Person: Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis
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First Name
Juan Luis
Last Name
Arsuaga Ferreras
Affiliation
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Faculty / Institute
Ciencias Geológicas
Department
Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y Paleontología
Area
Paleontología
Identifiers
242 results
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Now showing 1 - 10 of 242
Item Talonid crests expression at the enamel–dentine junction of hominin lower permanent and deciduous molars(Comptes rendus Paleovol, 2014) Martinón-Torres, María; Martínez de Pinillos, Marina; Skinner, Matthew M.; Martín-Francés, Laura; Gracia-Téllez, Ana; Martínez Mendizábal, Ignacio; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; Bermúdez de Castro, José MaríaThe application of microtomography (mCT) to dental morphological studies has unveileda new source of palaeobiological information, particularly in the analysis of the internalstructures of teeth. In this study, we assess the expression of talonid crests at the enameland dentine surfaces in lower permanent and second deciduous molars (M2and dm2) ofH. sapiens, H. neanderthalensis and Atapuerca-Sima de los Huesos (SH) hominins. In modernhumans, talonid crests are described exclusively in the deciduous teeth (Korenhof, 1982)and interpreted as a primitive mammalian remnant of the talonid attachment to the trigo-nid. Here we report for the first time the expression of talonid crests of deciduous andpermanent molars in H. sapiens, H. neanderthalensis and Middle Pleistocene hominins. Wediscuss possible evolutionary interpretations and suggest the importance of recording thisfeature in future studies.Item Palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction of the Latest Pleistocene of El Portalón Site, Sierra de Atapuerca, northwestern Spain(Palaeogeography, palaeoclimatology, palaeoecology, 2010) López García, Juan Manuel; Blain, Hugues Alexandre; Cuenca Bescós, Gloria; Ruiz Zapata, María Blanca; Dorado Valiño, Miriam; Gil García, María José; Valdeolmillos, Ana; Ortega, Ana Isabel; Carretero, José Miguel; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; Bermúdez de Castro, Jose María; Carbonell, EudaldThe site of El Portalón is the entrance to the Cueva Mayor karst system, located in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain). This is an important Holocene archaeological site,which was excavated in the 1970s but from which little has been published. New excavations starting in 2000 have highlighted a deep stratigraphical sequence, with human occupations starting at the end of the Late Pleistocene. In this paper, we present for the first time, on the basis of the small-vertebrate assemblage, palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions of the Latest Pleistocene of the Sierra de Atapuerca, well known for its Early to Middle Pleistocene human-bearing localities. The small vertebrates of El Portalón comprise at least 25 species: 4 amphibians (Alytes obstetricans, Bufo bufo, Bufo calamita and Rana temporaria); 3 squamates (an indeterminate small-size lacertid, an indeterminate large colubrine and Vipera sp.); 6 insectivores (Sorex gr. coronatus-araneus, Sorex minutus, Neomys fodiens, Neomys anomalus, Talpa europaea and Galemys pyrenaicus); 2 bats (Myotismyotis and Myotis gr. myotis-blythi); 10 rodents (Microtus arvalis, Microtus agrestis, Microtus oeconomus, Iberomys cabrerae, Chionomys nivalis, Terricola duodecimcostatus, Arvicola sapidus, Arvicola terrestris, Apodemus sylvaticus and Eliomys quercinus). These taxa, many of which are ecothermal (sensitive to temperature) show variations in their taxonomic diversity throughout the sequence. Although, with the exception of M. oeconomus, they do not differ fromthe extant fauna of the Iberian Peninsula, they do so in the abundance of their taxonomic assemblage. When the small vertebrates are grouped and studied in terms of vertical trends through the sequence, it is possible to follow environmental and climatic changes. Results from the small-vertebrate associations indicate that the landscape had open habitats in the vicinity of the Atapuerca caves throughout the sequence,withwet locales in the surrounding area. Woodland and water stream meadows were more developed during "warm" periods (Is5, Is6/Is7 and Is3/Is4), whereas during "cold" periods (H3 and LGM) the environment was slightly more humid in response to winter precipitation and the opening of the landscape. These results are compared