Herve Bocherens | Eberhard Karls Universität Tübingen (original) (raw)

Papers by Herve Bocherens

Social inequality before farming? Multidisciplinary approaches to the study of social organization in prehistoric and ethnographic hunter-gatherer-fisher societies Edited by Luc Moreau, 2020

The dog is the only domesticated species that dates from before the origin of agriculture when hu... more The dog is the only domesticated species that dates from
before the origin of agriculture when human populations
were living as hunter-gatherers (e.g. Germonpré
et al. 2009, 2015, 2018; Thalmann et al. 2013; Freedman
and Wayne 2017). Morphological and genetic analyses
have shown that dogs descent from an extinct Eurasian
Pleistocene wolf population or possibly several populations
(e.g. Germonpré et al. 2009; Thalmann et al. 2013;
Skoglund et al. 2015; Frantz et al. 2016). Although the
dogs’ ancestor is now known, many questions remain,
such as how the first dogs could have participated in
the daily life of their owners (Losey et al. 2018).
In this contribution, we first summarize two
models on the origin of the dog; then we detail two
canid morphotypes from the Upper Palaeolithic; next,
we look to the Upper Palaeolithic sites that have evidence
for the presence of incipient dogs. After that, we
review ethnographic sources for dog-related practices
among Northern societies and whether and how these
could enhance differential access to resources and
influence social status distinctions. Subsequently, we
discuss what could have been the roles of early dogs
in some Upper Palaeolithic societies. Finally, we propose
a tentatively narrative on how the contributions
of Palaeolithic dogs could have affected differential
wealth and influenced social distinction among past
men and women.

Cat remains from Poland dated to 4,200 to 2,300 y BCE are currently the earliest evidence for the... more Cat remains from Poland dated to 4,200 to 2,300 y BCE are currently the earliest evidence for the migration of the Near Eastern cat (NE cat), the ancestor of domestic cats, into Central Europe. This early immigration preceded the known establishment of housecat populations in the region by around 3,000 y. One hypothesis assumed that NE cats followed the migration of early farmers as synan-thropes. In this study, we analyze the stable isotopes in six samples of Late Neolithic NE cat bones and further 34 of the associated fauna, including the European wildcat. We approximate the diet and trophic ecology of Late Neolithic felids in a broad context of contemporary wild and domestic animals and humans. In addition, we compared the ecology of Late Neolithic NE cats with the earliest domestic cats known from the territory of Poland, dating to the Roman Period. Our results reveal that human agricultural activity during the Late Neolithic had already impacted the isotopic signature of rodents in the ecosystem. These synanthropic pests constituted a significant proportion of the NE cat's diet. Our interpretation is that Late Neolithic NE cats were opportunistic synan-thropes, most probably free-living individuals (i.e., not directly relying on a human food supply). We explore niche partitioning between studied NE cats and the contemporary native European wildcats. We find only minor differences between the isotopic ecology of both these taxa. We conclude that, after the appearance of the NE cat, both felid taxa shared the ecological niches. wildcat | synanthropic species | stable isotopes | paleoecology | trophic niche

Heavy reliance on plants is rare in carnivora and mostly limited to relatively small species in s... more Heavy reliance on plants is rare in carnivora and mostly limited to relatively small species in subtropical settings. The feeding behaviors of extinct cave bears living during Pleistocene cold periods at middle latitudes have been intensely studied using various approaches including isotopic analyses of fossil collagen. In contrast to cave bears from all other regions in Europe, some individuals from Romania show exceptionally high δ 15 n values that might be indicative of meat consumption. Herbivory on plants with high δ 15 N values cannot be ruled out based on this method, however. Here we apply an approach using the δ 15 N values of individual amino acids from collagen that offsets the baseline δ 15 n variation among environments. the analysis yielded strong signals of reliance on plants for Romanian cave bears based on the δ 15 n values of glutamate and phenylalanine. these results could suggest that the high variability in bulk collagen δ 15 N values observed among cave bears in Romania reflects niche partitioning but in a general trophic context of herbivory. Bears represent the largest terrestrial members within the Carnivora alive today and the vast majority of them have carnivorous or omnivorous feeding habits. Until around 25,000 years ago, the coldest period in the Pleistocene, additional, now extinct bear species were living 1-4 , among which the so-called cave bears, a very large type of bear that formed the sister lineage of extant brown bears and polar bears (e.g., ref. 5). The paradox of the cave bear is that their diet has been said to be herbivorous despite their large body sizes while extant herbivorous Carnivora species are smaller 6,7. After their divergence from the brown bear lineage 1.2-1.6 million years ago, cave bear populations showed substantial morphological and genetic variability and multiple forms have been recognized 8 , although their taxonomic status and the relationships among them continue to be debated 9. The possible causes of the extinction of these bears are also intensively debated, involving climate change, human impacts, and (lack of) flexibility in feeding behavior 10-15. Understanding cave bear feeding behavior is therefore important as it might give insights into the extinction of this species, and also it could be relevant for the conservation of extant, herbivorous carnivoran species that are under threat of extinction (e.g., binturong, red panda, giant panda 16,17). More recent studies have shown mixed results based on different lines of evidence including anatomical properties like craniodental morphologies, tooth wear analyses, mortality patterns (e.g., sex ratio), etc. wherein the conclusions were highly context dependent and differed by sample-sets 18-23. This is also the case for stable carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses (δ 13 C and δ 15 N) on collagen extracted from bone/teeth 24-31. Relatively low δ 15 N values of most of these bears so far indicate their highly-plant-dependent feeding habits with possible exceptions for some groups in today's Romania that exhibited relatively high δ 15 N values 30,32,33. The δ 15 N value of bulk bone/

PLOS ONE, 2020

Levänluhta is a unique archaeological site with the remains of nearly a hundred Iron Age individu... more Levänluhta is a unique archaeological site with the remains of nearly a hundred Iron Age individuals found from a water burial in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The strongest climatic downturn of the Common Era, resembling the great Fimbulvinter in Norse mythology, hit these people during the 6 th century AD. This study establishes chronological, dietary, and livelihood synthesis on this population based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic and radiocarbon analyses on human remains, supported by multidisciplinary evidence. Extraordinarily broad stable isotopic distribution is observed, indicating three subgroups with distinct dietary habits spanning four centuries. This emphasizes the versatile livelihoods practiced at this boundary of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. While the impact of the prolonged cold darkness of the 6 th century was devastating for European communities relying on cultivation, the broad range of livelihoods provided resilience for the Levänluhta people to overcome the abrupt climatic decline.

