Age of death and seasonality based on ungulate tooth remains from the upper Pleistocene site of Valdegoba (Burgos, Spain)

  1. Arceredillo Alonso, Diego
  2. Díez Fernández-Lomana, Juan Carlos
Revista:
Journal of taphonomy

ISSN: 1696-0815

Año de publicación: 2009

Volumen: 7

Número: 2-3

Páginas: 73-89

Tipo: Artículo

Otras publicaciones en: Journal of taphonomy

Resumen

The small Valdegoba cave has yielded many fossils remains since the first excavations in 1987. Homo neanderthalensis is the most characteristic species in this large assemblage of carnivore, herbivore, microfauna and avifauna fossils. Ungulates are the predominant group, with greater abundance of dental remains than postcraneal bones. A study comparing dental eruption patterns with stages of dental wear in each species shows that age of death can also be determined. The analysis shows that both immatures and young adults are predominant. Cervus elaphus shows a clearly seasonal mortality pattern. On the other hand, Rupicapra rupicapra and Capra pyrenaica shows an annual distribution. This could indicate that C. elaphus accumulation could be anthropic, whereas a variety of agents could be involved in the case of chamois and goat