with pollen analysis and marine isotopic curves, giving a scenario for the palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental changes that occurred during the Latest Pleistocene in the Sierra de Atapuerca.Item Metric and morphological study of the upper cervical spine from the Sima de los Huesos site (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos, Spain)(Journal of Human Evolution, 2007) Gómez Olivencia, Asier; Carretero, José Miguel; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; Rodríguez García, Laura; García González, Rebeca; Martínez Mendizábal, IgnacioIn this article, the upper cervical spine remains recovered from the Sima de los Huesos (SH) middle Pleistocene site in the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain) are described and analyzed. To date, this site has yielded more than 5000 human fossils belonging to a minimum of 28 individuals of the species Homo heidelbergensis. At least eleven individuals are represented by the upper cervical (C1 and C2) specimens: six adults and five subadults, one of which could represent an adolescent individual. The most complete adult vertebrae (three atlases and three axes) are described, measured, and compared with other fossil hominins and modern humans. These six specimens are associated with one another and represent three individuals. In addition, one of these sets of cervical vertebrae is associated with Cranium 5 (Individual XXI) from the site. The metric analysis demonstrates that the Sima de los Huesos atlases and axes are metrically more similar to Neandertals than to our modern human comparative sample. The SH atlases share with Neandertals a sagittally elongated canal. The most remarkable feature of the SH (and Neandertal) axes is that they are craniocaudally low and mediolaterally wide compared to our modern male sample. Morphologically, the SH sample shares with Neandertals a higher frequency of caudally projected anterior atlas arch, which could reflect greater development of the longus colli muscle. In other features, such as the frequency of weakly developed tubercles for the attachment of the transverse ligament of the atlas, the Sima de los Huesos fossils show intermediate frequencies between our modern comparative samples and the Neandertals, which could represent the primitive condition. Our results are consistent with the previous phylogenetic interpretation of H. heidelbergensis as an exclusively European species, ancestral only to H. neanderthalensis.Item Sexual dimorphism of the enamel and dentine dimensions of the permanent canines of the Middle Pleistocene hominins from Sima de los Huesos (Burgos, Spain)(Journal of Human Evolution, 2020) García Campos, Cecilia; Modesto Mata, Mario; Martinón Torres, María; Martínez de Pinillos, Marina; Martín-Francés, Laura; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; Bermúdez de Castro, José MaríaSexual dimorphism is an important component of the total variation seen in populations and plays a key role in taxonomic debates. In this study, microtomographic (microcomputed tomography) techniques were applied to a sample of hominin teeth from the Sima de los Huesos site (Spain). Dental tissue proportions of the permanent canines were assessed to characterize the pattern and degree of sexual dimorphism within this population. In addition, the possible similarities and differences with the Homo neanderthalensis remains from Krapina (Croatia) and with a recent modern human sample were evaluated. A combination of classical statistical approaches with more novel techniques allowed us not only to ratify the sex allocation of the individuals previously assigned in the literature but also to estimate the sex of the youngest individuals, which were not assessed in previous studies. Likewise, the sexes of certain extensively worn canines and isolated pieces were estimated. As a result, the sex ratio observed in our dental sample from the Sima de los Huesos population is 5:9 (Nm:Nf). In general terms, both Sima de los Huesos and Krapina dental samples have a degree of sexual dimorphism in their permanent canine tissue proportions that does not surpass that of modern humans. The marked dimorphic root volume of Sima de los Huesos mandibular canines is the exception, which surpasses the modern human mean, although it falls within the 95% confidence interval. Therefore, our results do not support that dental tissue proportions of the European Middle Pleistocene populations were more dimorphic than in modern humans. However, the differences in canine