New evidence for the presence of reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus) on the Iberian Peninsula in the Pleistocene: an archaeopalaeontological and chronological reassessment

• Published in: Boreas
• Main Authors: Gómez‐Olivencia, Asier, Arceredillo, Diego, Álvarez‐Lao, Diego J., Garate, Diego, San Pedro, Ziortza, Castaños, Pedro, Rios‐Garaizar, Joseba
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2013
• Subjects: Rangifer tarandus
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bor.12037; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fbor.12037; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/bor.12037

Reindeer ( R angifer tarandus ) populations reached the I berian P eninsula during the end of the M iddle P leistocene and there are numerous examples of this species from L ate P leistocene M ousterian and U pper P alaeolithic sites. In this paper, new evidence of reindeer in the east C antabrian region is presented that further supports the timing of this species’ first appearance, and previous assessments are updated. To date, the presence of this species has been identified at 55 sites in the I berian P eninsula, nearly as many as those of mammoth ( M ammuthus primigenius ) and woolly rhinoceros ( C oelodonta antiquitatis ) combined. Most of the sites with presence of reindeer (50) are located in the C antabrian region with a clear increase in the density of sites and remains towards the P yrenees. The remaining five sites with evidence of reindeer are located on the other side of the P yrenees in the NW corner of C atalonia. In contrast, archaeological evidence of reindeer in the form of art (both parietal and portable) is more scarce and scattered. Evidence for the representation of these animals has been found outside the northern fringe of the I berian P eninsula, which could reflect either long‐distance cultural communication or the movement of human groups.