163190 20251017161900.0 doi 10.1016/j.palaeo.2025.113325 sideral 145655 ART-2025-145655 eng Domínguez-García, Ángel C. (orcid)0000-0003-1762-6328 Palaeoecological context for the last Neanderthals of inland Iberia: small mammals from Los Casares cave (Guadalajara, Spain) 2025 Los Casares cave is a site in inland Iberia that preserves evidence of Late Pleistocene Neanderthal and carnivore occupations. In this paper, we report small mammal assemblages from layers C and Bsingle bondC of the “Seno A" cavity which date from MIS 3 (44–42 cal kyr BP). Taphonomic evidence suggests a mixed predator origin for the assemblage, with contributions from both mammalian carnivores and avian raptors. The presence of Cricetulus bursae, Pliomys coronensis, and Alexandromys oeconomus supports the Late Pleistocene age of the deposit. Our results show that the surrounding landscape was characterized by open areas with humid meadows, forest patches, and abundant water sources. Paleoclimatic reconstruction based on the study of small mammals indicates that the region experienced a relatively stable, warm, and humid typical temperate-Mediterranean ecotonal climate. Inferred temperatures were similar to those today for the area, while annual precipitation was slightly higher. These conditions would have provided a favourable setting for Neanderthal subsistence, offering diverse natural resources within a suitable climatic context. As such, our findings provide an updated palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic framework for the last Neanderthals of inland Iberia. Access copy available to the general public Unrestricted info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/DGA/E18 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/H2020/805478/EU/Population dynamics and cultural adaptations of the last Neandertals and first Modern humans in inland Iberia: a multi-proxy investigation/MULTIPALEOIBERIA This project has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No H2020 805478-MULTIPALEOIBERIA info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MCIU/FPU20-02030 info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess by-nc https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/deed.es info:eu-repo/semantics/article info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion Cuenca-Bescós, Gloria Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0001-5125-9651 Alfaro-Ibañez, M. Pilar Universidad de Zaragoza (orcid)0000-0002-0041-0507 Luque, Luis Alcolea-González, J. Javier Alcaraz-Castaño, Manuel 2000 655 Universidad de Zaragoza Dpto. Ciencias de la Tierra Área Paleontología 680 (2025), 113325 [14 pp.] Palaeogeogr. palaeoclimatol. palaeoecol. PALAEOGEOGRAPHY PALAEOCLIMATOLOGY PALAEOECOLOGY 0031-0182 16693579 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/163190/files/texto_completo.pdf Versión publicada 2729679 http://zaguan.unizar.es/record/163190/files/texto_completo.jpg?subformat=icon icon Versión publicada oai:zaguan.unizar.es:163190 articulos driver 2025-10-17-14:07:46 ARTICLE