PlosOne, 2020

Levä nluhta is a unique archaeological site with the remains of nearly a hundred Iron Age individ... more Levä nluhta is a unique archaeological site with the remains of nearly a hundred Iron Age individuals found from a water burial in Ostrobothnia, Finland. The strongest climatic downturn of the Common Era, resembling the great Fimbulvinter in Norse mythology, hit these people during the 6 th century AD. This study establishes chronological, dietary, and livelihood synthesis on this population based on stable carbon and nitrogen isotopic and radiocarbon analyses on human remains, supported by multidisciplinary evidence. Extraordinarily broad stable isotopic distribution is observed, indicating three subgroups with distinct dietary habits spanning four centuries. This emphasizes the versatile livelihoods practiced at this boundary of marine, freshwater, and terrestrial ecosystems. While the impact of the prolonged cold darkness of the 6 th century was devastating for European communities relying on cultivation, the broad range of livelihoods provided resilience for the Levä nluhta people to overcome the abrupt climatic decline.

Scientific Reports, 2019

The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is one of the Late Pleistocene megafauna species that faced extinc... more The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is one of the Late Pleistocene megafauna species that faced extinction at the end of the last ice age. Although it is represented by one of the largest fossil records in Europe and has been subject to several interdisciplinary studies including palaeogenetic research, its fate remains highly controversial. Here, we used a combination of hybridisation capture and next generation sequencing to reconstruct 59 new complete cave bear mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA) from 14 sites in Western, Central and Eastern Europe. In a Bayesian phylogenetic analysis, we compared them to 64 published cave bear mtDNA sequences to reconstruct the population dynamics and phylogeography during the Late Pleistocene. We found five major mitochondrial DNA lineages resulting in a noticeably more complex biogeography of the European lineages during the last 50,000 years than previously assumed. Furthermore, our calculated effective female population sizes suggest a drastic cave bear population decline starting around 40,000 years ago at the onset of the Aurignacian, coinciding with the spread of anatomically modern humans in Europe. Thus, our study supports a potential significant human role in the general extinction and local extirpation of the European cave bear and illuminates the fate of this megafauna species.

Plos Biology, 2019

While sequencing ancient DNA (aDNA) from archaeological material is now commonplace, very few att... more While sequencing ancient DNA (aDNA) from archaeological material is now commonplace, very few attempts to sequence ancient transcriptomes have been made, even from typically stable deposition environments such as permafrost. This is presumably due to assumptions that RNA completely degrades relatively quickly, particularly when dealing with autolytic, nuclease-rich mammalian tissues. However, given the recent successes in sequencing ancient RNA (aRNA) from various sources including plants and animals, we suspect that these assumptions may be incorrect or exaggerated. To challenge the underlying dogma, we generated shotgun RNA data from sources that might normally be dismissed for such study. Here, we present aRNA data generated from two historical wolf skins, and perma-frost-preserved liver tissue of a 14,300-year-old Pleistocene canid. Not only is the latter the oldest RNA ever to be sequenced, but it also shows evidence of biologically relevant tissue specificity and close similarity to equivalent data derived from modern-day control tissue. Other hallmarks of RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) data such as exon-exon junction presence and high endogenous ribosomal RNA (rRNA) content confirms our data's authenticity. By performing independent technical library replicates using two high-throughput sequencing platforms, we show not only that aRNA can survive for extended periods in mammalian tissues but also that it has potential for tissue identification. aRNA also has possible further potential, such as identifying in vivo genome activity and adaptation, when sequenced using this technology.

