Subsistence of early anatomically modern humans in Europe as evidenced in the Protoaurignacian occupations of Fumane Cave, Italy

Sep 14, 2023

Scientific Reports volume 13, Article number: 3788 (2023) Cite this article

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Documenting the subsistence strategies developed by early modern humans is relevant for understanding the success of their dispersal throughout Eurasia. Today, we know that there was not a single colonization event and that the process was progressive while coping with the MIS3 abrupt climatic oscillations. Modern humans expanded into the continent by adapting to different topographic situations and by exploiting resources in diverse ecological niches. The northern part of Italy is one of the first European regions where early modern humans are documented. Here, we present the subsistence regimen adopted by the Protoaurignacian groups in two different levels in Fumane Cave based on archaeozoological data. New radiocarbon dates confirm an overlap between Uluzzian and Protoaurignacian occupations, around 42 and 41,000 cal BP, and reveal that modern humans occupied the cave from GI10 to GS9, the last level coinciding with the Heinrich Event 4. The data indicate seasonal site occupations during late spring/summer and that prey exploitation was focused mostly on ibex and chamois, killed in nearby areas. The whole faunal assemblage suggests the presence of early modern humans in a cold environment with mostly open landscapes and patchy woodlands. The estimation of net primary productivity (NPP) in Fumane, compared with other contemporaneous Italian sites, reflects how the NPP fluctuations in the Prealpine area, where Fumane is located, affected the biotic resources in contrast to known Mediterranean sites. From a pan-European perspective, the spatiotemporal fluctuation of the NPP versus the subsistence strategies adopted by Protoaurignacian groups in the continent supports rapid Homo sapiens dispersal and resilience in a mosaic of environments that were affected by significant climate changes.

Recent studies about the dispersal of Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH) across Western Eurasia reformulate prevailing ideas, especially those based on their chronological expansion and arrival in different continental areas and how colonization was influenced or motivated by the climate and broader environmental conditions that AMH had to face1,2,3. Current evidence of human remains found in Grotte Mandrin in France may attest to a much earlier presence of H. sapiens in SW Europe between 56.8 and 51.7 ka cal BP4, followed by Bacho Kiro in Bulgaria5,6, Grotta del Cavallo, Riparo Bombrini and Grotta di Fumane in Italy7,8 between ~ 45 to 41 ka cal BP. This combined cultural and biological process ultimately resulted in the gradual replacement of the late Neanderthal populations of the entire continent8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,18. During the earliest Upper Palaeolithic, the AMH populations, coming from the Levant, progressively settled in the various areas of the continent following both the Mediterranean and Centro-European routes13. This process is characterized by the appearance of new cultural traits, such as symbolic material including artworks and personal ornaments19,20,21,22,23,24, bone and antler technology25,26,27,28,29, found across a variety of cultural technocomplexes such as the Uluzzian, Neronian, Bachokirian, Bohunician, LJR, Early Ahmarian/Kozarnikian/Protoaurignacian, etc.30,31,32,33. The Aurignacian is one of these first technocomplexes attributed to the spread of AMH from east to west13,34,35,36,37,38,39, dated to around 43–42 ka cal BP1,12,20,40,41,42,43,44,45,46,47. Within the Aurignacian, the earliest phase is known as the Protoaurignacian, most frequent in the Mediterranean region, while the Early Aurignacian is spread across the continental areas13,38,39,48,49. Differences in chronology, technology and human adaptative systems between the Proto- and Early Aurignacian, played out against the background of deterioration of the environment at the onset of Heinrich Event 4 (HE4), are still a matter of debate1,46,49,50,51,52,53,54. While Banks et al.50 proposed that the EA started at the onset of HE4, immediately after the PA (contra Barshay-Szmidt et al.46 and Higham et al.53), other studies have pointed out that some PA assemblages are dominated by cold steppe animal species and, for this reason, this technocomplex was still present during the HE4 in some regions, such as central and southwestern France55.

However, while in the last decade intensive work has been done to disentangle the main technological features of the Aurignacian dispersal and its complex synchronic and diachronic variability, few studies exist about the subsistence and the ecological settings and biodiversity exploited by the makers of the new technology. Research has mainly focused on the subsistence differences between Neanderthals and modern humans. On a broader scale, scholars agree that there was no significant change in the range of hunted taxa or differences in the abundance of the species by modern humans, remarking that economic diversifications can be ascribed to environmental changes that led to fundamental socio-economic developments56, rather than divergence in hunting strategies or dietary shifts15,55,57,58,59,60,61,62,63,64,65,66,67. However, documenting the subsistence strategies employed by early modern humans in their continental dispersal is key to understanding their success. Not only detailed information on the archaeozoology of faunal assemblages, but also high-resolution chronological, subsistence and Net Primary Productivity data are thus needed to provide accurate insights on human-environmental interactions during the early phases of modern humans on a regional scale.

Fumane Cave, in north-eastern Italy, contains a long, amply dated and well-established stratigraphic sequence that includes Mousterian, Uluzzian and Protoaurignacian levels, thus making it a key site for deciphering the Middle to the Upper Palaeolithic transition in south-central Europe68 (Fig. 1, Fig. S1). The discovery of modern human remains associated with the A2 Protoaurignacian level8 and the evidence of repeated, intensive occupations by modern humans21, offers a unique opportunity to explore the subsistence strategies and dietary practices of modern humans in Italy. For the analytical purposes outlined above, this work focuses firstly on presenting the archaeozoological study of the faunal assemblage from the two Aurignacian levels, the Protoaurignacian in A2–A1 and the late Protoaurignacian in D3; and secondly, on presenting new radiocarbon dates for those Protoaurignacian levels and the underlying Uluzzian level (A3) to provide, for the first time, a detailed understanding of the subsistence and ecosystems exploited by modern humans in this region. Thirdly, the calculation of Net Primary Productivity (NPP) is undertaken to compare how this is correlated with the ungulate species exploited at Fumane throughout time and, also, to compare it with the NPP of other Italian Protoaurignacian sites. Finally, the archaeozoological and ecological data from other European early Upper Palaeolithic macrofaunal assemblages have been correlated with the NPP in each site to address the spatio-temporal ecological niches and prey consumed from the Black Sea to Atlantic Portugal.

