Neanderthal coasteering and the first Portuguese hominin tracksites

Abstract

Multiple sources of evidence for the systematic use of coastal ecosystems and resources by Neanderthals are known. Fossil hominin footprints offer direct portraits of individual or social group presence and locomotor behavior, and interspecific interactions, in the coastal ecospace. Here we describe the first two hominin tracksites found in the southwestern most region of Europe. At Monte Clérigo, dated to 78 ± 5 ka, trackways of three individuals demonstrate how Neanderthals navigated dune landscapes. These behaviors suggest route planning, with dune systems serving as advantageous settings for ambush hunting or stalking prey. A single footprint at Praia do Telheiro site, dated to 82 ± 5 ka, sustains the presence of Neanderthals in the dune ecosystem during Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5a. Network analysis provided dietary preferences and ecological interactions of Neanderthals in coastal areas. A review of the Neanderthal coastal sites associated with faunal evidence shows that their diet was primarily centered on cervids, horses and hares. The consistent presence of these mammal taxa highlights their role as reliable food sources, irrespective of the varying environments inhabited by Neanderthals. In addition, the Neanderthal diet also incorporated animals from neighboring littoral habitats, indicating a broad foraging strategy that capitalized on local biodiversity.