MENGA. Revista de Prehistoria de Andalucía, 8, 2017

The mega-site of Valencina is currently a major focus of interest for the study of Copper Age Ibe... more The mega-site of Valencina is currently a major focus of interest for the study of Copper Age Iberia. Remarkable megalithic monuments such as La Pastora, Montelirio or Structure 10.042-10.049 at PP4-Montelirio are found alongside hundreds of other features, including pits and large-sized ditches, some of which have yielded evidence of exotic material craftsmanship without parallels in Iberian Late Prehistory which also suggests long-distance contacts. Part of the flourishing experienced by Valencina in the 3 rd millennium BC can be explained by its specific geographic location at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, facing a marine gulf surrounded by lands of high agricultural potential. Other reasons, however, must have accounted for Valencina's growth as a mega-site, including particularly demographic and economic ones. In order to better understand the demographic and subsistence patterns of the communities that lived and/or frequented Valencina, we analysed 29 human and 7 faunal samples for δ 18 O and δ 13 C isotope analyses. The sampling strategy followed is based on a combination of bone and dental tissues. In addition an intra-tooth study was also carried out to observe intra-individual seasonal changes. Overall, this evidence contributes to the study of diet and mobility patterns, which can in turn provide insights of the demography and economy of the communities that used this mega-site. Resumen: El mega-sitio de Valencina es actualmente un referente principal en el estudio de la Edad del Cobre en Iberia. Destacados monumentos megalíticos tales como La Pastora, Montelirio o la Estructura 10.042-10.049 del sector PP4-Montelirio aparecen junto a cientos de otras estructuras, incluyendo hoyos y zanjas de gran tamaño, algunos de los cuales han proporcionado evidencias de artesanía de materias primas exóticas sin paralelos en la Prehistoria Reciente ibérica, evidenciando también contactos de larga distancia. Parte del florecimiento de Valencina en el III milenio ANE puede ser explicado por su ubicación geográfica específica, en la desembocadura del río Guadalquivir y frente a un gran golfo marino rodeado de terrenos de alto potencial agrícola. Otras razones, sin embargo, deben explicar el crecimiento de Valencina como un mega-sitio, especialmente aquellas de carácter demográfico y económico. Para conocer mejor las pautas demográficas y subsistenciales de las comunidades que vivieron y/o frecuentaron Valencina, en este estudio hemos analizado 29 individuos humanos y 7 dientes de fauna según los análisis de isótopos estables de δ 18 O y δ 13 C. Se ha seguido una estrategia de muestreo combinada de tejidos óseos y dentales. También hemos seguido una estrategia de análisis intra-individuo basado en múltiples bandas en el diente para poder observar cambios estacionales. En conjunto, estos datos contribuyen al estudio de las pautas de dieta y movilidad, lo cual a su vez proporciona nuevas formas de analizar la demografía y la economía de las comunidades que usaron este mega-sitio.

The southern Iberian megalithic cemeteries of Panoría and El Barranquete offer an excellent oppor... more The southern Iberian megalithic cemeteries of Panoría and El Barranquete offer an excellent opportunity to explore ancient dietary patterns. Due to the special nature of these funerary contexts as palimpsests, a multi-proxy approach including multi-isotopic determination and a high-resolution dating framework was carried out. As a result, 52 samples were isotopically measured, of which 48 were also radiocarbon dated. With this new isotopic series as a basis, three main conclusions can be drawn: (i) the diet was based on C 3 plants and terrestrial animals with no evidence of marine protein consumption; (ii) there is a general tendency for carbon isotope values to increase during the Bronze Age, which is consistent with the intensification of crop farming taking place at the time; and (iii) nitrogen isotope variability is especially remarkable when comparing collective to individual tombs. People buried individually show the highest and the most variable nitrogen ratios in contrast with those buried in collective tombs that show similar nitrogen values over time. These differences support the hypothesis of a conservative megalithic population resisting cultural innovations during the Argaric Bronze Age.

In Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR) fossil remains of the giant ground sloth Eremotherium lau... more In Brazilian Intertropical Region (BIR) fossil remains of the giant ground sloth Eremotherium laurillardi (Lund, 1842) and of the proboscidean Notiomastodon platensis (Ameghino, 1888) are the most abundant among megaherbivores. However, the paleoecology of both species needs to be better understood to enlighten why these species disappear in the end of the Pleistocene, an issue that is still debated. During the last decades, the carbon and oxygen stable isotopes have been increasingly being used to obtain paleoecological information about extinct animals, although this information is in most cases dissociated from chronological data. Thus, the main objective of this study is to contribute to the knowledge about feeding ecology and chronology of E. laurillardi and N. platensis within BIR. For each fossil sample we performed stable isotopes analyses (d 13 C/d 18 O) and radiocarbon dating (14 C with AMS). The results showed that N. platensis occurred between 12,125 and 19,594 cal yr BP and exhibited a grazer diet (d 13 C ¼ À1.1&e1.3&), while E. laurillardi lived between 11,084 and 27,690 cal yr BP, with a mixed feeder diet (C 3 /C 4 plants; values ratio d 13 C ¼ À7.7& to À3.3&). The d 18 O values of N. platensis ranged between 2.20& and 3.60&, while the values of E. laurillardi ranged between À3.10& and À1.10&. Neither species did exhibit differences in its diet through time, which suggests that the vegetational composition of this locality did not vary in the late Pleistocene. Both species were living in an open environment, rich in herbaceous plants (C 4 plants) and with tree and shrub with disjoint distribution, maybe similar to some parts of recent Caatinga, where they have partitioned the spatial and feeding niches.

Scientific Reports, 2019

Correlating cultural, technological and ecological aspects of both Upper Pleistocene modern human... more Correlating cultural, technological and ecological aspects of both Upper Pleistocene modern humans (UPMHs) and Neandertals provides a useful approach for achieving robust predictions about what
makes us human. Here we present ecological information for a period of special relevance in human evolution, the time of replacement of Neandertals by modern humans during the Late Pleistocene in Europe. Using the stable isotopic approach, we shed light on aspects of diet and mobility of the late Neandertals and UPMHs from the cave sites of the Troisième caverne of Goyet and Spy in Belgium. We demonstrate that their diet was essentially similar, relying on the same terrestrial herbivores, whereas mobility strategies indicate considerable differences between Neandertal groups, as well as in comparison to UPMHs. Our results indicate that UPMHs exploited their environment to a greater extent than Neandertals and support the hypothesis that UPMHs had a substantial impact not only on the population dynamics of large mammals but also on the whole structure of the ecosystem since their initial arrival in Europe.