Fumane cave and Protoaurignacian, Early Aurignacian and Initial Upper Palaeolithic sites in Europe: (2) Bombrini; (3) Mochi; (4) Serino; (5) La Fabbrica; (6) Castelcivita; (7) La Cala; (8) Willendorf II; (9) Geißenklösterle; (10) Hohle Fels; (11) Wildscheuer; (12) Observatoire; (13) Mandrin; (14) Brassempouy—Hyènes; (15) Tuto-de-Camalhot; (16) Les Cottés; (17) Grotte du Renne; (18) Castanet; (19) Roc de Combe; (20) Caminade-Est; (21) Le Flageolet I; (22) Combe Saunière; (23) La Quina "aval"; (24) Trou de la Mère Clochette; (25) Esquicho-Grapaou; (26) Isturitz; (27) Gatzarria; (28) Labeko Koba; (29) Aitzbitarte III; (30) Ekain; (31) Covalejos; (32) El Castillo; (33) El Cuco; (34) Arbreda; (35) La Viña; (36) Cova Gran; (37) Canyars; (38) Cova Foradada; (39) Lapa do Picareiro; (40) Šandalja II; (41) Tabula Traiana; (42) Kozarnika; (43) Peskő; (44) Siuren I; (45) Istállóskő; (46) Tincova; (47) Româneşti; (48) Bacho Kiro; (49) Temnata. Full details of the sites are provided in the Tables S3 and S4. Map was created with QGIS 3.24 and raster files were obtained from Jarvis et al.69.

Fumane Cave is located at the foot of the Venetian Pre-Alps in the western Lessini Mountains. Excavations since 1988 in the main cave and two associated tunnels have revealed a finely-layered sedimentary succession spanning the late Middle Palaeolithic and the Early Upper Palaeolithic (macro-units A and D—Figs. S1, S2), with several features, hearths and a wide presence of lithic and faunal remains. Mousterian artifacts are associated with levels A11, A10, A9, A6, A5 and A468,70,71; Uluzzian with A372,73,74; Protoaurignacian with A2–A1, late Protoaurignacian with D6 and D349,75,76, and D1d with early Gravettian77. In the Upper Palaeolithic sequence, numerous lithic and bone artefacts, dwelling structures with hearths and a toss zone were identified (Fig. S2a).

Currently available radiocarbon dates for the Upper Palaeolithic levels were obtained on ultra-filtered animal bone collagen and ABOx-treated charcoal samples78,79. Those results indicated that the earliest Protoaurignacian unit A2 dates to 41.2 and 40.5 ka cal BP, just before deposition of the Campanian Ignimbrite (not detected in the cave), while the Uluzzian seems to have ended shortly after 42 ka cal BP72. In this study, two new radiocarbon dates from A1 and D3 and two from A3, using ultrafiltration protocols on human-modified animal bone, were undertaken to reinforce the chronology of the early Upper Palaeolithic levels located at the entrance of the present-day cave.

Although Protoaurignacian levels A2 and A1 were excavated as single units, here they are grouped because A1 is a thin anthropogenic level in the cave entrance with horizontal bedding that is indistinguishable from A2 in innermost excavated zone. A2 thus extends throughout the whole present-day cave. The larger faunal remains were recovered and plotted individually and specimens smaller than 3 cm were recovered in general bags from each 33 × 33 cm sub-square after wet-sieving the sediments with 2 mm mesh.

The archaeozoological and taphonomic analyses of units A2–A1 (Protoaurignacian) and D3 (late Protoaurignacian) are presented here. The macrofaunal material was recovered from a 16 sq m area documented in the cave entrance and near the combustion features found during the excavations between 1991 to 2006 (Fig. S2). We have restricted our sample to all materials recovered in the front part of the cave (Fig. S2), where the stratigraphy is fine-grained, and the youngest phase is divided into several units. Also, A2 and A1 are easily distinguishable in this area. In addition to a preliminary palaeontological study of the Protoaurignacian fauna remains recovered between 1988 and 1991 was conducted by Cassoli and Tagliacozzo80, specimens related to some anthropogenic structures were analysed by Broglio et al.81. Preliminary analyses of cementochronology on ungulates were performed by Facciolo et al.82, and taxonomical determinations of bone retouchers were carried out by Jéquier et al.83. Here we provide, a complete archaeozoological and taphonomical assessment for the entire sequence of these levels, considering previous analyses and providing new data about the subsistence patterns and the ecosystems exploited by the modern human groups.

The studied material was recorded using a database purposely designed for the Subsilience project. Taxonomy was determined using the osteological comparative collection based at the EvoAdapta Laboratory of the University of Cantabria. Due to the high fragmentation and the lack of any distinctive landmark, taxonomically unidentifiable specimens were grouped according to their body size into five mammals categories: size 1: smaller than rabbit; size 2, small mammals weighing < 20 kg (lagomorphs, rodents and small carnivores); size 3, medium mammals between 20 and 100 kg (Capra ibex, Rupicapra rupicapra, Capreolus capreolus, Canis lupus); size 4, medium/large mammals between 100 and 300 kg (Cervus elaphus, Ursidae); size 5, large mammals of > 300 kg (Megaloceros giganteus, large bovines). When species determination was undistinguishable, elements were reported to their family (e.g. Cervidae, Caprinae) or genus (e.g. Capra/Cervus, Rupicapra/Capreolus, Bos/Bison sp.) level.

The assemblage was quantified by applying the following indices: Number of Remains (NR), Number of Identified Specimens (NISP), Minimum Number of Individuals (MNI), Minimum Number of Skeletal Elements (MNE) and Minimum Animal Units (MAU) following Marín-Arroyo84. For the quantification of the long bones, the coding method established by Romandini85 after Marean et al.86 was followed. Thus, each element was divided into 20 portions with a unique anatomical code indicating the lateral, medial, proximal and distal parts of the bone (Fig. S3). The repetition of codes and sides per species (considering the presence/absence of landmarks and ages) yielded the MNE. A triangular plot showing the age categories grouped into juveniles, prime adults and senile individuals was done following the mortality profiles, as proposed by Stiner87. Only those species represented by more than four individuals were included in the plot. Biomass calculation was made by multiplying values of useable meat (following the methodology applied in Marín-Arroyo and Gónzalez-Morales)88 by the MNI. The assemblage diversity was examined through the Inverse of Simpson's Index (1/D)89. The higher the value, the wider the diet breadth90. For regional and European comparison of hunting preferences, the Inverse of Simpson's Index with NISP and MNI was estimated, whenever possible. The ratio of high to low prey ranks to evaluate the selection of the prey hunted was also calculated. Among the determined species at Fumane, roe deer and chamois were considered low‐ranked species, while the rest of the ungulate preys were considered to be high‐ranked (giant deer, red deer, ibex and bovines [bison and/or aurochs]), in accordance with previous studies by Marín-Arroyo91, here adapted to the specific case of Fumane.

