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Studies on fossil bone microbial communities are scarce; even fewer studies were performed in cave deposits. For our research, sediments and fossil bones were sampled, and the whole community 16S rRNA gene-based metabarcoding analyses were performed on samples from Muierilor and Ursilor caves, some of Romania's most important archaeological and paleontological sites. Most of the identified taxa belong to Bacteria, with Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, Bacteroidota, and Actinobacteriota amongst the most abundant phyla in bone samples from both caves. The sediment samples presented similar composition, with Proteobacteria and Acidobacteriota being the most abundant phyla. The inferred bacteriomes indicated the presence of environment-specific bacteria, typical bone colonizers, and bacteria found in soils and decomposing human remains or archaeological profiles as well as phosphate-solubilizing and organotrophic bacteria. Diversity indices indicated a higher diversity in bone samples from Muierilor Cave than in Ursilor Cave samples and sediment samples from both caves. Environmental conditions, especially air relative humidity, were also considered in explaining the bacteriome diversity in different cave settings. These findings help to understand fossil bones' deposition and degradation in various environmental conditions. Furthermore, this is the first attempt to relate microenvironments and bacteria to preserving fossil bones from caves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the rich vertebrate fauna of Imanay Cave the abundant material of the small-sized cave bears was originally assigned to the taxon Ursus savini. Teeth and metapodials of statistical amounts were compared with other cave bear faunas and the taxonomic position was determined through morphological and metric analyses. The size of teeth and metapodial bones is significantly smaller in Imanay Cave bears compared to the typical U. deningeri from Mosbach and Hundsheim. Although the teeth are smaller, they reached higher evolutionary level than those from Mosbach or Hundsheim.The bear remains from Imanay Cave show great similarities to the fossils from Kizel Cave in the Ural Mountains described as Ursus rossicus Borissiak, 1930 but also to the remains of small-bodied cave bears of the Alps described as Ursus deningeroides Mottl, 1964. Remarkable are the differences in size of the front dentition: the incisors from Imanay Cave are on average >10% longer and wider than the corresponding teeth from U. deningeroides but also wider than the classic U. deningeri. Preliminary carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses suggest that the small cave bears from Imanay Cave were herbivorous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of fossil bone assemblages has brought up evidence of the existence in the Pleistocene of faunal communities with no modern analogues. This is notably the case for Palaeolithic archaeological sites that have yielded, in the same stratigraphic layers, remains of species that are rarely sympatric in present-day ecosystems. The Mousterian - layer C - and Châtelperronian - layer B - of Grotte XVI (Dordogne, France) provide examples of such "composite" faunas: high proportions of Red deer (21 % and 34 % of the total number of identifiable remains of ungulates, respectively), Roe deer (17 % and 14 %) and Reindeer (42 % and 26 %) have been described in the same assemblages. In order to better interpret these no-analog communities, large mammal remains from layers B and C of Grotte XVI are reanalysed here. Taxonomic identifications, taphonomic data (cortical surface states, anthropic marks, evidences of carnivore activity, etc.), season-of-death estimates and bone refits (intra- and inter-layers) are combined and analysed as part of a three-dimensional spatial study of the faunal assemblages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Chauvet‐Pont‐d'Arc Cave (Ardèche, France) contains some of the oldest Paleolithic paintings recorded to date, as well as thousands of bones of the extinct cave bear, and some remains and footprints