Tracking late Pleistocene Neandertals on the Iberian coast

Area of Science:

• Paleoanthropology
• Archaeology
• Geology

Background:

• Neandertal presence in the Iberian Peninsula is well-documented.
• Understanding Neandertal social structures and habitat preferences requires detailed fossil evidence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report the discovery of 87 Neandertal footprints in the Doñana shoreline, Spain.
• To analyze the footprints and their paleoenvironment to infer Neandertal behavior and demographics.

Main Methods:

• Morphometric analysis of footprints.
• High-resolution digital photogrammetric 3D modeling.
• Sedimentary analysis of the paleoenvironment.

Main Results:

• Discovery of 87 Neandertal footprints, dating to approximately 106 ± 19 kyr (Upper Pleistocene).
• Footprints exhibit characteristics such as a rounded heel, longitudinal arch, short toes, and adducted hallux.
• Calculated statures range from 104 to 188 cm, indicating a social group with diverse age classes, predominantly non-adults.

Conclusions:

• The findings represent the oldest Upper Pleistocene record of Neandertal footprints globally.
• The coastal location and footprint orientation suggest Neandertals inhabited and utilized littoral ecosystems.
• The diversity in footprint size indicates a social group comprising individuals of various ages.