Turtles and Mesolithic Human Subsistence: Taxonomic and Taphonomic Study of the Assemblages from El Collado (Oliva, Eastern Iberian Peninsula)

This paper presents the first comprehensive taxonomic and taphonomic analysis of turtle remains from the Mesolithic site of El Collado (Oliva, Valencia), one of the most significant archaeological sites on the Iberian Peninsula. This unprecedented assemblage, derived from previously unpublished collections, provides critical insights into the subsistence strategies and environmental adaptations of Mesolithic communities during the Early Holocene. Through detailed examination, two key Iberian species, Emys orbicularis and Mauremys leprosa, have been identified, offering new taxonomic evidence on the distribution of these taxa in the region. The study also documents anthropogenic modifications, including fire marks, suggesting that turtles were a significant food resource, thus contributing to a broader understanding of human-environment interactions in prehistoric contexts. The findings underscore the importance of small prey exploitation in Mesolithic subsistence strategies, offering valuable paleoenvironmental and paleoeconomic insights. This work enhances our understanding of resource use and cultural practices in Mesolithic societies, emphasizing the role of local fauna in their adaptation to postglacial environmental changes.