The ungulate mortality pattern was assessed by both dental eruption and wear stage and bone fusion. For cervids, the studies by Azorit92, Mariezkurrena93 and Tomé and Vigne94 were followed. For caprids, Couturier95, Habermehl96 and Pflieger97 were used. Once the age of death was determined, individuals were grouped into five age groups: F (Foetal/Neonatal); J (Juvenile—light worn on deciduous teeth and erupted M1); SAd (sub-Adult—moderate worn on deciduous teeth and erupted M2); Ad (Adult—all permanent teeth erupted with any or moderate wear); S (old Adult or Senile—advanced wear). The ratio between juvenile and adult individuals was estimated to measure the pressure on low-return younger prey and the exploitation prey type.

To evaluate the carcass exploitation and transport type, bivariate correlations between %MAU and different indices such as MGUI (Modified General Utility Index—Binford98), FUI (Food Utility Index—Metcalfe and Jones99), CFUI (Corrected Food Utility Index—Morin and Ready100) were undertaken. %MAU and Maximum Bone Density101 was applied to assess the influence of attrition in the faunal assemblage. To determine if the bone breakage patterns were the result of marrow extraction, correlations between %MAU and the Marrow Index98 were calculated. In addition, %MAU of high survival skeletal elements was correlated with the unsaturated marrow index (UMI) proposed by Morin102. Spearman's correlation coefficient was used to test the quantitative validity of these correlations and determine the level of statistical significance (p) thereof. Furthermore, to overcome the limitations of previous indices on evaluating the skeletal profiles and attrition at the site, a Bayesian method based on a Monte Carlo Markov Chain sampling that uses the available skeletal information to constrain the possible degrees of attrition and carcass processing strategies was applied103. This method considers two parameters, alpha (α) and beta (β), that are active during the assemblage formation and history, α informs about the transport preference based on butchering efficiency in skeletal elements and it can take any value between − 1 (> axial contribution) and 1 (> appendicular contribution). The degree of attrition (β), follows the definition established by Rogers104,105, which related the survivorship of bone elements to their maximum bone density. This method aims specifically to overcome the problem of equifinality in skeletal profile interpretations, analysing two factors simultaneously106.

Every anatomical element (over 3 cm long) was examined under a LEICA S8 APO stereoscope with 10× eyepieces in search of bone surface biostratinomic and diagenetic alterations, such as cut marks (grouped as skinning, dismembering and defleshing types following Binford107, Galán and Domínguez-Rodrigo108 and Nilssen109), hammerstone percussion marks (including conchoidal notches110,110,112), type and angle of fracturing (fresh‐green versus old‐dry following Villa and Mahieu113, percussion marks including cortical percussion notches (negative flake scars); impact flakes (positive flake scars); adhering flakes, percussion pits and crushing marks110,111,114,114,115,116,118. According to diagnostic characteristics, impact flakes were defined and distinguished from those made by carnivores119: ventral face with the point of detachments and bulb; greater breadth than length; absence or reduction of the cortical surface. Thermoalterations colour degrees were recorded following Stiner et al.120. The study of bone retouchers was carried out following Mallye121. Carnivore activity was classified in pits, scores, punctures, furrowing, gnawing, crenulated edge and corrosion of gastric acid according to Blumenschine122, Domínguez-Rodrigo and Piqueras123, Domínguez-Rodrigo and Barba124. Other biological and physicochemical alterations, such as weathering125, root etching, insect/fungus activity, carbonate deposits, polishing126,126,128, or formation of mineral coatings (mainly mineral manganese, see Marín-Arroyo et al.129,130 were also recorded. Trampling marks were distinguished from butchering marks using guidelines by Blasco et al.131 and Domínguez- Rodrigo et al.132. For discerning bone surface modifications, a Leica DVM6 3D digital microscope was used to accurately distinguish the various kinds of alterations. Finally, data analysis was undertaken with R, v.4.1.0, using RStudio v. 1.2.1.

To investigate the relationship between the ungulates exploited at Fumane during the Protoaurignacian and the surrounding environment, the catchment areas associated with the site were calculated, characterising the local relief, following the methodology described by Marín-Arroyo133. It must be considered that the Fumane and the adjoining valleys underwent limited morphological modifications since the mid-Upper Pleistocene. As part of the Monti Lessini fan-shaped plateau, this area is radially dissected by several valleys developed along the tectonic lines134 and gently dips to the South towards the alluvial plain of the Adige River. Some sections take the form of a canyon, locally called vai. To the North, summits reach 1500–1600 m. a.s.l., while the plateau ends to the West at the long and deep canyon of the Adige River. The immediate surroundings of Fumane cave have featured an ensemble of morpho-tectonic terraces connected to the bottom of the stream valley by steep slopes and rock walls. Generally, the plateau top, the summits of the ridges and the terraces were significantly affected by weathering, karstic and slope processes which led to the development of Terra Rossa-type palaeosols. During the late Last Glacial Maximum, the area was partly covered by the Adige glacier attested on the upper part of the Monti Lessini. Further, periglacial conditions activated strong erosion of palaeosols, accumulations of slope deposits, and all over the relief was interested in loess sedimentation135. Although the deepening of gorges and valleys continued throughout the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, there is no evidence of a deep modification of the sections of these main cuts135,136. Anthropogenic erosion during the Holocene strongly affected the main slopes especially starting from the Neolithic, resulting in gravelly, sandy and pelitic floods several meters thick, deposited at the bottom of the valleys and of the steepest slopes. The Western Lessini foreland includes the outlet and the lower reach of the Adige valley and the apex of the Adige alluvial megafan. This latter aggraded during the Last Glacial Maximum137,138.

