Article
Geography, Physical
Ivan Ramirez-Pedraza, Florent Rivals, Carlos Tornero, Denis Geraads, Jean Paul Raynal, David Lefevre, Abderrahim Mohib
Summary: This study reconstructs the climate, diet, and habitat of Plio-Pleistocene herbivores at the Ahl al Oughlam site in western Morocco using stable isotope analyses, dental wear analysis, and other methods. The results suggest that the analyzed species predominantly consumed C3 plants, but had a varied diet with evidence for both browsing and grazing behavior. The study indicates that the area was dominated by open C3 grasslands in an arid climate.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Cecile Blondel, Gildas Merceron, John Rowan, Jerome Surault, Jean-Renaud Boisserie
Summary: By studying the fossil records of reduncins from the Shungura Formation, we found that their diet varied over time, with a shift from browsing to grazing habits between 2.8 Ma and 1.7 Ma. This highlights the importance of using multiple dietary proxies to reconstruct the ecology of ancient organisms.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Florent Rivals, Ruth Blasco, Jordi Rosell, Bar Efrati, Avi Gopher, Ran Barkai
Summary: This study investigates the seasonality and duration of occupation in specific archaeological contexts at late Lower Palaeolithic Qesem Cave, based on the analysis of ungulate teeth. The research suggests that human groups inhabited the cave for a long period, utilizing specific hunting grounds and allocating different game to designated activity areas at the cave based on the environment and their needs. The data indicate strategic hunting and resource management by these early inhabitants, allowing them to persistently use the cave for prolonged periods throughout the year.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geography, Physical
Gildas Merceron, Emilie Berlioz, Hubert Vonhof, Daniel Green, Mathieu Garel, Thomas Tuetken
Summary: By studying a 4-ruminant community in the French Alps, researchers found that dental microwear texture and carbon stable isotope analyses accurately reflect ecological separation between chamois and roe deer, while oxygen isotopes suggest increasing enrichment from roe deer to red deer, to chamois, with mouflons feeding as generalists. This study demonstrates that with appropriate sampling strategies and modeling approaches, microwear and isotopic data can effectively show niche separation among multiple sympatric herbivorous taxa.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Paulo Duno-Iglesias, Florent Rivals, Lluis Lloveras, Jordi Nadal
Summary: The aim of this work is to provide evidence on the mobility of hunter-gatherer groups from the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula during the Epipaleolithic era, specifically focusing on the Balma del Gai site in Moia, Barcelona, Spain. The study analyzes the dental wear of hunted ungulates to determine their diets and reconstruct the surrounding habitat. Additionally, the variability in the diets is examined to estimate the duration of occupations and characterize the mobility model of the hunter-gatherer groups at Balma del Gai during the Epipaleolithic era.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Sabrina Curran, Claire Terhune, Roman Croitor, Virgil Dragusin, David L. Fox, Niki Garrett, Lydia B. Ironside, Alexandru Petculescu, Briana Pobiner, Chris Robinson, Marius Robu, Ioan Tantau, Peter Ungar
Summary: The Early Pleistocene is a time of significant global climatic and environmental change, with the spread of grasslands, animal dispersals, and the presence of hominins in Eurasia. Using multiple methods, the paleoenvironments around the Oltet River in southern Romania were characterized and found to be similar to other Eurasian sites.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Anthropology
Florent Rivals, Jessica Cohen, Emmanuel Desclaux
Summary: The analysis of dietary traits in ungulates from Lazaret Cave examined changes in ecological niches and investigated the duration of human occupations. The results showed that dietary diversity changed throughout the MIS 6 sequence due to climatic and environmental changes. These changes affected the availability of resources, species competition, and the movement of ungulates. The archaeological record of Lazaret Cave also reflected the impact of these changes on human groups.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geography, Physical
Flavia Strani, Daniel DeMiguel
Summary: The last European wild equids, Equus ferus and Equus hydruntinus, became extinct during the Late Quaternary Extinction Event in Europe. The main cause of their extinction is believed to be the reduction of steppelike biomes in Europe due to global warming during the Holocene. However, our study suggests that human activities, such as competition with domesticated forms brought from Eurasia and Africa, may have played a larger role in their extinction than climate change alone.
PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Nicole L. Ackermans, Daniela E. Winkler, Ellen Schulz-Kornas, Thomas M. Kaiser, Louise F. Martin, Jean-Michel Hatt, Marcus Clauss
Summary: A study conducted on sheep fed diets of varying abrasiveness found strong correlations between multiple parameters in dental wear, supporting the application of reduced parameter sets. However, there were lower correlations between DMTA parameters and volumetric tissue changes or mesowear variables, indicating the need for a better understanding of these dental wear processes.
JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL SOCIETY INTERFACE
(2021)
Article
Geology
Bogdan G. Ratoi, Bogdan S. Haiduc, Gina M. Semprebon, Paul Tibuleac, Raymond L. Bernor
Summary: The Cioburciu horses from the Turolian period in the Republic of Moldova are identified as Cremohipparion moldavicum. Analysis of dental wear and microscopic features indicates that these horses had a mixed feeding behavior, alternating between browsing and grazing, potentially based on season and region.
RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA
(2022)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Nathaniel H. H. Wehr, Hailey M. M. Boone, Samuel R. R. Wehr, Jerrold L. L. Belant
Summary: Island biogeography theory states that biodiversity increases with island size and decreases with distance from mainland source populations. The influence of other island characteristics and species traits on island biodiversity was assessed using presence data for 20 mammal species on 70 islands in the Great Lakes of North America. Islands closer to mainland source populations and larger islands and archipelagos supported greater mammalian species richness. Winter dormant species occurred less on islands while semiaquatic species occurred more. This study highlights the importance of considering archipelago characteristics and species traits for describing island biodiversity and provides baseline data for mammal diversity in the Great Lakes region.
BIODIVERSITY AND CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Irina M. Velsko, Sandrine Gallois, Raphaela Stahl, Amanda G. Henry, Christina Warinner
Summary: Industrialization is believed to have significant impact on the human microbiome, particularly in the areas of urbanization, global food chain participation, and consumption of heavily processed foods. However, the influence of diet on the oral microbiome is mostly speculative. This study compared the dental plaque microbiomes of populations with different subsistence strategies and levels of industrialization, and found that differences in microbial composition were minimal and not related to dietary practices. The major source of variation in dental plaque microbial species composition was tooth location and oxygen availability, which may be influenced by dental hygiene measures.
Article
Biology
Bence Szabo, Piroska Pazonyi, Emoke Toth, Eniko K. Magyari, Gabriella Ilona Kiss, Laszlo Rinyu, Istvan Futo, Attila Virag
Summary: Large-scale climatic changes during the Pleistocene and Holocene in the Carpathian Basin influenced the environment, as shown by the study of cervid dental elements in Slovakia and Hungary. Changes in dental wear and stable isotope values indicated a transition from closed to open environments with cooler climates. Despite increasing openness, some tree cover remained in the Carpathian Basin, evident from microwear analysis.δ18O values showed approximately 5-6 degrees C cooler temperatures during glacial periods, with similar temperatures to modern Hungary in interglacials. Cervids mainly consumed C-3 plants, reflecting the scarcity of C-4 plants in colder environments.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geology
Taia Wyenberg-Henzler, R. Timothy Patterson, Jordan C. Mallon
Summary: This study reveals that there were ontogenetic niche shifts in duck-billed dinosaurs, with juvenile individuals being more selective and feeding on softer, low-growing plants. Jaw chewing movements did not differ greatly between growth stages. These findings contribute to further research on cranial ontogenetic allometry in hadrosauromorphs and the role of ontogenetic niche shifts in the size structuring of Late Cretaceous herbivore communities.
CRETACEOUS RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Elizabeth N. Fillion, Terry Harrison, Amandus Kwekason
Summary: The dietary guild structure of ungulate communities provides important insights into the paleobiology and evolution of hominins. This study investigates the ungulate community associated with A. afarensis at the Pliocene site of Laetoli, Tanzania, and finds that it differs from modern African communities, suggesting a unique vegetation structure or a resilient ungulate community. The co-occurrence of analog and nonanalog communities in the Pliocene indicates asynchronous transformations in ungulate communities in eastern Africa.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Ivan Ramirez Pedraza, Gennady F. Baryshnikov, Natalya E. Prilepskaya, Ruslan I. Belyaev, Spyridoula Pappa, Florent Rivals
Summary: The study investigates the feeding habits of extinct cave bears through tooth wear analysis, revealing their preference for abrasive food items like dry grass or shrubs. It also shows niche partitioning between different extinct species, indicating avoidance of competition.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Sergio Jimenez-Manchon, Emilie Blaise, Moussab Albesso, Armelle Gardeisen, Florent Rivals
Summary: This study introduces quantitative dental mesowear analysis and explores different feeding strategies in modern domestic sheep, showing significant differences. Compared to traditional qualitative scoring methods, quantitative mesowear better reflects the variability in dietary behaviors of extant sheep. Testing on archaeological samples also demonstrates the potential of this technique in distinguishing past caprine feeding strategies.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL METHOD AND THEORY
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Tikvah Steiner, Rebecca Biton, Dani Nadel, Florent Rivals, Rivka Rabinovich
Summary: This study examines the behavior of past inhabitants at the submerged site of Ohalo II through analysis of faunal remains. The results suggest that the availability of multiple food sources within a rich habitat may have driven the exploitation of varied local resources, rather than targeting energetically-rich large prey. This has implications for understanding prey choice during the Late Epipaleolithic and the impact of the Last Glacial Maximum in the Jordan Valley.