of other animals. As part of the interdisciplinary research project devoted to this reference cave site, we analyzed a coprolite collected within the deep cave. AMS radiocarbon dating of bone fragments from the coprolite yielded an age of 30,450 ± 550 RC yr. BP (AAR‐19656; 36,150–34,000 cal BP), similar to ages assigned to Paleolithic artwork and cave bear remains from the same cave sector. Using high‐throughput shotgun DNA sequencing, we demonstrated a high abundance of canid DNA and lesser amounts of DNA from the extinct cave bear. We interpret the sample as feces from a canid that had consumed cave bear tissue. The high amount of canid DNA allowed us to reconstruct a complete canid mitochondrial genome sequence (average coverage: 83×) belonging to a deeply divergent clade of extinct mitochondrial wolf lineages that are most closely related to coeval (~35 ka) Belgian wolves. Analysis of the nuclear genome yielded a similar coverage for the X chromosome (2.4×) and the autosomes (range: 2.3–3.2×), indicating that the Chauvet canid was a female. Comparing the relationship of the nuclear genome of this specimen with that of a variety of canids, we found it more closely related to gray wolves' genomes than to other wild canid or dog genomes, especially wolf genomes from Europe and the Middle East. We conclude that the coprolite is feces from an animal within an extinct wolf lineage. The consumption of cave bear by this wolf likely explains its intrusion into the dark cave sectors and sheds new light on the paleoecology of a major cave site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark shows an extremely well-developed underground karst relief as a result of the great abundance and thickness of its limestone formations. The most important Pleistocene vertebrate site within the Geopark is Coro Tracito Cave at Tella. The fossil association is made up exclusively of bones belonging to Ursus spelaeus from the upper Pleistocene, accumulated over several thousand years. Based on scientific analysis of the fossil bones, an interesting public outreach project has been organized, involving the refurbishment of the site within the cave and the creation of a permanent exhibition called the Tella Cave Bear Museum. These two infrastructures are visited by thousands of tourists each year and constitute the main geoscientific tourist attraction of the Sobrarbe-Pirineos Geopark.

Abstract The Chauvet‐Pont‐d'Arc Cave (Ardèche, France) contains some of the oldest Paleolithic paintings recorded to date, as well as thousands of bones of the extinct cave bear, and some remains and footprints of other animals. As part of the interdisciplinary research project devoted to this reference cave site, we analyzed a coprolite collected within the deep cave. AMS radiocarbon dating of bone fragments from the coprolite yielded an age of 30,450 ± 550 RC yr. BP (AAR‐19656; 36,150–34,000 cal BP), similar to ages assigned to Paleolithic artwork and cave bear remains from the same cave sector. Using high‐throughput shotgun DNA sequencing, we demonstrated a high abundance of canid DNA and lesser amounts of DNA from the extinct cave bear. We interpret the sample as feces from a canid that had consumed cave bear tissue. The high amount of canid DNA allowed us to reconstruct a complete canid mitochondrial genome sequence (average coverage: 83×) belonging to a deeply divergent clade of extinct mitochondrial wolf lineages that are most closely related to coeval (~35 ka) Belgian wolves. Analysis of the nuclear genome yielded a similar coverage for the X chromosome (2.4×) and the autosomes (range: 2.3–3.2×), indicating that the Chauvet canid was a female. Comparing the relationship of the nuclear genome of this specimen with that of a variety of canids, we found it more closely related to gray wolves' genomes than to other wild canid or dog genomes, especially wolf genomes from Europe and the Middle East. We conclude that the coprolite is feces from an animal within an extinct wolf lineage. The consumption of cave bear by this wolf likely explains its intrusion into the dark cave sectors and sheds new light on the paleoecology of a major cave site.

