Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory

Scavenging has been a key topic in human evolution for decades, mainly focused on the 'hunting vs. scavenging' debate and the role of meat in the diet of early hominins. Scavenging is frequently considered a marginal activity by archaeologists; however, recent theoretical developments and...

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Autores: Mateos, Ana, Moleón, Marcos, Palmqvist, Paul, Rosell, Jordi, Sebastián-González, Esther, Margalida, Antoni, Sánchez-Zapata, José A., Arilla, Maite, Balsinde, Jesús
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC)
Repositorio:DIGITAL.CSIC. Repositorio Institucional del CSIC
OAI Identifier:oai:digital.csic.es:10261/405671
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10261/405671
https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105018877796
Access Level:acceso embargado
Palabra clave:Behavioral ecology
Carcass
Carrion ecology
Human evolution
Scavenger
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dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
title Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
spellingShingle Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
Mateos, Ana
Behavioral ecology
Carcass
Carrion ecology
Human evolution
Scavenger
title_short Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
title_full Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
title_fullStr Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
title_full_unstemmed Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
title_sort Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theory
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Mateos, Ana
Moleón, Marcos
Palmqvist, Paul
Rosell, Jordi
Sebastián-González, Esther
Margalida, Antoni
Sánchez-Zapata, José A.
Arilla, Maite
Balsinde, Jesús
author Mateos, Ana
author_facet Mateos, Ana
Moleón, Marcos
Palmqvist, Paul
Rosell, Jordi
Sebastián-González, Esther
Margalida, Antoni
Sánchez-Zapata, José A.
Arilla, Maite
Balsinde, Jesús
author_role author
author2 Moleón, Marcos
Palmqvist, Paul
Rosell, Jordi
Sebastián-González, Esther
Margalida, Antoni
Sánchez-Zapata, José A.
Arilla, Maite
Balsinde, Jesús
author2_role author
author
author
author
author
author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv Agencia Estatal de Investigación (España)
Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)
European Commission
Generalitat de Catalunya
European Research Council
Mateos, Ana [0000-0002-0676-9836]
Moleón, Marcos [0000-0002-3126-619X]
Palmqvist, Paul [0000-0002-6630-6956]
Rosell, Jordi [0000-0002-6758-6291]
Sebastián-González, Esther [0000-0001-7229-1845]
Margalida, Antoni [0000-0002-0576-3993]
Sánchez-Zapata, José Antonio [0000-0001-8230-4953]
Arilla, Maite [0000-0001-5994-678X]
Balsinde, Jesús [0000-0002-2834-0694]
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv Behavioral ecology
Carcass
Carrion ecology
Human evolution
Scavenger
topic Behavioral ecology
Carcass
Carrion ecology
Human evolution
Scavenger
description Scavenging has been a key topic in human evolution for decades, mainly focused on the 'hunting vs. scavenging' debate and the role of meat in the diet of early hominins. Scavenging is frequently considered a marginal activity by archaeologists; however, recent theoretical developments and experimental observations in the field of carrion ecology suggest that this is a misconception that should be addressed. Here, we analyze hominin scavenging in the framework of optimal foraging theory and compare the assumptions made in archaeology and paleoanthropology based on current ecological knowledge. We discuss the constraints and opportunities for hominins as facultative scavengers across ecological contexts, both in Africa and beyond. Hominins exhibited several anatomical, physical, and behavioral adaptations that enabled them to detect carcasses from a long distance, reach them relatively quickly, confront other scavengers, if necessary, and process the carcass to obtain food. Carrion should be considered a high-quality resource that is ubiquitous and more predictable than previously assumed. Particularly relevant is the abundant carrion from sources other than predation, especially from megaherbivores. Moreover, hominins likely benefited from carrion partitioning strategies and interspecific facilitation-especially with vultures-which have traditionally been overlooked in archaeological and paleoanthropological research. Thus, we propose that carrion was a valuable resource exploited by all hominin species and populations to varying degrees, especially during periods of food shortage in seasonal environments. We conclude that the 'hunting vs scavenging' dichotomy is no longer supported as hominins are omnivorous, exploiting animal food through hunting or scavenging depending on environmental conditions and their technological and cognitive capacities.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
