The Significance of Mammalian Faunas From Paleolithic Occupations in Cantabrian Spain

Abstract

Abstract An analysis of 77 collections of mammalian fauna from Paleolithic occupations in Cantabrian Spain reveals a number of possible trends in the adaptations of prehistoric human groups to past regional ecosystems. Throughout the history of occupation of Cantabria, from the Mousterian through the Solutrean, prehistoric man took a greater number of large game animals from forested biotopes, but probably acquired more total meat from fewer but larger prey taken in open country. Regular exploitation of the alpine zone and of dangerous forest creatures (Sus and felidae) begins only with the Aurignacian, when there is some evidence in the form of nocturnal or burrow-dwelling carnivores that self-acting hunting devices (traps, snares, for example) may have been employed. Lower Magdalenian faunas seem to indicate the specialized and intensive exploitation of a single species (red deer), while in the Azilian there is a return to patterns characteristic of the Mousterian-Solutrean periods. Site location seems to reflect exploitative strategy.