RT Journal Article
T1 Expanding the Faunal Interpretation of the Cova Eirós (NW Iberia) Middle Paleolithic–Early Upper Paleolithic Record With ZooMS
A1 Díaz Rodríguez, Mikel
A1 Bal García, Hugo
A1 Díaz Rodríguez, Mikel
A1 Ibáñez Encinas, Álvaro
A1 Lombera Hermida, Arturo
A1 Mosquera Castro, Tania
A1 Fábregas Valcarce, Ramón
K1 Aurignacian
K1 Cova Eirós
K1 Iberian Peninsula
K1 Mousterian
K1 Paleoproteomics
K1 Zooarchaeology
AB The Cova Eirós archaeopaleontological site preserves the most comprehensive archaeostratigraphic sequence in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, with an exceptionally rich record spanning from the Mousterian to the Upper Paleolithic. The extensive fragmentation of the faunal record and the rich taxonomic diversity at this site have limited the identifiability of the remains and led to an overrepresentation of the main taxa (Ursus spelaeus and Cervus elaphus). To refine our understanding of the site's faunal composition and to explore the subsistence strategies of both Neanderthal and Anatomically Modern Human (AMH) groups, we compared the results of traditional morphological analyses with those obtained through the application of Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to the indeterminate fraction of the assemblage. While overall congruent with morphological identifications, the ZooMS data reveal two significant trends: firstly, a marked decrease in the relative abundance of Ursus spelaeus, previously overrepresented due to the prevalence of deciduous teeth; and secondly, an increased representation of large ungulates compared to that identified through conventional methods. The inclusion of specimens showing clear evidence of anthropogenic modification reduces the apparent dominance of C. elaphus, suggesting a more diversified subsistence strategy. The integration of paleoproteomic and morphological approaches thus provides a more nuanced reconstruction of the paleoenvironment and dietary patterns of the hunter-gatherer groups occupying the Eastern Mountains of Galicia during the middle to late phases of MIS 3.
PB Wiley
SN 1047-482X
YR 2026
FD 2026-04-08
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/47327
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/47327
LA eng
NO Bal-García, H., Brown, S., Rey-Rodríguez, I., Díaz-Rodríguez, M., Fernández-Rodríguez, C., Ibáñez-Encinas, Á., de Lombera-Hermida, A., Mosquera-Castro, T., Rodríguez-Álvarez, X., & Fábregas-Valcarce, R. (2026). Expanding the Faunal Interpretation of the Cova Eirós (NW Iberia) Middle Paleolithic–Early Upper Paleolithic Record With ZooMS. International Journal of Osteoarchaeology. https://doi.org/10.1002/OA.70107
NO H. B. G. was supported by the grant Ayudas para contratos predoctorales para la formación de doctores (PRE-2020-095452) funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ESF Investing in your future”. I. R. R. is supported by the Axudas de apoio á etapa de formación posdoutoral grant (ED481B-2023-040), from the Consellería de Cultura, Educación, Formación Profesional e Universidades, Xunta de Galicia. T. M. C. is supported by Axudas de apoio á etapa predoutoral (ED481A 2022/325), from the Xunta de Galicia (Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Universidade). The archaeological research at Cova Eirós has been funded by MCINN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe” (PID2019-107480GB-I00 and PID2022-142337NB-I00) and the Consellería de Cultura da Xunta de Galicia (2015-2024). This paper contributes to the project PID2022-142337NB-I00 funded by MCINN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”.
NO This work was supported by Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades PID2019-107480GB-I00, PID2022-142337NB-I00; Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación PRE-2020-095452; Consellería de Cultura, Educación e Ordenación Universitaria, Xunta de Galicia ED481B-2023-040, ED481A-2022-325.
DS Minerva
RD 23 may 2026