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spelling Revisiting hominin scavenging through the lens of optimal foraging theoryMateos, AnaMoleón, MarcosPalmqvist, PaulRosell, JordiSebastián-González, EstherMargalida, AntoniSánchez-Zapata, José A.Arilla, MaiteBalsinde, JesúsBehavioral ecologyCarcassCarrion ecologyHuman evolutionScavengerScavenging has been a key topic in human evolution for decades, mainly focused on the 'hunting vs. scavenging' debate and the role of meat in the diet of early hominins. Scavenging is frequently considered a marginal activity by archaeologists; however, recent theoretical developments and experimental observations in the field of carrion ecology suggest that this is a misconception that should be addressed. Here, we analyze hominin scavenging in the framework of optimal foraging theory and compare the assumptions made in archaeology and paleoanthropology based on current ecological knowledge. We discuss the constraints and opportunities for hominins as facultative scavengers across ecological contexts, both in Africa and beyond. Hominins exhibited several anatomical, physical, and behavioral adaptations that enabled them to detect carcasses from a long distance, reach them relatively quickly, confront other scavengers, if necessary, and process the carcass to obtain food. Carrion should be considered a high-quality resource that is ubiquitous and more predictable than previously assumed. Particularly relevant is the abundant carrion from sources other than predation, especially from megaherbivores. Moreover, hominins likely benefited from carrion partitioning strategies and interspecific facilitation-especially with vultures-which have traditionally been overlooked in archaeological and paleoanthropological research. Thus, we propose that carrion was a valuable resource exploited by all hominin species and populations to varying degrees, especially during periods of food shortage in seasonal environments. We conclude that the 'hunting vs scavenging' dichotomy is no longer supported as hominins are omnivorous, exploiting animal food through hunting or scavenging depending on environmental conditions and their technological and cognitive capacities.The manuscript summarizes the discussions and conclusions of the Workshop ‘Carrion Ecology rEvolution,’ held at CENIEH (Burgos, Spain) in April 2024, focused on Carrion Ecology in past and present ecosystems. Carmen Cañizares (@canitanatura) drew Figure 1, and Alejandra García Crespo drew Figure 2, Figure 3. This research was supported by TROPHIc Project (Grant I + D + I PID2019-105101GB-I00 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033) (A.M. and J.R.); Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and EU ERDF funds through project PID2021-128952NB-I00 (M.M.); project PID2019-111185GB-I00 (P.P.); project PID 2022-138590NB-C41 funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033/FEDER, EU; and the projects 2021-SGR-01237 and CLT009/22/000045 funded by the Generalitat de Catalunya (M.A. and J.R.); grants RYC2019-027216-I and CNS2023-144791 funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and by ESF Investing in your future (E.S.-G.); project PID2022-142328OB-I00 (A.M.); project PID2023-146371NB-I00, funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 y por FEDER, EU (J.A.S.-Z.). J.R. is beneficiary of an ERC-AdG funded by the European Union (ERC, SCAVENGERS, 101097511). Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Council Executive Agency.Peer reviewedElsevierAgencia Estatal de Investigación (España)Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades (España)European CommissionGeneralitat de CatalunyaEuropean Research CouncilMateos, Ana [0000-0002-0676-9836]Moleón, Marcos [0000-0002-3126-619X]Palmqvist, Paul [0000-0002-6630-6956]Rosell, Jordi [0000-0002-6758-6291]Sebastián-González, Esther [0000-0001-7229-1845]Margalida, Antoni [0000-0002-0576-3993]Sánchez-Zapata, José Antonio [0000-0001-8230-4953]Arilla, Maite [0000-0001-5994-678X]Balsinde, Jesús [0000-0002-2834-0694]Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas [https://ror.org/02gfc7t72]202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcPostprintinfo:eu-repo/semantics/acceptedVersionapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10261/405671https://api.elsevier.com/content/abstract/scopus_id/105018877796reponame:DIGITAL.CSIC. 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