Morphological, Isotopic and Proteomic Study of the Pleistocene and Holocene Fauna of Cova Dos Santos (Abadín, Lugo, NW Spain)
[Abstract] Cova dos Santos is a karstic cavity in Abadín (Lugo), in a hitherto unexplored area that may have been the natural route between the well-known Quaternary faunas of the Cantabrian Mountain Range and those located further south in Galicia, such as in the Serra do Courel. The surface survey...
| Published in: | Spanish Journal of Palaeontology |
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| Main Authors: | , , , |
| Format: | Article in Journal/Newspaper |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Sociedad Española de Paleontología
2021
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/2183/30556 https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.36.2.21870 |
| Summary: | [Abstract] Cova dos Santos is a karstic cavity in Abadín (Lugo), in a hitherto unexplored area that may have been the natural route between the well-known Quaternary faunas of the Cantabrian Mountain Range and those located further south in Galicia, such as in the Serra do Courel. The surface surveys carried out during the topographic layout revealed the presence of deposits of bone remains, usually extremely fragmented, of medium and large vertebrates. Due to the nature of these remains, different molecular techniques (ZooMS, stable isotopes), radiocarbon dating, and morphological and metric analysis were used to characterise the remains present at the site. Combining these methods, it has been possible to identify different taxa such as Ursus speleaeus, Ursus arctos, Panthera pardus, Cervus elaphus, Rhinocerotidae, and to confirm the occupation of this cave since at least 43000 years ago calBP. The presence of domestic species, such as Ovis aries, Equus sp. and Gallus gallus, also shows the use of this cave in more recent times. [Resumen] Cova dos Santos es una cavidad kárstica en Abadín (Lugo), en una zona hasta ahora inexplorada que podría haber sido la ruta natural entre las conocidas faunas cuaternarias de la cordillera Cantábrica y las situadas más al sur de Galicia, como en la Serra do Courel. La prospección de superficie realizada durante los trabajos de trazado topográfico reveló la presencia de depósitos de restos óseos, generalmente muy fragmentados, pertenecientes a vertebrados de mediano y gran tamaño. Debido al carácter de estos restos, se emplearon distintas técnicas moleculares (ZooMS, isótopos estables), dataciones por radiocarbono, y análisis morfológico y métrico para poder caracterizar los restos presentes en el yacimiento. Combinando estos métodos, se han podido identificar distintos taxones como Ursus speleaeus, Ursus arctos, Panthera pardus, Cervus elaphus, Rhinocerotidae, y constatar la ocupación de esta cueva desde hace al menos 43.000 años calBP. La presencia de especies domésticas, como Ovis aries, Equus sp. o Gallus gallus, también pone de manifiesto el uso de esta cavidad en épocas más recientes. This research was supported by financial assistance from the Sociedad Española de Paleontología ID AJISEP-2019-07121 and funds from the Instituto Universitario de Xeoloxía of the UDC. A. García-Vázquez is supported by a postdoctoral ICUB Fellowship for Young Researchers of the University of Bucharest Sociedad Española de Paleontología; AJISEP-2019-07121 |
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