Environmental changes related to forest expansion and later to agricultural development and defor... more Environmental changes related to forest expansion and later to agricultural development and deforestation during the Holocene in Europe have strongly shaped herbivore distribution and habitat selection, leading to species extinction. In this paper, we examine, through dental microwear textural analysis, the foraging habitats, dietary flexibility and niche partitioning of large herbivores (100 to 1000 kg) including two bovids (European bison Bison bonasus and aurochs Bos primigenius) and two cervids (moose Alces alces and red deer Cervus elaphus). The study focuses on northeast (NE) and south central (SC) Europe during three periods of the Holocene: Neolithic (6500–3500 cal yrs BP), Roman Period and Middle Ages (~2000–450 cal yrs BP) and Recent times (1963–2014). Our study highlights differences in diet between species only in the Neolithic SC Europe. This may have resulted from diversified habitats and dietary niche separation in SC Europe. The absence of differences in NE Europe may suggest more homogeneous habitat conditions in combination with lower densities of large herbivores in forested habitats. Analysis shows that during the Neolithic, in the bison diet there was more herbaceous monocotyledons in SC Europe than in NE Europe. We also found temporal changes in microwear texture variables for the bison in SC Europe suggesting a more herbaceous diet in the Neolithic than during the Roman Period and Middle Ages. However, neither spatial nor temporal differences in microwear texture variables were found in the aurochs. Thus, the diet of the European bison has likely changed, which may indicate a greater plasticity that promoted survival in refuge habitats.

We investigated how do environmental and climatic factors, but also management, affect the carbon... more We investigated how do environmental and climatic factors, but also management, affect the carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) stable isotope composition in bone collagen of the two largest contemporary herbivores: European bison (Bison bonasus) and moose (Alces alces) across Europe. We also analysed how different scenarios of population recovery- reintroduction in bison and natural recovery in moose influenced feeding habitats and diet of these two species and compared isotopic signatures of modern populations of bison and moose (living in human-altered landscapes) with those occurring in early Holocene. We found that δ13C of modern bison and moose decreased with increasing forest cover. Decreasing forest cover, increasing mean annual temperature and feeding on farm crops caused an increase in δ15N in bison, while no factor significantly affected δ15N in moose. We showed significant differences in δ13C and δ15N among modern bison populations, in contrast to moose populations. Variation in both isotopes in bison resulted from inter-population differences, while in moose it was mainly an effect of intra-population variation. Almost all modern bison populations differed in δ13C and δ15N from early Holocene bison. Such differences were not observed in moose. It indicates refugee status of European bison. Our results yielded evidence that habitat structure, management and a different history of population recovery have a strong influence on foraging behaviour of large herbivores reflected in stable isotope signatures. Influence of forest structure on carbon isotope signatures of studied herbivores supports the “canopy effect” hypothesis.

The first AMS radiocarbon dates from the Camet Norte fossil site (Buenos Aires Province, Argentin... more The first AMS radiocarbon dates from the Camet Norte fossil site (Buenos Aires Province, Argentina) range from ca. 28,700 cal. BP to 27,500 cal. BP. The age of the site fits well with results of previous studies, but the more precise AMS radiocarbon dating allowed for a better determination of the site chronology, deposition and faunal attribution. It can be argued that the depositional environment of the site was not in proximity to the shoreline at the time of deposition based on palaeocoastline studies and the dates produced by this study.

Palaeogeography-Palaeoclimatology-Palaeoecology

Highlights • The data reveal niche partitioning among species in the Neolithic SC Europe. • No te... more Highlights
• The data reveal niche partitioning among species in the Neolithic SC Europe.
• No temporal differences in the diet of large herbivores in NE Europe were found.
• Diet of bison changed from grazing to mixed feeding throughout the Holocene.
• Diet of aurochs did change neither in time nor with the geographical range.
• Habitat structure and human pressure shaped large herbivore foraging behavior.

Quaternary Research

Higher δ15N values in bone collagen of mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) compared with coeval large... more Higher δ15N values in bone collagen of mammoth (Mammuthus primigenius) compared with coeval large herbivores is a classic trait of the mammoth steppe. An exception applies to the Epigravettian site of Mezhyrich (ca. 18–17.4 ka cal BP) in the central East European plains, where mammoth bones have δ15N values equivalent to or in a lower range than those of horse specimens (Equus sp.). We expanded our preliminary dataset to a larger sampling size of mammoth, other large herbivores, and carnivores from contemporaneous and nearby sites of Buzhanka 2, Eliseevichi, and Yudinovo. The unusual low mammoth δ15N values were confirmed at Buzhanka 2 and for some specimens from Eliseevichi, while most individuals from Yudinovo displayed the expected high δ15N values, meaning similar to those of the large canids. The possibility of a contrast in migration pattern is not supported since the δ34S values, a marker of mobility, do not correlate with the δ15N values of mammoth bone collagen. No clear chronological tendency could be revealed, at least not at the scale of radiocarbon dating. The low range in δ15N values is likely to reflect a change in the specific niche of the mammoth in the southern part of its distribution.

Historical Biology

More than 300 cave bear bones from all over Europe have carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition ... more More than 300 cave bear bones from all over Europe have carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition that match overwhelmingly a diet based on plants, except for samples from two caves in Romania, for which high nitrogen-15 amounts have been interpreted as reflecting an omnivorous diet. This paper aims at deciphering the various factors influencing the carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of a potential omnivorous species like cave bear, those linked to trophic levels and variations among plants and those caused by physiological factors. The comparison of European cave bears with coeval Late Pleistocene large mammals with different diets clearly shows that all the cave bear populations, including those from Romania, present isotopic values overlapping with herbivores, not with carnivores. Therefore omnivory is very unlikely for cave bears. Consumption of plants with high δ15N values, such as graminoids, forbs and possibly fungi, could explain in part the observed isotopic pattern. In addition, the variations in δ15N values through ontogeny support the hypothesis of a different hibernation pattern for the Romanian cave bears with high δ15N values. Future investigations using new isotopic approaches, especially nitrogen isotopic composition of collagen amino acids, should contribute to decipher the paleoecology of these Romanian cave bears.