A digital model of the present-day morphological conditions of the terrain around the site was produced. Travelling times across the territory were estimated with empirical formulae depending on distance, slope angles, movement direction (uphill or downhill) and the existence of insurmountable barriers. Besides, to define the preferred biotopes for plain and mountain species within the boundaries determined by the catchment area, a threshold value of 30% slope was fixed to differentiate areas related to one or the other group of faunal taxa. Beyond that value, grazing suitability is depleted139.

Net primary productivity (NPP) is the biomass per unit of land surface and time of all autotroph organisms. Therefore, NPP represents the base of the food chain for all terrestrial ecosystems140. In the current study, NPP was estimated over an area of 50 km2 around the Fumane cave and in the surrounding area of 26 European archaeological sites with dated Protoaurignacian, Early Aurignacian and early Upper Palaeolithic techno-complexes associated with faunal remains. NPP was estimated with the Lund-Postdam-Jena General Ecosystem Simulator (LPJ-GUESS) v.4.0. LPJ-GUESS is a coupled biogeography-biogeochemistry model which incorporates process-based representations of terrestrial vegetation dynamics at regional and global scales133,141. Vegetation composition in the model results from growth and competition for light, space and soil resources among plant communities according to specific photosynthetic rates, stomatal conductance, phenology, allometric calculations, and carbon and nutrient allocation according to specific Plant Functional Types (PFTs)142. PFTs are a group of species with similar bioclimatic limits, morphology, phenology, photosynthetic pathway and life history strategy142,143. Different PFTs can be incorporated and simulated in LPJ-GUESS according to their specific functional traits; in the current study, we used the standard global PFT set described in Smith et al.142 with the ‘cohort’ mode. The model was run in 100 replicate patches with an area of 0.1 ha, and we did not use nitrogen limitation because nitrogen deposition is unknown for the Pleistocene144. For details on the global parameters used, see Table S1.

The input climate variables for LPJ-GUESS are monthly temperature (°C), precipitation (mm/month), incoming shortwave radiation (Wm−2), and rainy days (days/month). These input data were obtained from the HadCM3B-M2.1 general circulation model145 after performing a delta bias correction with the CRU v.4 datasets146. We used the HadCM3B-M2.1 general circulation model because previous studies compared this palaeoclimatic model with the palynological record obtained from different European regions, providing evidence for the accuracy and reliability of these climatic simulations in the Northern Hemisphere10,147,148. The model also used, as input data, the atmospheric carbon dioxide concentration (ppm) obtained from Lüthi et al.149 and the specific soil classes obtained from Zobler150. All simulations were initialised with ‘bare ground’ conditions, and the model was spun up for 500 years until the simulated vegetation was in approximate equilibrium. This spin-up phase used palaeoclimatic conditions between 55 and 54.5 ka BP145. After that, the model was run at a monthly resolution spanning between 54.5 and 30 ka BP. The NPP of the Protoaurignacian units of Fumane were compared with the other archaeological Mousterian and Uluzzian units of Fumane with a Mann–Whitney–Wilcoxon test. To assess whether fluctuations in the estimated NPP affected the species diversity recovered in each archaeological unit of Fumane, a Spearman's rank correlation test was used.

The results of the new dates are provided in Table 1. Figure 2 shows the Bayesian age model built using OxCal4.4.2 software151 with the INTCAL20 calibration curve152. Considering the stratigraphic information of Fumane, the dates were modelled in a Sequence model with stratigraphic units represented as Phases from A3 (Uluzzian) and A2–A1 and D3 units and, with start and end Boundaries. The difference between the probability density functions of the start and end boundaries was also calculated to estimate the likely duration of the phase. All radiocarbon determinations were given a 5% prior likelihood of being an outlier within the General t-type Outlier Model151, so that the model could test their reliability. Convergence was greater than 95% and the model agreement index was 81 (Table 1, Code S1). Only date, OxA-41260, with a higher standard deviation, showed a lower convergence (37%). The reason for this larger uncertainty is due to the lower collagen yield that implied larger processing backgrounds when measuring the 14C content, this being lower when dated by AMS. The Bayesian results were compared with the Greenland ice-core oxygen isotope record (NGRIP)153,153,155 record to correlate each cultural phase with the stadial and interstadial climatic phases. The Bayesian model was run five times and the results were compared to check the consistency. They disclosed acceptable reproducibility levels when compared.

Chronological model of the Uluzzian, Protoaurignacian and late Protoaurignacian units of Fumane calibrated against IntCal20152 in Oxcal v.4.4151. All available radiocarbon dates of these units, including the new dates obtained in this work, are included in the model. In grey: dates obtained on charcoals with the ABOx pre-treatment78,79; in blue: dates obtained on bone collagen with the ultrafiltration pre-treatment78; in red: the dates obtained in this study.

The results of the Bayesian model indicate the Uluzzian occupation dates to 44,500 to 41,100 cal BP, the Protoaurignacian A2–A1 unit between 42,000 and 39,250 cal BP and the late Protoaurignacian D3 unit between 40,000 and 37,750 cal BP (95.4% likelihood) (Fig. 1). The end date of the Uluzzian occupation falls within the limit for this phase in the Italian Peninsula around 41,000156. In Fumane, the new chronology reveals an overlap between Uluzzian A3 and Protoaurignacian A2–A1 unit, around 42 and 41,000 cal BP. Likewise, a short overlap is observed between the Protoaurignacian and the late Protoaurignacian around 40 and 39,000 cal BP. This data set confirms the previous chronology79, with the Uluzzian coinciding with GI11, and the Protoaurignacian covering GI10 to the end of GI9. The late Protoaurignacian D3 unit lasts during the GS9, corresponding with the Heinrich Event 4.

In total, the two units yielded 12,907 remains. 4.6% of the elements were identifiable to taxa, 4.9% identified only to mammal body size, and 90.6% were non-identifiable specimens. From the whole assemblage, 8.4% of the items were anatomically identified (Table 2). Due to the state of fragmentation of the assemblage (Fig. S4), only a minimum number of 226 elements (MNE) were quantified and a total of 53 MNI, including 14 different ungulates (n = 6), carnivores (n = 5), rodents (n = 1), leporids (n = 1) and an undetermined bird taxon. The data of NISP, MNE and MNI values per level and species are presented in Table 2.

