Taphonomic Analysis of Amphibian and Squamate Remains from El Harhoura 2 (Rabat‐Témara, Morocco): Contributions to Palaeoecological and Archaeological Interpretations

Abstract

Africa. This article presents the first taphonomic analysis realised on amphibian and squamate remains coming from a North-African quaternary site. The bones were not transported/sorted by water; they were quickly buried and no significant perturbation occurred within deposits. The main origin of the amphibian and squamate assemblages is predation, although some animals probably died in the cave from natural causes. A comparison with taphonomic data from small mammals of the same cave gave more accurate taphonomic and reliable palaeoecological interpretation of the site. This study also highlights the numerous problems of interpretation linked to the lack of taphonomic referentials based on predator pellets/scats and on weathering/burying experiments in North Africa.

Were Upper Pleistocene human/non-human predator occupations at the Témara caves (El Harhoura 2 and El Mnasra, Morocco) influenced by climate change?

“…The significant number of gazelles could correspond to increased aridity or preferences of nonhuman predators (Campmas, 2012a). However, microfaunal studies of layers 3 and 4A of EH2 Cave denote a relatively wet and open environment, close to that observed for the layer 8 (Stoetzel, 2009;Stoetzel et al, 2010Stoetzel et al, , 2011Stoetzel et al, , 2014. This result is in agreement with the suggestion that there was a third MSA occupation at EH2 Cave during the wet stage of the OIS 3 , but not with the same intensity than during OIS 5.…”

“…waltl) and some reptiles (Natrix maura) from wet habitats (Stoetzel, 2009;Stoetzel et al, 2010Stoetzel et al, , 2011Stoetzel et al, , 2014. Layer 6 of EM Cave has yielded remains attributed to the rodent Arvicanthis sp.…”

“…12). Palaeoecological data based on large and small vertebrates indicate an aridification and an opening of the environment (Stoetzel et al, 2011(Stoetzel et al, , 2014Stoetzel, 2013b). This period also corresponds to the most significant sea level regression (À120 m) (e.g., Shackleton, 2000;Jouzel et al, 2002;Waelbroeck et al, 2002).…”

“…Other pollen sequences are available for the Saharan area (e.g., Hooghiemstra and Agwu, 1988;Dupont and Hooghiemstra, 1989;Hooghiemstra et al, 1992;Petit-Maire, 1992;Le Houérou, 1997;Hooghiemstra, 2004), but far from non-desertic areas with Mediterranean climate influences. Thus, local palaeoenvironmental data dating to the Upper Pleistocene from the Rabat-Témara area are based on faunal analysis, and especially on small vertebrates, which are better indicators of climatic and landscape changes in comparison to large mammals (Stoetzel, 2009;Stoetzel et al, 2010Stoetzel et al, , 2011Stoetzel et al, , 2014.…”

Shrews of the genus Crocidura from El Harhoura 2 (Témara, Morocco): The contribution of broken specimens to the understanding of Late Pleistocene–Holocene palaeoenvironments in North Africa

“…This cave has yielded both lithic and bone industries, ceramics, several human remains and burials, and numerous faunal remains (Campmas et al, 2008, in press;Nespoulet et al, 2008aNespoulet et al, , 2008bMichel et al, 2009Michel et al, , 2010El Hajraoui et al, 2012;Stoetzel et al, 2014). Moreover, a high concentration of small vertebrate remains has been discovered, which has allowed for rather complete faunistic and palaeoecological studies of the region (Stoetzel et al, 2007(Stoetzel et al, , 2008(Stoetzel et al, , 2011(Stoetzel et al, , 2012Stoetzel, 2009). This site is unique as it involves studies focusing on different vertebrates including small mammals, amphibians, and reptiles.…”