tissue proportions are great enough to allow sex estimation with a high degree of confidence.Item Lagomorph predation represented in a middle Palaeolithic level of the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter site (Pinilla del Valle, Spain), as inferred via a new use of classical taphonomic criteria(Quaternary international, 2015) Arriaza, María del Carmen; Huguet Pamiès, Rosa; Laplana Conesa, César; Pérez González, Alfredo José; Márquez, Belén; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; Baquedano, EnriqueLagomorph remains at Pleistocene sites may accumulate through the action of hominins, raptors or carnivores. Actualistic studies have described reliable taphonomic indicators that allow human and nonhuman involvement in such accumulations to be distinguished. However, discriminating between possible animal predators is not easy, because the prey remnants they leave may undergo the same kinds of taphonomic transformation. The main aim of the present work was to identify the agent, human or non-human, that accumulated the lagomorph remains at the Navalmaíllo Rock Shelter site (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid). For this, 1) established taphonomic criteria, such as anatomical representation, were taken into account, 2) the presence of infant lagomorphs was examined by determining the age of the individual animals, 3) and coprolite remains adhered to fossils were identified. This new use of the latter two criteria aided in the identification of the predator responsible for the accumulation of remains. The results suggest that this was a small carnivore, probably an Iberian lynx.Item The mitochondrial genome sequence of the Tasmanian tiger [Thylacinus cynocephalus](Genome research, 2009) Miller, Webb; Drautz, Daniela I.; Janecka, Jan E.; Lesk, Arthur M.; Ratan, Aakrosh; Tomsho, Lynn P.; Packard, Mike; Zhang, Yeting; McClellan, Lindsay R.; Qi, Ji; Zhao, Fangqing; Gilbert, M. Thomas P.; Dalén, Love; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; Ericson, Per G. P.; Huson, Daniel H.; Helgen, Kristofer M.; Murphy, William J.; Götherström, Anders; Schuster, Stephan C.We report the first two complete mitochondrial genome sequences of the thylacine [Thylacinus cynocephalus), or so-called Tasmanian tiger, extinct since 1936. The thylacine's phylogenetic position within australidelphian marsupials has long been debated, and here we provide strong support for the thylacine's basal position in Dasyuromorphia, aided by mitochondrial genome sequence that we generated from the extant numbat [Myrmecobius fasciatus). Surprisingly, both of our thylacine sequences differ by 11%-15% from putative thylacine mitochondrial genes in GenBank, with one of our samples originating from a direct offspring of the previously sequenced individual. Our data sample each mitochondrial nucleotide an average of 50 times, thereby providing the first high-fidelity reference sequence for thylacine population genetics. Our two sequences differ in only five nucleotides out of 15,452, hinting at a very low genetic diversity shortly before extinction. Despite the samples' heavy contamination with bacterial and human DNA and their temperate storage history, we estimate that as much as one-third of the total DNA in each sample is from the thylacine. The microbial content of the two thylacine samples was subjected to metagenomic analysis, and showed striking differences between a wild-captured individual and a born-in-captivity one. This study therefore adds to the growing evidence that extensive sequencing of museum collections is both feasible and desirable, and can yield complete genomes.Item On the age of the hominid fossils at the Sima de los Huesos, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain: paleomagnetic evidence(American Journal of Physical Anthropology, 2000) Parés, J.M.; Pérez González, Alfredo José; Weil, A.B.; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan LuisWe report new paleomagnetic data for the Middle Pleistocene hominid-bearing strata in the Sima de los Huesos, North Spain. Sediments (brown muds with human and bear fossils and the underlying sterile clayey and sandy unit) preserve both normal and reversed magnetic components. The sterile unit has exclusively reversed magnetization, dating back to the Matuyama Chron, and thus is Lower Pleistocene in age. The overlying fossiliferous muds have a dominant normal magnetization that overprints a partially resolved reversed magnetization. These data are compatible with one of the reversal events that