Among the herbivores, Capra ibex and Rupicapra rupicapra are the most abundant taxa, followed by Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus. Megaloceros giganteus and large bovines (Bos primigenius/Bison priscus) appear occasionally in both levels. Among the carnivores, the diversity of species is represented by a few remains of each species. Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes are the most common species, followed by an element each of Lynx lynx, Ursus sp. and Martes foina along the sequence. Leporids appear exclusively in A2–A1 Unit. Several bird elements are represented in both units, mostly in A2–A1.

The taphonomic study is key for discerning the origin of the deposit and the main bone accumulators. Previous studies confirmed that mammals, and especially ungulates, recovered in the Mousterian and Uluzzian units at Fumane were mainly brought to the site by humans attested by the significant amount of butchering marks, fresh bone breakage, thermoalteration and skeletal profiles representation of the herbivores consumed157,157,159. Although carnivore activities were documented, it was in a limited percentage in comparison with the anthropogenic activity.

In both Protoaurignacian occupations, anthropogenic modifications were identified on herbivores, including butchering activities, deliberate breakage activities (percussion marks—mainly impact flake—and percussion notches) and thermoalterations (Table 3). Fresh breakage marks are mostly found on the ibex limb bones and phalanges and red deer long bones. In addition, more percussion marks were observed on mammal size 3 and isolated bone flakes were identified among the undetermined assemblage. Regarding cut marks, A2–A1 unit reveals greater abundance in contrast with unit D3. Incisions are predominant, indicating skinning, defleshing and disarticulation activities at the site. Scrape marks related to periosteum removal are also documented. Cut marks appear on different anatomical portions, with a predominance of obliquely oriented incisions on the shafts, being scarce on the cranial and axial skeleton. In addition to ungulates, cut marks were found on carnivores, revealing fox skinning and wolf defleshing for likely fur extraction (Table 3, Fig. 3). Even in unit A2–A1, a cut mark was identified on the wing bone of a bird. Bird exploitation was already documented in the Mousterian units of Fumane revealed on species relatable and not relatable to feeding or utilitarian uses where cut marks and fractures were observed on wings, indicating the intentional removal of large feathers by Neanderthals160, and also on meat-bearing anatomical portions158,161,162.

Anthropogenic modifications on mammals found in the Protoaurignacian units of Fumane: (a) sesamoid with skinning marks and (b) wolf lumbar vertebra with cut marks on the traversal processus; (c) chamois tibia shaft with deep and transversal cut marks; (d) giant deer second phalanx with skinning incisions; (e) ibex femur with longitudinal and oblique filleting cut marks.

Among the complete assemblage, 37% and 24% in A2–A1 and D3 units, respectively showed thermoalteration and different burning categories from brown to black colouration were recognised (Table 4). In both units, categories 3 (charred bones) and 5 (calcinated bones) are the most recurrent. Although several bones with double or multiple colourations were recovered, single-coloured thermal alterations are prevalent.

Apart from butchering marks on bone surfaces, 12 bone hammers, likely used for retouching flint artefacts, were recovered. These retouchers were manufactured on ibex, chamois, red deer and large bovine long bone shafts as previously observed in other Fumane units83. Likewise, the other five retouchers were identified in shafts of medium and large-sized animals but the fragmentation prevented the taxa identification (Table 3).

Evaluating the role that carnivores might have had in the Protoaurignacian deposits, the bone surface modifications evidenced by these agents in both units are limited. The few carnivore marks are only identified in mammal size 3 (frequently on caprids), unidentified remains on long bone shafts and just a few on flat bones and epiphysis. Any other taxa do not bear carnivore bone modifications (Table 5). Pits, scores, furrowing and digestion were the kinds of modifications that were recorded. Although a few remains presented human and carnivore modifications, no overlap between them has been observed. This limited presence might imply the occasional scavenging of human leftovers. Therefore, the Protoaurignacian units are mostly linked to human activity, as are the previous Uluzzian and Mousterian occupations documented at Fumane.

The taphonomic results of both Protoaurignacian units is mostly linked to human activities at Fumane. Consequently, the taxa represented can be interpreted as part of human subsistence. Medium/large-size mammals such as Cervus elaphus and medium-size such as Capra ibex, Rupicapra rupicapra and Capreolus capreolus played an essential role in the diet of the human groups at that time. In terms of MNI, during A2–A1 unit, ibex, red deer and chamois, are the most exploited species with 38%, 21% and 17%, respectively, followed by limited roles of aurochs, roe deer and giant deer, with a total of 8%, while during D3 unit occupations, red deer decreases significantly to 7% and roe deer increases up to 20%. Both montane caprine species continue playing the most significant role in the human diet, with a slight decrease in ibex (27%) and a remarkable increase in chamois (33%). Giant deer maintains its representation with 7% of the ungulates (Table 2). In terms of biomass, bovines in both units, despite their low MNI, played an important role in the protein input into the human diet because of their size. In A2–A1 unit, bovines are followed by red deer and ibex, almost in identical proportions. It is remarkable, how unit D3 reflects a change in subsistence, likely motivated by the environmental conditions during that occupation, after bovine, the core of the human diet is contributed by chamois and ibex (Table 2).

After calculating the Inverse of the Simpson index, with NISP and MNI for both units, when comparing the MNI values, the results indicate a similar diet breadth during both Protoaurignacian occupations reflecting the exploitation of caprinae and cervids. The value in unit D3 is slightly lower (4.25) than in unit A2–A1 (4.3) and both values likely reflect the exploitation of a high-relief, mosaic landscape surrounding the cave. The NISP values for D3 (3.47) is higher than for A2–A1 (2.44), which could be partially influenced by the assemblage fragmentation, or other factors such as the duration of occupation at that time, seasonality or human group size, among other factors.