The archaeological site of Payre (South-eastern France) has yielded a remarkable Early Middle Palaeolithic sequence with mixed occupations of Neanderthal and large carnivore occupations ranging from MIS 8 to 6. Recent discoveries during the reassessment of collections brought to light at least a dozen cave (Ursus spelaeus) and brown bear (Ursus arctos) remains bearing cut marks, indicating the in situ carcass processing (skinning, evisceration, dismembering, defleshing) of these large carnivores by early Neanderthals. This is just one of an increasing number of such examples throughout Europe, highlighting once again the diversity of food and non-food resources exploited by these hominins. Furthermore, so far, these discoveries are the sole evidence of large carnivore exploitation by Neanderthal in the western part of the middle Rhône basin, where Palaeolithic sites and Pleistocene bone accumulations are abundant. These new discoveries are put into context with the other known occurrences in Europe. • Large carnivores exploitation played a part in the dietary and cultural behavior of early Neanderthal populations. • Several species of Ursids have been exploited. • Early Neanderthals took advantage of a wide range of resources from these animals. • These practices occurred occasionally on a wide time span covering the Middle Palaeolithic. • Large carnivores exploitation is a Europe-wide phenomenon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Archaeological Materials & Research / Materiale şi Cercetǎri Arheologice is the property of Institute of Archaeology "Vasile Parvan" and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The Torrener Bärenhöhle (Cave of Torren) is an alpine bear cave in the limestone Alps near Salzburg (Austria). The entrance of this cave is located in the riverbed of a periodically flowing stream that floods the caverns during snowmelt or after heavy rainfall. Due to these flooding events, the fossiliferous layers were repeatedly destroyed and the fossil remains – mainly cave bear bones – were distributed over the cave's entrance hall. The fossil collections have taken place since 1924. During the last decades, numerous bones scattered over the cave floor have been collected again and again. In this study, we conduct metric and morphological analyses of this fossil material as well as DNA analyses in an attempt to clarify the taxonomic position of the cave bear remains. The chronological status of the bear remains has not yet been clarified, because the few samples that have been analysed so far were beyond the range of 14C dating, indicating they are older than 49,000 cal yr BP. The following taxa are represented in small numbers: Brown bear (Ursus arctos L.), wolf (Canis lupus L.), cave lion (Panthera spelaeus Goldfuss, 1810), European bison (Bison bonasus L.) and beaver (Castor fiber L.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Spanish Journal of Palaeontology is the property of Socieadad Espanola de Paleontologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

a loose/broken stalagmite containing small fragments of cemented bones were collected from the Postojna Cave to investigate whether deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be determined. The study is complemented by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy - attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) analysis in order to determine the alteration of the bones and to test whether this analysis can be used as an indicator of possible DNA preservation. In addition, geochemical analyses were conducted in order to determine whether the associated flowstone/stalagmite is suitable for elucidating the timing of bone thanatocoenosis and further palaeoenvironmental analyses. The organic matter (collagen) is poorly preserved. However, we succeeded in amplifying a 94 bp long fragment of the cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for one sample, and in sequencing the amto that of the Cyt b of the cave bear (Ursus deningeri or Ursus spelaeus sensu lato). The uranium-thorium dating of the speleothem covering the bones revealed its thanatocoenosis occurred prior to 55 ka, most likely in the late marine isotope stage 4 or early marine isotope stage 3. High porosity and recrystallisation of the flowstone/stalagmite at this part of the cave prevent high-resolution palaeoclimatic interpretation; however, low-resolution stable isotope geochemistry suggests a steppe-like environment during the subsequent growth of the speleothem.

Recent genetic studies have shed light on the phylogeography of cave bears; however, their paleoecology and their diet are still debated, and data from south-eastern Europe are still scarce. Magura Cave, in northwest Bulgaria, has delivered rich faunal assemblages from the Late Pleistocene. The chronology of the excavated area spans from ca. 35 kya to more than 50 kya; the oldest stratigraphic layers being associated with final Middle Palaeolithic tools. The fauna comprises herbivores and carnivores, and potentially different taxa of cave bears, the dental remains of which also showed different tooth morphotypes, suggesting the co-existence of different dietary adaptations. We investigated the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) lineages of the cave bears from Magura Cave as well as the stable carbon and nitrogen isotope composition of the faunal assemblage. Our data revealed