Social inequality before farming? Multidisciplinary approaches to the study of social organization in prehistoric and ethnographic hunter-gatherer-fisher societies Edited by Luc Moreau, 2020

PLOS ONE, 2020

PlosOne, 2020

Scientific Reports, 2019

Plos Biology, 2019

MENGA. Revista de Prehistoria de Andalucía, 8, 2017

Scientific Reports, 2019

Palaeogeography-Palaeoclimatology-Palaeoecology

Quaternary Research

Historical Biology

Abstract book "Middle Palaeolithic in North.West Europe" Multidisciplinary Approaches

XVII World UISPP Congress 2014, Burgos, 1-7 Sept., volume of abstracts, p.792-793

Paper presented at the International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe (Belgrad, September 2... more Paper presented at the International Conference on the Mesolithic in Europe (Belgrad, September 2015)

Early modern humans consumed more plants than Neanderthals but ate very little fish. Senckenberg ... more Early modern humans consumed more plants than Neanderthals but ate very little fish. Senckenberg scientists have studied the diet of anatomically modern humans. With their recent study, published today in the journal “Scientific Reports,” they were able to refute the theory that the diet of early representatives of Homo sapiens was more flexible than that of Neanderthals.
Just like the Neanderthals, our ancestors had mainly mammoth and plants on their plates – the researchers were unable to document fish as part of their diet. Therefore, the international team assumes that the displacement of the Neanderthals was the result of direct competition.

Tübingen, den 28.07.2017. Senckenberg-Wissenschaftler haben die Ernährung des anatomisch modernen... more Tübingen, den 28.07.2017. Senckenberg-Wissenschaftler
haben die Ernährung des anatomisch modernen Menschen
untersucht. Sie konnten in ihrer heute im Fachjournal
„Scientific Reports“ erschienenen Studie widerlegen, dass
sich der frühe Homo sapiens-Vertreter flexibler ernährte, als
die Neandertaler. Auf den Tellern unserer Vorfahren landeten,
wie bei den Neandertalern, überwiegend Mammutfleisch und
Pflanzen – eine Ernährung mit Fisch konnte nicht
nachgewiesen werden. Das internationale Team vermutet
daher, dass die Verdrängung der Neandertaler durch eine
direkte Konkurrenzsituation erfolgte.

Senckenberg scientists have discovered that the Saiga Antelope, which is currently threatened wit... more Senckenberg scientists have discovered that the Saiga Antelope, which is currently threatened with extinction, used to be much more flexible in its habitat and food choices in the past than previously assumed. Based on carbon and nitrogen isotopes in the collagen from the
antelopes’ bones, the scientists compared the diets of fossil versus modern-day Saiga. In their study, recently published in the scientific journal “Quaternary Science Reviews,” they reached the conclusion that today’s populations are not obligatorily bound to their current habitat. This insight offers new hope for this endangered species.

Saiga-Antilopen waren deutlich flexibler als gedacht. Senckenberg-Wissenschaftler haben herausgef... more Saiga-Antilopen waren deutlich flexibler als gedacht. Senckenberg-Wissenschaftler haben herausgefunden, dass die heute vom Aussterben bedrohte Saiga-Antilope in der Vergangenheit sehr viel flexibler bei der Wahl ihres Lebensraumes und ihrer Nahrung war als bisher vermutet wurde. Die Wissenschaftler verglichen anhand von Kohlenstoff-und Stickstoffisotopen im Kollagen der Antilopenknochen die Ernährung fossiler und heutiger Saigas. In der kürzlich im Fachjournal " Quaternary Science Reviews " erschienenen Studie kommen sie zu dem Schluss, dass aktuelle Populationen nicht zwingend an ihren derzeitigen Lebensraum gebunden sind. Diese Erkenntnis macht neue Hoffnung für die bedrohte Tierart.

Ancient DNA from teeth has revealed fine detail about Neanderthal diets and how they varied from ... more Ancient DNA from teeth has revealed fine detail about Neanderthal diets and how they varied from place to place.
Scientists also found evidence that they used plant-based painkillers to ease their pains.

Analysis paints picture of diets, medicine and possible intimacy with humans

Tübingen, 11/28/2016. Scientists from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenviro... more Tübingen, 11/28/2016. Scientists from the Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment at the University of Tübingen discovered that Neanderthals modified their survival strategies even without external influences, such as environmental or climate changes. Using a new method, the team was able to show by means of carbonate isotopy in fossilized teeth that 250,000 years ago, the ancestors of modern man were more advanced in their development than previously thought. The new results are expected to aid in understanding the development of modern humans. The study was recently published in the scientific journal “Quaternary Science Reviews.”

Tübingen, den 28.11.2016. Wissenschaftler des Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoen... more Tübingen, den 28.11.2016. Wissenschaftler des Senckenberg Center for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment an der Universität Tübingen haben herausgefunden, dass Neandertaler auch ohne äußere Einflüsse, wie Umwelt- oder Klimaveränderungen ihre Überlebensstrategien variierten. Mit einer neuen Methode zeigen sie anhand von Karbonatisotopie an fossilen Zähnen, dass die Vorfahren der heutigen Menschen vor 250.000 Jahren moderner in ihrer Entwicklung waren als bisher gedacht. Die neuen Ergebnisse sollen dabei helfen, die Entwicklung des modernen Menschen zu verstehen. Die Studie wurde kürzlich im Fachjournal „Quaternary Science Reviews“ veröffentlicht.

Un manque de flexibilité en matière d’alimentation aurait conduit à l’extinction du plus grand ou... more Un manque de flexibilité en matière d’alimentation aurait conduit à l’extinction du plus grand ours que la terre ait connu, l’ours des cavernes

Scientists have studied the feeding habits of the extinct Cave Bear. Based on the isotope composi... more Scientists have studied the feeding habits of the extinct Cave Bear. Based on the isotope composition in the collagen of the bears' bones, they were able to show that the large mammals subsisted on a purely vegan diet. The team proposes that it was this inflexible diet that led to the Cave Bear's extinction approximately 25,000 years ago.