Article
Anthropology
Lua Valenzuela-Suau, Florent Rivals, Damia Ramis, Silvia Valenzuela-Lamas
Summary: Bioarchaeological studies on the Balearic Islands have flourished in the past few decades. This study presents the results of dental microwear analyses on caprine teeth from archaeological sites, which provide insights into dietary patterns, livestock practices, and landscape transformation in the Bronze Age.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Alessandra Livraghi, Florent Rivals, William Rendu, Marco Peresani
Summary: This study presents the results of analyzing herbivore teeth from Middle Paleolithic sites using cementochronology and tooth wear analyses. The findings provide valuable insights into the subsistence strategies and occupational patterns of Neanderthals.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
M. Fernandez-Garcia, J. M. Lopez-Garcia, A. Royer, C. Lecuyer, F. Rivals, A. Rufa, R. Blasco, J. Rosell
Summary: This study focuses on the taphonomic history of small-mammal faunas in Teixoneres Cave, providing insights into the paleoecology of the area. The analysis of oxygen isotopes in rodent teeth reveals cooler conditions and higher rainfall compared to the present day. Additionally, the study highlights the climatic stability and rich ecosystems in the northeastern region of Iberia during the Late Glacial, which played a crucial role in sustaining the Neanderthal population.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Biology
Cristian Mico, Ruth Blasco, Alicia Munoz Del Pozo, Blanca Jimenez-Garcia, Jordi Rosell, Florent Rivals
Summary: Dental microwear is a technique to reconstruct dietary behavior in extinct and extant vertebrates. However, taphonomic processes can alter dental microwear features, leading to biased dietary interpretations. This study experimentally investigated the effect of trampling on dental occlusal surfaces, providing guidelines to distinguish trampling marks from microwear features and improving dietary interpretations.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Florent Rivals, Jessica Cohen, Emmanuel Desclaux
Summary: The analysis of dietary traits in ungulates from Lazaret Cave examined changes in ecological niches and investigated the duration of human occupations. The results showed that dietary diversity changed throughout the MIS 6 sequence due to climatic and environmental changes. These changes affected the availability of resources, species competition, and the movement of ungulates. The archaeological record of Lazaret Cave also reflected the impact of these changes on human groups.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Paulo Duno-Iglesias, Florent Rivals, Lluis Lloveras, Jordi Nadal
Summary: The aim of this work is to provide evidence on the mobility of hunter-gatherer groups from the northeast of the Iberian Peninsula during the Epipaleolithic era, specifically focusing on the Balma del Gai site in Moia, Barcelona, Spain. The study analyzes the dental wear of hunted ungulates to determine their diets and reconstruct the surrounding habitat. Additionally, the variability in the diets is examined to estimate the duration of occupations and characterize the mobility model of the hunter-gatherer groups at Balma del Gai during the Epipaleolithic era.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Zoology
Maria Fernanda Martinez-Polanco, Florent Rivals
Summary: This study aims to investigate the diet of the Central American red brocket deer and compare it with ancient deer. It was found that the red brocket deer in Darien predominantly consumed browse during the last years of their lives and before their death, with no significant differences in diet between sexes and seasons. This study demonstrates the potential of using museum collections as references for interpreting archaeological remains.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Antigone Uzunidis, Florent Rivals, Anna Rufa, Ruth Blasco, Jordi Rosell
Summary: In this article, we report the discovery of Megaloceros giganteus remains in Catalonia, which is the first finding in this region from the Late Pleistocene. By analyzing its association with other herbivore guilds, we propose that Megaloceros migrated to the Iberian Peninsula during the coldest periods of the Late Pleistocene. The diet of the Iberian individuals suggests an adaptation to a different ecological niche compared to those in Northern Europe.
