Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites

Pleistocene deposits often result from multiple and overlapping contributions. Carnivores play a significant role as bone accumulators in archaeological sites, but identifying the specific agent responsible for a particular accumulation can be challenging. Referential studies provide valuable insigh...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Rufà, Anna, Sanz Borràs, Montserrat, Daura Luján, Joan
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión publicada
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/224658
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/224658
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Linx ibèric
Lepòrids
Conreu
Plistocè
Paleolític
Sitges (Catalunya)
Spanish lynx
Leporidae
Crops
Pleistocene
Paleolithic period
Sitges (Catalonia)
id ES_44d7b8cd1bca32a91b7e79cdebfde172
oai_identifier_str oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/224658
network_acronym_str ES
network_name_str España
repository_id_str
spelling Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolitesRufà, AnnaSanz Borràs, MontserratDaura Luján, JoanLinx ibèricLepòridsConreuPlistocèPaleolíticSitges (Catalunya)Spanish lynxLeporidaeCropsPleistocenePaleolithic periodSitges (Catalonia)Pleistocene deposits often result from multiple and overlapping contributions. Carnivores play a significant role as bone accumulators in archaeological sites, but identifying the specific agent responsible for a particular accumulation can be challenging. Referential studies provide valuable insights into bone accumulation patterns, but they are based on modern collections and often fail to account for taphonomic biases associated with site formation processes. Here, we present, for the first time, a taphonomic study focused on fossilised Pleistocene Iberian lynx coprolites within the European context. The assemblage, dated to ca. 33 ky B.P., was recovered from layer III of Cova del Gegant, a site identified as a lynx den likely used for rearing cubs. This study is based on previous research at the site and analyses bone remains consumed by the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), recovered from coprolites, to investigate their role in archaeological contexts. The findings are consistent with other lynx accumulations documented in literature, particularly regarding leporid remains. The anatomical proportions in this assemblage are more balanced than other types of accumulations, with a higher representation of cranial elements. Digestive damage is predominant, affecting most bones, especially at moderate and strong degrees. These results enhance our understanding of archaeological accumulation processes and highlight the role of lynxes as bone accumulators. The archaeological evidence from the site indicates that the Iberian lynx inhabited environments and climates that differ significantly from those currently observed. However, the present study suggests that its diet remained relatively consistent with that of contemporary Iberian populations.Elsevier B.V.2025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersionapplication/pdfhttps://hdl.handle.net/2445/224658Articles publicats en revistes (Història i Arqueologia)reponame:Dipòsit Digital de la UBinstname:Universidad de BarcelonaInglésReproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113086Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2025, vol. 678, p. 113086https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113086cc-by (c) Rufà, Anna et al., 2025http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessoai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/2246582026-05-27T06:46:51Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
title Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
spellingShingle Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
Rufà, Anna
Linx ibèric
Lepòrids
Conreu
Plistocè
Paleolític
Sitges (Catalunya)
Spanish lynx
Leporidae
Crops
Pleistocene
Paleolithic period
Sitges (Catalonia)
title_short Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
title_full Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
title_fullStr Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
title_full_unstemmed Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
title_sort Deciphering the diet of the Iberian lynx: Insights from taphonomic analysis of Pleistocene coprolites
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Rufà, Anna
Sanz Borràs, Montserrat
Daura Luján, Joan
author Rufà, Anna
author_facet Rufà, Anna
Sanz Borràs, Montserrat
Daura Luján, Joan
author_role author
author2 Sanz Borràs, Montserrat
Daura Luján, Joan
author2_role author
author
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Linx ibèric
Lepòrids
Conreu
Plistocè
Paleolític
Sitges (Catalunya)
Spanish lynx
Leporidae
Crops
Pleistocene
Paleolithic period
Sitges (Catalonia)
topic Linx ibèric
Lepòrids
Conreu
Plistocè
Paleolític
Sitges (Catalunya)
Spanish lynx
Leporidae
Crops
Pleistocene
Paleolithic period
Sitges (Catalonia)
description Pleistocene deposits often result from multiple and overlapping contributions. Carnivores play a significant role as bone accumulators in archaeological sites, but identifying the specific agent responsible for a particular accumulation can be challenging. Referential studies provide valuable insights into bone accumulation patterns, but they are based on modern collections and often fail to account for taphonomic biases associated with site formation processes. Here, we present, for the first time, a taphonomic study focused on fossilised Pleistocene Iberian lynx coprolites within the European context. The assemblage, dated to ca. 33 ky B.P., was recovered from layer III of Cova del Gegant, a site identified as a lynx den likely used for rearing cubs. This study is based on previous research at the site and analyses bone remains consumed by the Iberian lynx (Lynx pardinus), recovered from coprolites, to investigate their role in archaeological contexts. The findings are consistent with other lynx accumulations documented in literature, particularly regarding leporid remains. The anatomical proportions in this assemblage are more balanced than other types of accumulations, with a higher representation of cranial elements. Digestive damage is predominant, affecting most bones, especially at moderate and strong degrees. These results enhance our understanding of archaeological accumulation processes and highlight the role of lynxes as bone accumulators. The archaeological evidence from the site indicates that the Iberian lynx inhabited environments and climates that differ significantly from those currently observed. However, the present study suggests that its diet remained relatively consistent with that of contemporary Iberian populations.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion
format article
status_str publishedVersion
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv https://hdl.handle.net/2445/224658
url https://hdl.handle.net/2445/224658
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv Reproducció del document publicat a: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113086
Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology, 2025, vol. 678, p. 113086
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113086
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv cc-by (c) Rufà, Anna et al., 2025
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv cc-by (c) Rufà, Anna et al., 2025
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier B.V.
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Elsevier B.V.
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv Articles publicats en revistes (Història i Arqueologia)
reponame:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
instname:Universidad de Barcelona
instname_str Universidad de Barcelona
reponame_str Dipòsit Digital de la UB
collection Dipòsit Digital de la UB
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
_version_ 1869407121191206912
score 15,811543

Similares en LA Referencia