During both units, there is a predominance of prime-age individuals (54 and 53%), followed by juveniles (46 and 47%) in A2–A1 and D3 units, respectively (Table 2). Only foetal/neonatal, subadult and senile individuals are exclusively found in A2–A1 unit (one each). Excluding those, prime-age individuals predominate over juveniles in both units. By looking at the ratio between juvenile and adult individuals, the results show similar values: 0.85 in A2–A1 unit and 0.88 in D3 unit. Based on the ternary distribution of the age profiles, for ibex and red deer a catastrophic mortality profile was observed in unit A2–A1 and between an attritional and a catastrophic one, for ibex, in unit D3. For chamois, we determined a catastrophic profile in unit D3, and between attritional and catastrophic in unit A2–A1 (Fig. 4). Regarding the seasonality data obtained from the ungulate prey, the ibex and red deer dental eruption allowed identification of late spring/early summer kills in unit A2–A1, as well as for infantile chamois individuals, which, in both units, showed a decrease in kills at the end of spring/early summer, coinciding with the annual birthing and infant suckling periods. These ungulate profiles and seasonal data would suggest an exploitation pattern of herds of females with their young calves. Results are in accordance with previous cementochronology data obtained previously82.

Ternary plot of main ungulate taxa—ibex, chamois and red deer for Protoaurignacian units A2–A1 and D3 assemblages.

For the analysis of the skeletal profiles, a Bayesian method (BaskePro) following Marín-Arroyo and Ocio103 (R code in Marín-Arroyo et al.106) was applied to disentangle the prey's transport and the attrition that occurred at each unit. This new method was applied only with ibex from unit A2–A1, as it was the only species with an MNE higher than 50 corresponding to nine different individuals (Fig. 5). Unfortunately, due to the low number of anatomical elements in the other ungulate prey and units, this analysis was not undertaken. For ibex, the results indicate that a complete transport of the prey was undertaken (α = 0.06), suggesting a likely nearby kill. The attrition value (β = 5.78) is extremely high, indicating that less than 8% of the original assemblage is preserved (Fig. 3).

Results of the skeletal profiles for Capra ibex at A2–A1 unit in Fumane showing the posterior distribution function and the values of the α and β parameters. The interpretation of the parameters in the Bayesian model is explained at the bottom of the figure.

There were abundant signs of marrow extraction for ibex at A2–A1 unit. The degree of fragmentation (measured as the quotient between NISP and MNE) correlates positively and significantly with Marrow Index98. Also, Spearman's correlation coefficient between Grease Index and %MAU shows a positive and significant correlation with ibex. Bone density was also determined for this species (Table 6), which correlates with the results obtained by the BaskePro method.

Table 7 shows the percentage of areas below and above 30% slope calculated for 1.2 h and 2.15 h from the cave. Figure 6 shows the catchment areas corresponding to different travel times around Fumane.

Catchment areas with Isochrones for 1.2- and 2.15-h distances originating in Fumane in a northerly direction, calculated according to the exposed methodology. Digital Terrain Model prepared from PNOA MDT05 (generated from the 1st LiDAR Coverage with a 5 m mesh pitch), sheets 28, 29, 52 and 53. ETRS89 Huso 30N projection. National Geographic Information Center (http://centrodedescargas.cnig.es/CentroDescargas/catalogo.do?Serie=LIDAR). Map done by J. García Sánchez.

As can be seen in Fig. 6, Fumane is located on a mountain gorge suitable for mountain species, but also for forested areas, where the nearby massif elevation is lower than 1.500 m. This might explain the dual exploitation of mountain species, such as ibex and chamois in the surrounding of the cave during units A2–A1 (54% MNI) and D3 (60% MNI), followed by species that could have lived in woods such as red deer, giant deer and roe deer. Plains that could have harboured open humid woods—as one of the preferred habitats for bovines—are located further away and this might explain the lower representation of them in both units.

The mountainside cave location also might explain a low amount of ibex carcass processing at the kill sites, which is suggested by the mainly complete transport of these prey during the Protoaurignacian. The hunting preference, calculated as the ratio between mountain and fluvial plain habitat species, does not reveal drastic changes between units (Table 7). Only for MNI values is the ratio higher in D3 due to a greater percentage of mountain-dwelling individuals in comparison with A2–A1.

Despite the fact that within a 1.2 h walk from the site, the catchment area above a 30% slope makes up only 15%, this area would have provided access to chamois and ibex (although both taxa might have lived above that slope, depending on the season and vegetation cover), confirming the use of the nearby environment by the human groups. Within 2.15 h there is a shift of 5% of the mountain area in favour of the plain areas, but this small shift does not affect the hunting preferences undertaken by the different human groups occupying the cave (Table 7). In summary, within the distance of 1.2 h from the cave, human groups during the Protoaurignacian would have had accessibility to all types of ungulate taxa, mostly exploiting those adapted to the mountain and forested landscapes. The sources of the raw materials near the site68 also support the picture these locally limited human mobility patterns.

Considering the different Mousterian (A11, A10, A9, A5–A6 and A4), Uluzzian (A3) and Protoaurignacian units that have revealed human occupations, the results indicate that in Fumane, during the interstadial conditions of MIS3, the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) was 0.327 kg/m2/year on average (SD 0.08). However, during the stadial phases, the mean NPP dropped to 0.189 kg/m2/year on average (SD. 0.09). During the Protoaurignacian occupation recorded in unit D3, the mean NPP was 0.181 kg/m2/year (SD 0.02) and, in A2–A1 unit, the NPP was 0.218 kg/m2/year (SD 0.06). Accordingly, the NPP of the Protoaurignacian units (A2–A1 and D3) of Fumane are significantly lower than that of the previous late Mousterian (A4) and Uluzzian (A3) units (Fig. 7). Thus, the occupation of the first modern humans in Fumane was coincident with a decreasing trend of the NPP likely associated with Heinrich 4 environmental conditions (Fig. 7).

(a) Temporal evolution of the Net Primary Productivity (NPP) in Fumane with the Probability Distribution Function (PDF) at 95% CI of each archaeological unit. Vertical shaded bars indicate the stadial phases. (b) Box and whisker plot with the estimated NPP in each archaeological unit (see Tables S6 and S7, Code S2 for Fumane radiocarbon dates modelling).

NPP fluctuations did not affect significantly herbivore diversity in Fumane (p-value 0.076), but it did the carnivore richness (p-value 0.017) and the whole mammalian diversity (p-value 0.017) recovered in each archaeological unit (Fig. 8). The NPP results suggest that fluctuations might have affected the species richness surrounding Fumane, so the drop-in ecosystem productivity during the Protoaurignacian likely affected, not only the diet breadth of the first modern humans but also the trophic pressure exerted by secondary consumers.

