A multidisciplinary team has identified new Neanderthal remains at the l'Arbreda cave site in Serinyà, Girona, Spain. Three human teeth were discovered, belonging to a child, a juvenile, and an adult.
Two of the teeth, from level N of the cave, are at least 120,000 years old, while the third tooth, found in level J, dates between 71,000 and 44,000 years. Preliminary results suggest these teeth can be attributed to Homo neanderthalensis.
This conclusion is part of research published in the American Journal of Biological Anthropology, led by Marina Lozano, a researcher at IPHES-CERCA and an associate professor at Universitat Rovira i Virgili.
The analysis revealed a lower right deciduous molar, a lower right permanent molar, and a right upper third premolar. Morphological and morphometric characteristics allowed the classification of these specimens as Homo neanderthalensis.
High-resolution micro-computed tomography (µCT) was utilized to create three-dimensional images of the teeth, facilitating the reconstruction and analysis of their internal anatomy, including the enamel-dentin junction, enamel thickness, and pulp cavity volume.
Images were processed using specialized software to differentiate various dental tissues accurately. Scanning electron microscopy assessed potential post-depositional alterations on the teeth's surfaces, ensuring robust tissue preservation for analysis.
Standard morphological measurements compared the recovered teeth with those from other sites, while three-dimensional models quantified enamel thickness distribution and determined the shape and proportions of the pulp cavity.
Lozano stated, "The discovery is significant as it provides more information about Neanderthal presence in l'Arbreda at different times (around 120,000 years ago and between 71,000 and 44,000 years ago). The more recent find is particularly interesting as it offers insights into the subsistence strategies of the last Neanderthals in the Iberian Peninsula, during a time of potential coexistence with anatomically modern humans."
The research indicates that Neanderthals at l'Arbreda may have alternated between short seasonal occupations and longer settlements, suggesting adaptation to climatic and environmental changes.
The l'Arbreda cave is part of the archaeological site complex in the Reclau area, which includes other sites like Pau cave, Reclau Viver cave, Mollet cave, Mollet III cave, and Cau del Roure.
Serinyà sites have been crucial in the development of prehistoric archaeology in Catalonia, with a long history of interventions dating back to the 1880s.
In 2008, the Reclau site complex was declared a Cultural Asset of National Interest, and since 1997, the Parc de les Coves Prehistòriques de Serinyà has made it accessible to the public.
The l'Arbreda cave is key for studying the transition between the Middle and Upper Paleolithic in Western Europe. First excavated in 1972, it contains an archaeological sequence spanning from the Middle Paleolithic to the Neolithic, including lithic tools associated with the Mousterian culture used by Neanderthals.
Lower levels show evidence of prolonged occupations, indicating recurrent Neanderthal presence over extended periods, while upper levels reflect shorter, seasonal occupations. This contrast illustrates changes in subsistence strategies as these groups approached extinction.
Joaquim Soler, a researcher at the Catalan Institute for Cultural Heritage Research and co-director of the excavation, emphasized the site's importance: "The l'Arbreda cave is fundamental for understanding Neanderthal presence in Catalonia and their subsequent replacement by modern humans. These new findings confirm the significance of Neanderthal occupations in this area, which were much longer than initially thought."