AUTHOR=Westbury Eboni , Samper Carro Sofía , Vega Bolivar Susana , Pizarro Jezabel , Martínez-Moreno Jorge , Mora Rafael TITLE=Neanderthal resilience and adaptability: insights from the Abric Pizarro faunal assemblage during the MIS 4 JOURNAL=Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology VOLUME=3 YEAR=2024 URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/environmental-archaeology/articles/10.3389/fearc.2024.1405535 DOI=10.3389/fearc.2024.1405535 ISSN=2813-432X ABSTRACT=

The examination of faunal assemblages through zooarchaeological analyses constitutes a fundamental approach for gaining insight into the intricate behaviours of Neanderthals. Previous investigations have primarily focused on periods of relative environmental stability, and this has provided a wealth of relevant archaeological data. However, our understanding of Neanderthal resilience during the MIS 4, a period presumably characterised by harsh environmental conditions, remains limited. This study presents the first comprehensive analysis of the faunal assemblages from Levels M and P at Abric Pizarro. The geographic location of Abric Pizarro in the southeast Pre-Pyrenees, combined with chronometric dating, offers a unique opportunity to explore Neanderthal behaviours during a poorly known chronological period. The detailed zooarchaeological analysis comprised taxonomic identification, taphonomic analysis and age-at-death profiling to explore the adaptability and flexibility in the Neanderthal diet. The findings indicate that Neanderthal groups incorporated a diverse range of protein resources from small herbivores (e.g., caprids) to very large herbivores (e.g., Bos/Bison). These results not only demonstrate an adaptability to changing environments in an area traditionally deemed unsuitable for long-term occupation, but also contributes significantly to our understanding of the complex behaviours exhibited by Neanderthals.