Linear correlation between Net Primary Productivity and the Inverse Simpson Index computed with the Minimum Number of Individuals of primary, secondary, and primary and secondary consumer species together recovered from the Fumane archaeological units. Labels show the archaeological unit of each dot, the correlation coefficient (R) and the p-value (p) of each correlation according to Spearman's rank correlation test.

New insight into the subsistence strategies adopted by early modern human groups that occupied Fumane has been developed through the taphonomic and archaeozoological study of the complete macrofaunal assemblage of units A2–A1 and D3 located outside the cave. The data provide details about the palaeoeconomic behaviour of the different human groups that made the Protoaurignacian and late Protoaurignacian technocomplexes identified in those units. Altogether these new data expand our understanding of the activities carried out at the site, human mobility patterns and the types of environments that surrounded Fumane when AMH occupied the cave (Table S2).

The chronometric dates for the site (Table S6) cover the early Upper Palaeolithic in the Prealpine region between 42,000 and 37,750 cal BP, namely from GS11 to the end of GI9 and prove that modern humans were in Fumane during both stadial and interstadial times. Specifically, human occupations in unit D3 took place during H4. The new dates for the preceding Uluzzian archaeological unit A3, between 44,500 to 41,100 cal BP, which coincides with interstadial phases from GI11 to GI10, confirm previous radiocarbon dates undertaken only on charcoal89. The earlier published subsistence patterns indicate that humans targeted red deer and ibex, as well as giant deer, roe deer, bison and chamois of all age classes66,158. Compared to the Mousterian, the Uluzzian assemblage records a cooling of climatic conditions correlated with modifications in the game that was hunted comparable to those of the Protoaurignacian. Wolf, fox and brown bear were exploited as well158.

However, occupation of unit A2–A1 was more intensive than during D3, likely caused by the less favourable conditions during H4. After humans left the cave, carnivores hardly scavenged the human leftovers.

Protoaurignacian groups mainly exploited prime-age ibex and chamois, followed by red deer. Although a similar diet breath exists between both units, there is a reduction in red deer individuals in the D3 unit, likely caused by forest reduction which is broadly consistent with evidence from the environmental proxies at the site163,164. Humans exploited the montane areas surrounding the site, where both ibex and chamois dwelled, as well as forest species like cervids, and likely large bovines that could have occupied wooded areas. Interestingly, the exploitation of large bovines seems was relatively limited, although the protein yield provided by these large animals might have been significant for the human diet.

The proximity of the ibex kills might well explain the complete transport of this prey to the site. Various butchering activities related to the consumption and processing of the carcasses were carried out at the cave, as revealed by the different kinds of anthropic cut marks and evidence of green bone breakage. In addition, traces of wolf and fox fur preparation were attested, thus confirming human interest in these and other carnivores such as lynx165.

The mortality profiles reveal a profitable prey selection of prime-age individuals with significant, but non-majority representation of juveniles. Some of them were infantile ibex individuals that reveal late spring/summer hunting episodes, likely because humans were massacring female herds with young.

NPP usually correlates with the whole gamut of mammalian biodiversity in both extant and extinct ecosystems166, which is driven by the flow of energy through trophic levels. Food chain length increases along gradients of NPP167, so a higher NPP is not only associated with a greater abundance of herbivores, but also with the frequency of secondary consumers166. In this study, the results have revealed that the NPP is more correlated with the diversity of secondary than of primary consumers, which is probably because herbivore remains were mainly accumulated by humans and, therefore, are biased by hunting choices/preferences. In any case, the results show that the productivity-diversity relationships explain the mammalian richness recorded through the different Fumane units. Therefore, climatic conditions during the Protoaurignacian occupation reduced the base of the food chain (i.e., NPP) and, as a consequence, mammalian diversity and abundance were likely constrained. Under these ecological conditions before and during Heinrich Event 4 (H4), the resource availability for secondary consumer species decreased and, consequently, the diversity of secondary consumers also came down. Such a scenario is documented for the Protoaurignacian of Fumane, which suggests that early modern humans successfully coped with severe environmental conditions that had negatively affected the productivity and diversity of the ecosystem. This is also seen in the micromammalian assemblages of these units that indicate a slight decrease in woodland formations163. Except for the Mousterian A5–A6 unit, in the Protoaurignacian units, the NPP was significantly lower than in the other archaeological units of Fumane (Fig. 7).

If we want to evaluate the NPP in the Italian Peninsula at the time of arrival of the Protoaurignacian modern humans, in terms of a similar temporal span, technological culture and ecological setting, only Riparo Bombrini8,168,168,169,171 and Riparo Mochi42,172,173 in the Liguria region are comparable. Radiocarbon dates from Riparo Bombrini and Riparo Mochi provide some of the oldest evidence for the Protoaurignacian42, underscoring Liguria as one of the earliest areas occupied by modern humans in Western Europe. The appearance of the Protoaurignacian groups in these sites occurred during a phase of climatic degradation, with a sparsely forested environment, marked by the presence of plant taxa indicative of steppe-like conditions168, which placed human diffusion in Liguria to just after GI 10, dated to around 41.5 ky cal BP and extending through the climatic instability associated with Heinrich Event 4. In Bombrini, the macrofauna selected by humans reveal evidence of the palaeoenvironmental conditions. The high proportions of caprids, bovines, and red deer and the presence of equid species and rhinos would indicate cold conditions with more open habitats and patchy woods. The presence of horses and rhinos suggests that the sea level at that time was low enough to provide open plains in front of the Balzi Rossi168,169. The NPP estimated for Bombrini A1 and A2 and Mochi Level G show similar and stable values. However, the NPP is significantly lower in the D3 and A2–A1 units of Fumane (Fig. 9), probably because of the sensitivity of the Prealpine area to MIS3 climatic fluctuations. Recent palaeoclimatic reconstructions show that Eurosiberian regions experienced significant environmental changes during the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition174, while, in contrast, Mediterranean areas were much more stable175. For the first time, with available data, the present study preliminary shows the effects of these climatic fluctuations on the base of the food chain (NPP) and its significant correlation with the herbivore species diversity recorded in the Protoaurignacian Italian sites.

