Spatial palaeoecology of large-herbivore hominin prey-species at Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, Lower Saxony, Germany

Multi-isotope analysis of sequentially-sampled tooth enamel from Rangifer tarandus and Equus sp

Bibliographic Data

ID11764525
AuthorsPhoebe Heddell-Stevens (0000-0001-5840-2553, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History, corresponding author), Sarah Barakat (0000-0001-7301-3847, University of Aberdeen), Andreas Pastoors (0000-0003-3382-4324, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg), Mary Lucas (0000-0002-6394-0345, Vitensenteret i Trondheim), Erin M Scott (0000-0002-9702-7298, Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History), P Le Roux (0000-0002-5930-4995, University of Cape Town), Patrick Roberts (0000-0002-4403-7548, University of Cologne)
Year2024
Volume3
Publication date2024-12-24
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueFrontiers in Environmental Archaeology (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2813-432X • E-ISSN: 2813-432X
PublisherFrontiers Media (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3389/fearc.2024.1458040
OpenAlexW4405760434
LanguageEN
References cited109

The application of high-resolution methods to reconstruct the ecology and behavior of large-herbivores within Late Pleistocene contexts in Europe has revealed increasing evidence for variability in diet, habitat preference, ranges and mobility patterns through time and space. This data has major implications for interpretations of hominin subsistence strategies in terms of prey-species selection, which rest to a large extent, on the spatial ecology of these animals and their resulting availability in the environment. To this end, multi-isotope analysis of faunal remains from archaeological sites has been shown to provide direct information in herbivore movements and ranges that move beyond assumptions of consistency in animal behavior through time. The Middle Paleolithic site of Salzgitter-Lebenstedt, Northern Germany, has been put forward as a prime example of specialized hunting of a single taxon – reindeer – by Neanderthals. However, questions remain around the number and season of hunting events. Here we employ strontium ( 87 Sr/ 86 Sr) isotope analysis in combination with stable oxygen (δ 18 O) and carbon (δ 13 C) isotope analysis of sequentially-sampled tooth enamel from reindeer ( Rangifer tarandus ) and horse ( Equus sp.) to reconstruct the sub-annual dietary and ranging behaviors of these prey-species at Salzgitter. We find that reindeer exhibit parallel seasonal shifts in diet and likely experienced similar environmental conditions. While the majority of the reindeer display the potential for long-distance climate-induced migrations, mobility patterns and seasonal ranges appear to have differed between individuals. This may be indicative of behavioral flexibility, particularly in migratory behavior of reindeer, during this period in Northern Germany. Horses analyzed here likely consumed a graze-based diet year-round, while potentially undertaking more residential movements on a seasonal basis. We briefly discuss potential implications of these findings on Neanderthal hunting strategies at the site. Finally, we discuss the challenges to the application of 87 Sr/ 86 Sr as a provenancing tool in Central Europe, and the importance of multi-isotope approaches and development of additional spatial proxies

Biology · Carnivore · Equus · Geography · Habitat · Herbivore · Isotope analysis · Paleoecology · Pleistocene · Predation · Taxon · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Isotope Analysis in Ecology · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology · Ecology · Paleontology