Understanding the exact role that MIS3 abrupt and acute oscillations and the arrival of anatomically modern humans could have had in the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition is essential to unravel the real causes of Neanderthal demise and AMH success. SUBSILIENCE will identify the subsistence strategies adopted by both human species, in response to those climatic changes at key archaeological sites located across southern European peninsulas (see map below).
The behavioural flexibility and resilience of each human species will be assessed by analysing their diet. From the animals consumed, using stable isotopes, local terrestrial climatic and environmental conditions will be accurately reconstructed producing a unique, continuous and properly-dated general environmental framework. Finally, an innovative procedure to estimate prey abundance, ecology and human behaviour, involving the estimation of the ecosystem carrying capacity, will be developed.
This multidisciplinary and novel approach will provide, for the first time, accurate answers to questions concerning 1) which particular subsistence patterns (if any) favoured AMH over Neanderthals while coping with the changing environment and 2) the extent to which climatic oscillations affected Neanderthal extinction.
1. Šalitrena Pecina 2. Tabula Traiana 3. Hadži Prodanova 4. Romualdo 5. Abri Kontija 6. Riparo Mochi 7. Bombrini 8. Grotta La Fabbrica 9. Riparo Tagliente 10. Fumane 11. Riparo del Broion 12. La Viña 13. Covalejos 14. El Castillo 14. La Garma 15. El Mirón 16. El Cuco 17. Axlor 18. Amalda 19. Labeko Koba 20. Aitzibitarte III 21.Isturitz