Auch in Belgien sind Forscher auf eindeutige Spuren einer Zweitnutzung toter Artgenossen gestoßen... more Auch in Belgien sind Forscher auf eindeutige Spuren einer Zweitnutzung toter Artgenossen gestoßen. Was sich die Neandertaler dabei dachten, lässt sich leider nicht rekonstruieren.

Phylogeny and biogeographic history of early Crocodylia: The aim of this PhD scholarship is to Th... more Phylogeny and biogeographic history of early Crocodylia: The aim of this PhD scholarship is to The aim is to improve phylogenetic resolution and divergence timing through increased sampling of Asian fossils, collecting of new material from the field, review of stratigraphy, CT-scanning, revision of key European and North American taxa, assessment of intraspecific variation and character correlation, and utilization of molecular data using various evolutionary models.

Job announcement for a PhD position on evolutionary ecology of fossil anthropoid primates in Sout... more Job announcement for a PhD position on evolutionary ecology of fossil anthropoid primates in Southeast Asia at the University of Tübingen (Germany) and the University of Poitiers (France)

The world’s best plan to bring back a vanished ice age ecosystem and save the world from a catast... more The world’s best plan to bring back a vanished ice age ecosystem and save the world from a catastrophic global warming feedback loop.

The VII International Conference of Mammoths and Their Relatives will be held in Taichung (Taiwan... more The VII International Conference of Mammoths and Their Relatives will be held in Taichung (Taiwan) from 17-23 September 2017.

Themes for Oral and Poster Presentations are as follows:
1. Phylogeny and Evolution
2. Palaeoecology
3. Human Interactions
4. Extinction
5. New Sites and Fossils
6. New Results from Techniques
7. Archaeological and Anthropological Evidence of Mammoth and Elephant Hunting: Past and Present
8. Advances on Fossil Proboscideans Paleoecology with Stable Isotope Approaches

Deadline of abstract submission is 30th April 2017

Check: http://www.mammothtw2017.org/index.asp

Technician position for Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometry in the Working Group Biogeology at HEP (... more Technician position for Isotopic Ratio Mass Spectrometry in the Working Group Biogeology at HEP (Senckenberg Research Centre Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment), Tübingen, Germany

Looking for a Ph.D. in Evolution and Ecology? Participate in the PhD Fair and Summer school at t... more Looking for a Ph.D. in Evolution and Ecology?
Participate in the PhD Fair and Summer school at the University of Tübingen
Are you currently doing your Masters in Biology or a related field? Are you interested in a PhD in Evolution and Ecology afterwards? Looking for an exciting topic or a host for your own ideas? Do you want to work in a highly inspiring environment? Do you want to come to one of the best places in Germany for Evolution and Ecology?

Register for the PhD fair at the University of Tübingen and take advantage of getting to know a large variety of departments and groups working all in the broad field of Evolution at the University of Tübingen and the Max Planck Institute (MPI) for Developmental Biology. This is your chance to listen to group presentations, visit several participating departments, realize one-to-one interviews with potential supervisors, talk about open positions, grand proposals and other financing possibilities, thus pave the way for a PhD position in the near future!

The fair also includes a course in Statistics (beginners as well as advanced level) and will thus give you the opportunity to collect credits (1 ECTS) for your ongoing studies

Fecha: del 2 al 6 de Marzo de 2015 Docentes: PhD. Hervé Bocherens y Msc. Martin Cotte (University... more Fecha: del 2 al 6 de Marzo de 2015
Docentes: PhD. Hervé Bocherens y Msc. Martin Cotte (University of Tübingen, Alemania)
Lugar: Sede de la APA, Maipu 645 1° Piso, CABA.
Carga horaria: 40 horas. Lunes a Viernes de 9 a 18 horas.
Programa
Monto: Hasta el 31/12/2014: Socios de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina: 600;nosocios:600; no socios: 600;nosocios:800; Después del 31/12/2014: Socios de la Asociación Paleontológica Argentina: 700;nosocios:700; no socios: 700;nosocios:900.
Modalidad: Teórico-práctico con evaluación final.
Cupo: 20 alumnos.
Inscripción al curso: Hasta el 15 de Febrero de 2015
Becas: La APA otorgará dos becas para realizar el curso. Requisitos para aplicar a las becas: ser socio de la APA con una antigüedad de al menos 1 año, la cuota societaria al día y que los postulantes se encuentren haciendo la tesis doctoral. Enviar CV, grado de avance de la tesis (no más de una página) y una breve explicación justificando por qué son relevantes los contenidos del curso para el desarrollo de su tesis.

Are you interested in a Ph.D. in Evolution and Ecology? Looking for an exciting topic or a host f... more Are you interested in a Ph.D. in Evolution and Ecology? Looking for an exciting topic or a host for your own ideas? Do you want to work in a highly inspiring environment? Do you want to come to one of the best places in Germany in evolutionary sciences? Do you have a Masters in Biology or similar sciences or are you about to finish?

Register for the PhD fair at the University of Tübingen and take advantage of getting to know a large variety of departments and groups working all in the broad field of Evolution at the University of Tübingen. The fair also includes a course in Bioinformatics and will give you the opportunity to collect credits for your ongoing studies.

The Late Pleistocene and early Holocene were periods of dynamic environmental and climatic change... more The Late Pleistocene and early Holocene were periods of dynamic environmental and climatic changes, and coincided with the extinction of multiple megafaunal species. Large bovid species play a key role in our understanding of these events in general and the evolutionary history of species of the genus Bison in Holarctic was the subject of numerous research, the results of which are still debated. The morphological studies allowed the identification of several species and subspecies Bison type, but their accuracy is often called into question. History of speciation, distribution and ecology of the genus Bison in Europe is understood fragmentary.