occurred during the Brunhes Chron. Combined with the existing U-series dates and evidence from the macro- and microfauna, these paleomagnetic results suggest an age of the hominid fossils between 325 to 205 ka, whereas the underlying sand and silts are older than 780 ka.Item Brain size and organization in the Middle Pleistocene hominins from Sima de los Huesos. Inferences from endocranial variation(Journal of Human Evolution, 2019) Poza Rey, Eva María; Gómez Robles, Aida; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan LuisThe Sima de los Huesos (SH) endocranial sample includes 16 complete or partial endocasts corresponding to European Middle Pleistocene hominins. Different anatomical and molecular studies have demonstrated that these hominins are phylogenetically related to Neanderthals, thus making them the earliest unquestionable representatives of the Neanderthal lineage. The description of endocranial variation in this population is fundamental to shedding light on the evolution of the Neanderthal brain. In this contribution, we analyze and describe endocranial variation in this sample, including aspects related to brain size (endocranial volume and encephalization) and brain organization (through qualitative descriptions and quantitative analyses). Our results indicate that the SH hominins show a transitional state between a primitive hominin endocranial configuration (which is found in Homo erectus and non-SH Middle Pleistocene Homo) and the derived configurations found in Neanderthals and modern humans, without a clear anticipation of classic Neanderthal endocranial traits. In comparison with other cranial and postcranial traits that show a fully Neanderthal or clear pre-Neanderthal condition in the SH collection, endocranial variation in these hominins is surprisingly primitive and shows no Neanderthal affinity. These results and the comparison with other cranial traits confirm that Neanderthals evolved in a mosaic fashion. Traits related to mastication (dental, facial and mandibular anatomy) led the Neanderthalization process, whereas neurocranial anatomy must have acquired a fully Neanderthal condition considerably later.Item Taphonomic studies with wild brown bears (Ursus arctos) in the mountains of northern Spain(Journal of archaeological science, 2013) Sala Burgos, Nohemi; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan LuisIn this work we present data obtained from experiments with wild brown bears from the Cantabrian Mountains in northern Spain. Our results show that wild brown bears do not take carcasses to their dens, but can displace them by tens of meters before eating them, and the remains can become dispersed some meters around the place where the carcass is consumed. The long bones of large-sized carcasses show no fractures, but they do show tooth marks (scores, pitting, punctures and furrowing) especially on the cancellous bone of the epiphyses. Ribs and vertebrae show fractures and furrowing. The innominate also shows furrowing on cancellous bone of the ilium and ischium. The results of this study are in agreement with previous work and also shed some light on the behavior of this carnivore in the wild. The data gathered are of great importance when interpreting paleontological and archaeological sites where the bear is a likely taphonomic agent.Item Clima y vegetación durante el Holoceno reciente en El Calvero de la Higuera (Pinilla del Valle, Madrid). Nuevos datos polínicos(Revista española de micropaleontología., 2007) Ruiz Zapata, María Blanca; Gómez González, Clemencia; Gil García, María Elena; Pérez González, Alfredo José; Baquedano, Enrique; Arsuaga Ferreras, Juan Luis; López Saez, José Antonio; Bauz, Sergio; Márquez, BelénSe presentan los datos polínicos procedentes de la secuencia holocena del abrigo de Navalmaillo (PV-NA1) y se comparan con los de la cueva de la Buena Pinta (PV-CBP), pertenecientes ambos, al complejo arqueopaleontológico de Pinilla del Valle (Madrid). Los resultados han permitido distinguir durante el Holoceno reciente en el área de Pinilla del Valle varias fases en la dinámica de la vegetación y cambios climáticos, que se han deducido por del desarrollo y la degradación de pinares y el dominio de un paisaje local abierto determinado por asteráceas, quenopodiáceas y gramíneas. El responsable principal de los cambios de vegetación a lo largo del Holoceno medio es fundamentalmente el clima, mientras que los cambios detectados a partir de 1.920 ±40 BP, parecen ser el resultado de la acción combinada del clima y las actividades humanas.