2011) and Lo 'pez-García et al (2014) ( Table 1).…”

“…The absence of notable abrasion modifications, desquamation, and weathering, and the consistence of taphonomic patterns with large mammal remains, mainly accumulated by hominins in all levels (Ca 'ceres et al, 2012;Fern' andez-Laso et al, 2010;Gabucio et al, 2017Gabucio et al, , 2014Marín et al, 2017aMarín et al, , 2017bModolo and Rosell, 2017), do not support the presence of re-sedimentation processes and fixed in situ production and rapid burial of the remains (Ferna 'ndez-García et al, 2018). It is probable that the nocturnal raptors, identified as small-mammal accumulators, established their roosts or nests directly on rock outcrops or crevices that were part of the Abric Romaní rock-shelter (Andrews, 1990;Mikkola, 1983).…”

“…57-50 ka) of the site, characterized by cyclic variations of arboreal pollen and mesothermophilous species, although interstadial conditions prevailed (Burjachs et al, 2012;Julia ', 1996, 1994;Vaquero et al, 2013). Level O has been confirmed as a cool phase tentatively related to GS15, for its negative MATAs (between -1.5 and -3.7 o C), seasonal temperature variation and equal proportions of mid-European and Mediterranean species (Ferna 'ndez-García et al, 2018). Compared to level O, the upper level N presents an increase in Mediterranean species with a concomitant reduction in mid-European ones.…”