Accumulation and hunting agents of leporids: the TE9d assemblage from Sima del Elefante site (Sierra de Atapuerca)

The site of Sima del Elefante is known for hosting the oldest human populations in Europe. One of the main aims in studying these populations is to determine the environment in which these hominins lived and to identify the different organisms they coexisted with and the relationships among them. Here, we focus on the leporid remains recovered from level TE9d of Sima del Elefante. To identify the agents that acted upon these remains, we conducted a taphonomic study. Currently, there are some studies related to the predation and consumption of leporids by birds of prey and small carnivores such as lynxes and foxes. However, there are other smaller carnivores that also act on leporids, about which there is very little information available. In the study of TE9d, we identified evidence of the activity of a small carnivore such as a mustelid. On the other hand, the anatomical representation of the assemblage and the bone surface modifications suggest the activity of other agents, such as a lynx-type carnivore (Lynx sp.) and a nocturnal bird of prey such as the Eagle Owl (Bubo bubo).