Box and whisker plot with the estimated NPP in different Protoaurignacian units of Italy.

It has been argued that peopling of Europe by modern humans could be contingent on the environmental conditions174. Thus, it has been proposed that the stadial-interstadial cycles of the MIS3 generated a Neanderthal demographic crisis or even vacuum in some regions, which favoured the rapid spread of modern humans during the interstadial phases176. However, recent studies suggest that modern humans also spread through Europe during cold stadial conditions2. This idea is reinforced by the Protoaurignacian occupations of Fumane, where the arrival of modern humans was coeval with harsh environmental circumstances even including occupation of the site during the Heinrich Event 4. However, this association between the arrival of modern human groups and severe environmental conditions cannot be extended to all European sites or regions (Fig. 1). Thus, the Initial Upper Palaeolithic technology recovered in Bacho Kiro and Temnata is associated with a high NPP (Fig. 9, Table S7). Therefore, the early arrival and dispersal of modern humans through the Danube basin might have been motivated by the high productivity of the ecosystems in this region that served as a major migration route. In this regard, despite the European regions experiencing significant NPP fluctuations during the late MIS 3 (Fig. S5), the Protoaurignacian and Early Aurignacian occupations were mainly located in areas and periods of relatively high NPP (Fig. 9). These results reinforce the idea that ecosystem productivity was an important factor in the rapid dispersals of modern humans. Nevertheless, dispersal waves of human populations with Proto- and Early Aurignacian technologies also show an increasing variability in the NPP through time (Fig. 9). In this way, the Protoaurignacian levels of Fumane suggest that modern humans also inhabited and exploited ecosystems with low productivity (Fig. 10) similar to those exploited by Neanderthals during the Mousterian occupations of A5 + A6 and A6, coincident also with a stadial phase (GS12). Therefore, the spread of our species in Europe occurred under a wide range of climatic and environmental conditions, which reinforces the previously proposed environmental flexibility of modern humans2.

Temporal evolution of the Net Primary Productivity in each archaeological site with Initial Upper Palaeolithic (IUP), Early (EA) and Protoaurignacian (PA) assemblages. Vertical shaded bars indicate the stadial phases. 1. Aitzbitarte III, 2. Bacho Kiro, 3. Bombrini, 4. Cala, 5. Castanet, 6. Cova Foradada, 7. Cova Gran, 8. Covalejos, 9. Ekain, 10. El Cuco, 11. Esquicho-Grapaou, 12. Fumane, 13. Geißenklösterle, 14. Grotte du Renne, 15. Hohle Fels, 16. Istállóskő, 17. Isturitz, 18. La Quina, 19. Labeko Koba, 20. Lapa do Picareiro, 21. Les Cottes, 22. Mochi, 23. Roc de Combe, 24. Siuren I, 25. Temnata, 26. Terrases de la Riera dels Canyars (see Tables S3, S4, S5, S6 and S7 for details).

In summary, the data obtained in this research have provided a wider knowledge about the earliest modern humans’ presence in Italy. Fumane has been proven to be a significant site to study the organisation of the Protoaurignacian human groups in the Prealpine region. The archaeozoological data of both units reveal evidence of subsistence and landscape changes in the vicinity of Fumane. These changes could have been caused by the severe condition during H4 when the D3 unit was accumulated. Human occupations were probably more sporadic and, due to the vegetation cover reduction, focused on the montane-adapted animals located in the vicinity of the cave. Evaluating the subsistence strategies adopted by those groups by comparing them with the Net Primary Productivity at that time, has helped to understand how those groups adapted their strategies and also reveal the resilience of our ancestors to cope with different ecosystems and stadial/interstadial phases in their wave of migration from the Near East to the western part of the continent. The low productivity of particular ecosystems did not stop the rapid migration of the Proto- and Early Aurignacian technocomplexes. In effect, the settlement of those groups was, mainly, in areas where high NPP is proven which might explain their successful advance and colonization of the continent.

The datasets generated and/or analysed during the current study are available in the Supplementary Information.

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This research is funded by the European Research Council under the European Union's Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme (Grant Agreement No. 818299‐SUBSILIENCE project (https://www.subsilience.eu). G. T. and M.V.C. were funded by the former project and later by a Juan de la Cierva Formación Grant (Ref: FJC2019-040637-I and FJC2021-047601-I) funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation. Research and fieldwork at Fumane Cave are coordinated by the University of Ferrara (M. Peresani) in the framework of a project supported by the Ministry of Culture—SAPAB Archaeological Superintendence, public institutions (Lessinia-Regional Natural Park, B.I.M. Adige, Fumane Municipality), private associations and companies, and in collaboration with Italian and European research centres. The authors thank all the colleagues from EvoAdapta Group for the constant enriching discussions and Prof. L. G. Straus for his edition of the English in the accepted version. Finally, we are grateful to two anonymous reviewers for their valuable comments and suggestions which have helped us to improve the manuscript.

Grupo de I+D+I EVOADAPTA (Evolución Humana y Adaptaciones durante la Prehistoria), Dpto. Ciencias Históricas, Universidad de Cantabria, Avda. de Los Castros 44, 39005, Santander, Spain

Ana B. Marín-Arroyo, Gabriele Terlato & Marco Vidal-Cordasco

Dipartimento di Studi Umanistici, Sezione di Scienze Preistoriche e Antropologiche, Università di Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy

Marco Peresani

Istituto di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Milan, Italy

Marco Peresani

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A.B.M.-A. designed the research questions and the study with G.T. and M.P. G.T. analysed the faunal assemblage and compiled the European Aurignacian data. M.V.-C. contributed to the NPP calculation. G.T., M.V.-C. and A.B.M.-A. contributed to evaluating the outcomes. A.B.M.-A. led the writing with editing and critical inputs from M.P., G.T., and M.V.-C.

Correspondence to Ana B. Marín-Arroyo or Gabriele Terlato.

The authors declare no competing interests.

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Marín-Arroyo, A.B., Terlato, G., Vidal-Cordasco, M. et al. Subsistence of early anatomically modern humans in Europe as evidenced in the Protoaurignacian occupations of Fumane Cave, Italy. Sci Rep 13, 3788 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30059-3

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Received: 13 November 2022

Accepted: 15 February 2023

Published: 07 March 2023

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-30059-3

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