Article
Geography, Physical
Ivan Ramirez-Pedraza, Florent Rivals, Carlos Tornero, Denis Geraads, Jean Paul Raynal, David Lefevre, Abderrahim Mohib
Summary: This study reconstructs the climate, diet, and habitat of Plio-Pleistocene herbivores at the Ahl al Oughlam site in western Morocco using stable isotope analyses, dental wear analysis, and other methods. The results suggest that the analyzed species predominantly consumed C3 plants, but had a varied diet with evidence for both browsing and grazing behavior. The study indicates that the area was dominated by open C3 grasslands in an arid climate.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Geology
Mansoureh Niknahad, Mohammad Reza Vaziri, Ahmad Lotfabad Arab, Florent Rivals
Summary: This study investigates the paleoecology of fossil perissodactyls from late Miocene in Maragheh. The results show that the fossil equids in Maragheh consumed a mixture of plants but with a preference for grasses, indicating that the late Miocene environment was dominated by open grassland areas.
RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA
(2023)
Article
Biology
Marcos Pizarro-Monzo, Jordi Rosell, Anna Rufa, Florent Rivals, Ruth Blasco
Summary: This study applied Deep Learning models to the taphonomic analysis of Toll Cave archaeological site, successfully distinguishing different forms of bone surface modifications and demonstrating the importance of this technique in addressing issues in archaeological assemblages.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Hector de la Fuente Juez, Marta Navazo, Alfonso Benito-Calvo, Florent Rivals, Mariano Amo-Salas, Pedro Alonso-Garcia
Summary: The relationship between Neanderthal groups and their environment is crucial in understanding their ways of life. Through the study of fauna assemblages using zooarchaeology and taphonomy, this article analyzes the findings from Level 4 of Prado Vargas Cave in Spain. The results reveal that Neanderthal groups were the main agents responsible for accumulating the animal remains at the site. They systematically and intensively exploited small- and medium-sized animal carcasses, primarily deer, for their muscles, bone marrow, skins, and tendons. The analysis also suggests that the site was frequently used as a long-term campsite, with minimal carnivore activity during periods of human absence.
ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND ANTHROPOLOGICAL SCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Julia Becher, Alex Schoeman, Gavin Whitelaw, Stephen Buckley, Jean-Pierre Celliers, Sara Cafisso, Matthias Belser, Maxime Rageot, Cynthianne Spiteri
Summary: This study represents the first application of Organic Residue Analysis (ORA) to southern African early farming pottery to gain a deeper understanding of past human behavior and subsistence patterns. The study found evidence of dairy processing and multi-purpose functionality of the ceramics. It also discovered potential medicinal use and the involvement of dung in pottery sealing and mending.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Jon Clindaniel, Matthew Magnani
Summary: Large sources of digital trace data have become important in the study of material culture. The authors introduce a computational method to observe digital formation processes and highlight the importance of accounting for these processes in studies utilizing digital trace data.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Rebecca A. G. Reid, Miranda M. E. Jans, Lesley A. Chesson, Rebecca J. Taylor, Gregory E. Berg
Summary: Chemical treatment of skeletal remains can reduce overall DNA quality and quantity but has no significant impact on stable isotope ratio analysis. Examination of treated and untreated human remains through histological and stable isotope analysis reveals that treated remains exhibit better preservation compared to untreated remains. Stable isotope ratio analysis is viable for both treated and untreated remains, regardless of their origin.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)
Article
Anthropology
Laura Tome, Eneko Iriartec, Antonio Blanco-Gonzalez, Margarita Jambrina-Enriquez, Natalia Eguez, Antonio V. Herrera-Herrera, Carolina Mallola
Summary: This paper presents the outcomes of a microcontextual geoarchaeological study conducted on earthen dwellings from the Early Iron Age village of Cerro de San Vicente. The study employed soil micromorphology, lipid biomarker analysis, XRD, and XRF analyses to investigate various aspects of the dwellings, including construction materials, site formation processes, and daily life practices. The results have shed light on the construction layers, floor use, maintenance, repaving, periods of abandonment and decay, and the presence of lipid biomarkers associated with dwelling functionality. The study significantly contributes to our understanding of ancient construction practices and the utilization of domestic spaces during the Early Iron Age.
JOURNAL OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL SCIENCE
(2024)