that, regardless of the tooth morphotypes, only maternal lineages of Ursus ingressus were present in Magura Cave. Interestingly, one specimen with Ursus arctos mtDNA was also found, showing a clear carnivore diet. In contrast, the U. ingressus specimens had a predominantly herbivorous diet. The tooth morphotypes were associated with significantly different d13C values, suggesting different dietary adaptations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study is to understand the feeding habits of the cave bear, Ursus spelaeus by investigating the dental microwear patterns of 106 molars from six Late Pleistocene caves in Catalonia (Spain): Ermitons Cave, Arbreda Cave, Mollet Cave, Llenes Cave, Toll Cave, and Teixoneres Cave. Dental microwear patterns of U. spelaeus were compared with a reference collection of extant ursid species. The results show an omnivorous and carnivorous diet in all sites analyzed with both intra- and inter-site pattern variability. Unlike previous studies, here dental microwear identified more carnivorous habits for the herbivorous cave bear during the days/weeks before death. More varied and higher energy items would help to cope with the hibernation period. The variability between the samples could be due to the characteristic climatic shifts of the Late Pleistocene and to the corresponding differences in the availability of resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loose bone fragments coated with calcite precipitate including a loose/broken stalagmite containing small fragments of cemented bones were collected from the Postojna Cave to investigate whether deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) can be determined. The study is complemented by the Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy - attenuated total reflectance (FTIR-ATR) analysis in order to determine the alteration of the bones and to test whether this analysis can be used as an indicator of possible DNA preservation. In addition, geochemical analyses were conducted in order to determine whether the associated flowstone/stalagmite is suitable for elucidating the timing of bone thanatocoenosis and further palaeoenvironmental analyses. The organic matter (collagen) is poorly preserved. However, we succeeded in amplifying a 94 bp long fragment of the cytochrome b (Cyt b) gene of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for one sample, and in sequencing the amplified products. The 70 bp long sequence obtained corresponds to that of the Cyt b of the cave bear (Ursus deningeri or Ursus spelaeus sensu lato). The uranium-thorium dating of the speleothem covering the bones revealed its thanatocoenosis occurred prior to 55 ka, most likely in the late marine isotope stage 4 or early marine isotope stage 3. High porosity and recrystallisation of the flowstone/stalagmite at this part of the cave prevent high-resolution palaeoclimatic interpretation; however, low-resolution stable isotope geochemistry suggests a steppe-like environment during the subsequent growth of the speleothem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The composition of large mammal fauna from the Imanay Cave in the Southern Urals (53°02' N, 56°26' E) is described in the present study. The paper aims to provide an preliminary description of the large mammal remains from the Imanay Cave in order to establish their taxonomic status, geological age and to detect the factors that led to accumulation of the bone remains in the cave. An analysis of species composition of vertebrate fauna, archaeological finds and radiocarbon dates has shown that accumulation of fossils in the Imanay Cave spanned the whole period of the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. Remains of the small cave bear (Ursus " savini ") and cave lion (Panthera ex gr. fossilis-spelaea) are prevalent in the Pleistocene groups: 9414 (93%) and 536 (5%) bone specimens, respectively. The cave is the only site in the world where mass bone assemblages of two large terrestrial Carnivora species - small cave bear and cave lion – were found simultaneously. The composition of the skeletal samples for both species was described and the age and sex distributions were determined. Though Mousterian stone tools were found in the cave, no trace of the hunt of the bears and lions by humans was detected. The period during which the accumulation of the fossils took place can be broadly determined as the first half of the Late Pleistocene (MIS5–3). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Remains of a cave bear were studied from a new locality in the Prokoshev Cave in the Middle Urals (58°13´ N, 58°12´ E). Bones from all regions of the skeleton are present, bones are intact and without traces of human or animal activity. They all belong to the cave bear (Ursus kanivetz Vereshchagin, 1973). An AMS radiocarbon date of 53 375 ± 765 BP, IGANAMS–8632, was obtained from an adult mandible. The bones belonged to at least 18 individuals, including 4 individuals aged about one year, 1 aged about two years, 1 aged about three years, and 12 individuals over four years of age. Three skulls belonged to males and seven skulls belonged to females. The analysis has shown that the taphonomic type of this locality is a "mass burial." This is the first "mass burial" of the cave bear in the Urals, found in situ, untouched by humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cave bear