Were bears or lions involved in salmon accumulation in the Middle Palaeolithic of the Caucasus? An isotopic investigation in Kudaro 3 cave

Link to Full Text

Download Full Text

Publication Date

August 2014

Abstract

Bone fragments of large anadromous salmon in the Middle Palaeolithic archaeological layers of Kudaro 3 cave (Caucasus) suggested fish consumption by archaic Hominins, such as Neandertals. However, large carnivores such as Asiatic cave bears (Ursus kudarensis) and cave lions (Panthera spelaea) were also found in the cave and could have been responsible for such an accumulation. The diet of these carnivores was evaluated using carbon, nitrogen and sulphur isotopes in faunal bone collagen. The results suggest that anadromous fish were neither part of the diet of either cave bear (vegetarian) or cave lion (predators of herbivores from arid areas) and therefore provide indirect support to the idea that Middle Palaeolithic Hominins, probably Neandertals, were able to consume fish when it was available.

Keywords

Bears, Lions, Salmon Accumulaiton, Middle Paleolithic, Isotopic Investigation, Kudaro 3 Cave

Document Type

Article

Notes

Quaternary International, Vol. 399-340 (2014-08-07).

Identifier

SFS0072245_00001

Link to Full Text

Share

 
COinS