The aims of the project are:

To use ancient DNA to resolve the genetic diversity of Bison taxa in the late Pleistocene and Holocene Europe;
Reconstruct the phylogenetic relationship between different bison species
Use the genetic signatures of bison species to track changes in distribution in relation to environmental and climatic changes;
Investigate changes in ecology amongst the different species through time, and the adaptability of different species to environmental changes

South America was isolated during most of the Tertiary and developed a very particular mammalian ... more South America was isolated during most of the Tertiary and developed a very particular mammalian fauna. In contrast to other continents, the carnivore adaptive zone was filled by crocodiles, large snakes and birds, and metatherian mammals (Sparassodonta). Sparassodonta was diverse during the Tertiary with a broad range of sizes (≈ 2-50 kg). This diversity decreased towards the late Miocene and the group became extinct at the middle Pliocene (≈ 3 Ma). The cause of this decline and extinction may have been immigration of placental Carnivores to South America (≈ 6-7 Ma ago), which putatively competed with the sparassodonts (Ecological Competitive Displacement Hypothesis, ECD). This hypothesis was recently criticized and the Ecological Replacement (ER) hypothesis was proposed, which postulates that newcomers (placental carnivores) filled ecological niches left empty after the extinction of previous occupants (marsupial carnivores) due to other causes, such as environmental changes. This subject is currently being studied using morphometrics, which, however, may be biased by a phylogenetic signal. Here we propose using stable isotopes (13C, 15N, 18O) to complement the study of the evolution of the carnivore guild during the late Cenozoic in Argentina. This purely phenotypic approach will yield direct information on actual ecological changes. Under the ER scenario, environmental changes should lead to changes in the isotopic relationships among fossil taxa, while in the ECD scenario, similar isotopic relationships should be observable between extinct marsupial predators and the placental predators that replace them.

Nouvelles données dans le cadre d’un projet collectif de recherche

The European bison is the last large herbivore species that lived during the early Holocene and h... more The European bison is the last large herbivore species that lived during the early Holocene and has survived in Europe till modern times. The history of bison origins and some of its morphological and behavioral features indicate that bison are grazers which have become evolutionary adapted to open and mixed habitats (mosaic of woodlands and open areas). The aim of this project is to analyze the bison habitat use and diet in Central and Eastern Europe in the Holocene and contemporary populations using stable isotopes.

RESUMENES IX CONGRESO LATINOAMERICANO DE PALEONTOLOGÍA 2016, Sep 20, 2016

IX Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología. 20 al 24 de Septiembre de 2016, Museo de la Nación... more IX Congreso Latinoamericano de Paleontología. 20
al 24 de Septiembre de 2016, Museo de la Nación,
Distrito de San Borja, Ciudad de Lima, Perú.

Etu-Sihvola, H., Bocherens, H., Karme, A., Mannermaa, K., Moilanen, U., Naito, Y.I., Oinonen, M.,... more Etu-Sihvola, H., Bocherens, H., Karme, A., Mannermaa, K., Moilanen, U., Naito, Y.I., Oinonen, M., Salo, K., Suhonen, H., Taavitsainen, J-P., Arppe, L.

The Luistari cemetery in Eura is the most extensively researched Late Iron Age / Early Medieval cemetery in Finland, with over 1300 inhumation graves. The furnished burials date from c. 6th century to 12th century AD and unfurnished presumably even later. Our project called Life Histories in Teeth was launched in 2015 with the aim to develop isotope sampling methods and to produce new multidisciplinary information on the cemetery and the buried individuals. The best preserved human and animal dental and bone remains from 89 graves were selected and were sampled for this study. The human samples will undergo bulk stable isotope analysis (δ13C, δ15N, δ18O, δ34S) and a smaller sample set is further selected for compound specific isotope analysis, and later on, aDNA studies and new AMS-datings will be performed in a related project. In addition to this, µCT scanning, age at death modeling and paleopathological analysis will allow us to have a better understanding of the Luistari people and their diets, origins and life histories in the Late Iron Age Finland. Revised typologies and comparisons of the acquired data to contemporary populations around the Baltic Sea will also contribute to a comprehensive understanding on the contacts between different areas during this time. Archaeothanatological analysis based on the excavation documents and preserved find material will shed light to the burial customs, which include double and multiple burials, and even some deviant cases.

We present the data generated in the context of the latest research projects on the Bronze Age se... more We present the data generated in the context of the latest research projects on the Bronze Age settlement of El Acequión (Albacete). These have been oriented to refine its chronological sequence through new radiocarbon dates and the reconstruction of mobility patterns and nutritional models of individuals buried at the site through stable isotope analyses (13C, δ15N and 87Sr/86Sr, δ18O). They aim at providing a better knowledge on the lifestyles of the inhabitants of La Mancha during the Bronze Age.

In north-eastern France, red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) populations were rebuilt from a few hundred... more In north-eastern France, red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) populations were rebuilt from a few hundred individuals, which have subsisted in remote valleys of the Vosges mountains, and to a lesser extent from individuals escaped from private enclosures; at present times, this species occupies large areas, mainly in the Vosges Mountains. In this study, we examined the population dynamics of red deer in the Vosges Mountains using ancient and contemporary mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from 140 samples (23 ancient + 117 modern) spanning the last 7'000 years. In addition, we reconstructed the feeding habits and the habitat of red deer since the beginning of agriculture applying isotopic analyses in order to establish a basis for current environmental management strategies. We show that past and present red deer in the Vosges Mountains belong to mtDNA haplogroup A, suggesting that they originated from the Iberian refugium after the last glacial maximum (LGM). Palaeogenetic analysis
of ancient bone material revealed the presence of two distinct haplotypes with different temporal distributions. Individuals belonging to the two haplotype groups apparently occupied two different habitats over at least 7'000 years. AM6 correlates with an ecological type that feeds in densely forested mountain landscapes, while AM235 correlates with feeding in lowland landscapes, composed of a mixture of meadows and riverine, herb-rich woodlands. Our results suggest that red deer of north-eastern France was able to adapt, over the long term, to these different habitat types, possibly due to efficient ethological barriers. Modern haplotype patterns support the historical record that red deer has been exposed to strong anthropogenic influences as a major game species.

