Published in the journal Historial Biology, the study is based on the analysis of animal fossils from Granada's archaeological sites, allowing for advancements in existing interpretations of early European inhabitants and opening new avenues of research.
The core methodology of this work involved examining mortality patterns at the Venta Micena, Barranco León, and Fuente Nueva-3 sites. The findings suggest that the activity of human groups may have altered ecological dynamics during the Lower Pleistocene. The team, led by Darío Herranz from the UGR's Department of Prehistory and Archaeology, includes researchers from Granada, the Complutense University of Madrid, Rovira i Virgili University in Tarragona, and the University of Helsinki.
“"These patterns must be handled with caution, as they may be biased by the complex geological processes that shaped the sites and unevenly affect remains of different ages and species."
The study, part of ProyectORCE-UGR and integrated into the CUATE research group, also evaluates the reliability and limitations of fossil analysis tools. Despite the inherent restrictions of the archaeological record, which only offers a partial view of events occurring over a million years ago, the research opens new perspectives on the complexity of animal behavior and human impact on prehistoric ecosystems.
Mortality patterns observed at Barranco León and Fuente Nueva-3 differ from those at Venta Micena. The authors propose that this disparity could be linked to anthropogenic activity, implying that the arrival of early humans altered ecological scenarios and interspecies interactions. This hypothesis will be a fundamental focus of future multidisciplinary investigations.
At Venta Micena 3 (VM3), the data reinforce the hypothesis that the site was a den for the giant short-faced hyena, although with herbivore mortality profiles distinct from those of modern spotted hyenas. Conversely, the analysis of Venta Micena 4 (VM4) suggests a different scenario of varied activities, possibly linked to canids like wolf ancestors, in what may have been an ancient wetland shore frequented by hippos, mammoths, and other large herbivores, thereby attracting carnivores.
For Barranco León and Fuente Nueva-3, the scarcity of fossil remains necessitates caution in conclusions. At Barranco León, where equids are the most abundant animal family, interpretations for their cause of death include a catastrophic event, the action of a specialized carnivore, or a distortion of the fossil record, with the possible involvement of large felines, hyenas, or even human groups themselves.