Menga. Journal of Andalusian Prehistory 8, 53-68., 2017

"The mega-site of Valencina is currently a major focus of interest for the study of Copper Age Ib... more "The mega-site of Valencina is currently a major focus of interest for the study of Copper Age Iberia. Remarkable megalithic monuments such as La Pastora, Montelirio or Structure 10.042-10.049 at PP4-Montelirio are found alongside hundreds of other features, including pits and large-sized ditches, some of which have yielded evidence of exotic material craftsmanship without parallels in Iberian Late Prehistory which also suggests long-distance contacts. Part of the flourishing experienced by Valencina in the 3rd millennium BC can be explained by its specific geographic location at the mouth of the Guadalquivir river, facing a marine gulf surrounded by lands of high agricultural potential. Other reasons, however, must have accounted for Valencina's growth as a mega-site, including particularly demographic and economic ones. In order to better understand the demographic and subsistence patterns of the communities that lived and/or frequented Valencina, we analysed 29 human and 7 faunal samples for δ 18 O and δ 13 C isotope analyses. The sampling strategy followed is based on a combination of bone and dental tissues. In addition an intra-tooth study was also carried out to observe intra-individual seasonal changes. Overall, this evidence contributes to the study of diet and mobility patterns, which can in turn provide insights of the demography and economy of the communities that used this mega-site. "

SOCIAL INEQUALITY BEFORE FARMING

The dog is the oldest domesticated species and the only animal that was domesticated during the P... more The dog is the oldest domesticated species and the only animal that was domesticated during the Pleistocene - before the emergence of agriculture - when human populations were living as hunter-gatherers. Today, owned dogs can assist their owners in various ways. They can function as watchdog, facilitate transport as beasts of burden, aid in hunting, play a ritual role or provide company. In some cultures, they are consumed and their skin or hair can be used for the tailoring of cloths. We have shown previously that in several Upper Palaeolithic sites two morphotypes of fossil large canids can be distinguished: Palaeolithic dogs and Pleistocene wolves. The remains of Palaeolithic dogs occur in certain early and mid Upper Palaeolithic sites located above 45° latitude; their geographic distribution in post-Last Glacial Maximum sites is more widespread. We adapt here a table proposed by Sigaut (1980) and compare canid products and roles, from living and dead animals, that could have been of possible use in Upper Palaeolithic societies. These roles and products are based on data from the ethnographic literature and confronted with the possible registration of uses in the archaeological record. It is in a framework of an animated worldview of Upper Palaeolithic peoples drawn upon a range of archaeozoological, archaeological, and ethnographic data that we review whether some of these uses and products could have led to differential access to resources and could possibly have enhanced inequality among Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers.

Grey wolves (Canis lupus) are one of the few large terrestrial carnivores that maintained a wide ... more Grey wolves (Canis lupus) are one of the few large terrestrial carnivores that maintained a wide geographic distribution across the Northern Hemisphere throughout the Pleistocene and Holocene. Recent genetic studies have suggested that, despite this continuous presence, major demographic changes occurred in wolf populations between the late Pleistocene and early Holocene, and that extant wolves trace their ancestry to a single late Pleistocene population. Both the geographic origin of this ancestral population and how it became widespread remain a mystery. Here we analyzed a large dataset of novel modern and ancient mitochondrial wolf genomes, spanning the last 50,000 years, using a spatially and temporally explicit modeling framework to show that contemporary wolf populations across the globe trace their ancestry to an expansion from Beringia at the end of the Last Glacial Maximum - a process most likely driven by the significant ecological changes that occurred across the Northern Hemisphere during this period. This study provides direct ancient genetic evidence that long-range migration has played an important role in the population history of a large carnivore and provides an insight into how wolves survived the wave of megafaunal extinctions at the end of the last glaciation. Moreover, because late Pleistocene grey wolves were the likely source from which all modern dogs trace their origins, the demographic history described in this study has fundamental implications for understanding the geographical origin of the dog.

Hybrid Communities. Biosocial Approaches to Domestication and Other Trans-species Relationships, 2018

The dog is the only species that was domesticated before the origin of agriculture, when human po... more The dog is the only species that was domesticated before the origin of agriculture, when human populations were living as hunter-gatherers. Two main scenarios explain the early domestication of the wolf. They can be summarized as follows.The self-domestication model considers that fossil wolves were attracted to prehistoric garbage dumps at human settlements. Some wolves adapted to the human niche, resulting in a commensal relationship. Gradually, the first primitive dogs emerged from this group. The human-initiative model proposes that Upper Palaeolithic peoples adopted wolf pups and let the most docile ones mate. After several generations of selection for docile behaviour, primitive dogs ensued. We offer critique on the self-domestication model and are supportive for the human-initiative model. We think that Upper Palaeolithic humans brought wolves to their campsites in many regions of northern Eurasia. The selection for friendly behaviour among the captive canids that led to the development of a reciprocal relationship could have been repeated several times. We propose that the adoption of wolf pups to obtain access to their products (e.g. company, fur, meat/brain for ritual consumption) could have been a first stepping stone on the path to the domestication of the wolf. The early beginnings of this process can be situated in the framework of an animated worldview of some Upper Palaeolithic societies.