was a prominent member of the Upper Pleistocene fauna in Eurasia. While breakthroughs were recently achieved with respect to its phylogeny using ancient DNA techniques, it is still challenging to date cave bear fossils beyond the radiocarbon age range. Without an accurate and precise chronological framework, however, key questions regarding the palaeoecology cannot be addressed, such as the extent to which large climate swings during the last glacial affected the habitat and possibly even conditioned the final extinction of this mammal. Key to constraining the age of cave bear fossils older than the lower limit of radiocarbon dating is to date interlayered speleothems using 230Th/U. Here we report new results from one such site in the Eastern European Alps (Schwabenreith Cave), which yielded the highest density of bones of cave bear (Ursus spelaeus eremus). Although dating of the flowstones overlying this fossiliferous succession was partly compromised by diagenetic alteration, the 230Th/U dates indicate that the bear hibernated in this cave after about 113 ka and before about 109 ka. This time interval coincides with the equivalent of Greenland Stadial 25, suggesting possible climate control on the cave bear's habitat and behaviour. © 2019 The Authors. Journal of Quaternary Science Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cave bears have disappeared from the Alps from different altitudes at different times. The temporal progression of the HDEL (Height Dependent Extinction Line) - a compilation of the geologically most recent radiocarbon dates per altitude level - is not consistent with the general cooling of the temperatures from about 45 ka BP. The cave bear sites of the Northern Alps with the most recent radiocarbon ages are not situated in the lowlands but in caves in altitudes of 1,500 m to 1,700 m above sea level (a.s.l.). Cave bears fed almost exclusively on herbs and leaves. It was assumed that with the general cooling in the OIS 3 since about 45 ka BP also the migration of the alpine elements into the lowlands took place. It could be recognized that the populations in the lower situated cave bear site became earlier extinct than the cave bear population in the higher altitudes. With new radiocarbon dates, done at the Curt-Engelhorn-Center Archaeometry at the Reiss-Engelhorn-Museen in Mannheim (Germany), the HDEL can be determined much more precisely and the causes of gradual extinction are also better understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When studying an extinct species such as the cave bear (Ursus spelaeus ROSENMÜLLER 1794), it is possible to apply a variety of molecular biology techniques such as the study of stable isotopes or mitochondrial DNA (mDNA) to infer patterns of behaviour or physiology that would otherwise remain concealed. Throughout Europe and along time, differences in the isotopic values (δ13C and δ15N) of cave bears arise from environmental differences and the Pleistocene climatic evolution. The climate determines the hibernation length, during which the cave bears undergo a particular physiology that can be related to an increase in δ15N during climate cooling. In order to verify whether hibernation affected the isotopic values, we compared cave bears in different ontogenetic stages. The results show that perinatal values reflect the values for mothers during hibernation, while juveniles show differences in maternal investment. A previous study in the literature based on complete mitochondrial DNA sequences of several individuals collected from closely situated caves showed that each cave housed, almost exclusively, a single lineage of haplotypes. This pattern suggests extreme fidelity to the birth site, or homing behaviour, and that cave bears formed stable maternal social groups, at least for the purpose of hibernation. Studies of this type offer unexpected data on the palaeobiology of this extinct animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deninger's bears (Ursus deningeri) have been studied less frequently than Ursus spelaeus s.l. Our objective is to present, for the first time, an analysis of the skull shape of U. deningeri. Bear crania and mandibles were digitised with a Microscribe or CT-scanned and the surface models subsequently landmarked. The landmarks were chosen based on a compromise between functional morphology and sample size. Results show that U. deningeri and U. spelaeus mandibles display very similar morphologies and allometric trajectories, both to each other and to Ailuropoda melanoleuca. It is inferred that masticatory adaptations to a herbivorous diet were already present in the Middle Pleistocene. U. deningeri displays a cranial morphology that is similar to that of U. spelaeus when comparing all species, but U. deningeri has a relatively narrower and dorsoventrally lower zygomatic arch than U. spelaeus, although the masticatory signal is less strong in the skull. We observe intraspecific differences between different populations of U. deningeri, which could parallel the genetic diversity found in U. spelaeus. The intraspecific differences found within U. deningeri may be temporal and/or geographical in nature and could be related to the evolution of the Late Pleistocene cave bear, but this hypothesis remains to be tested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The morphology of both crowns and tooth-roots reflects dietary specialisation in mammalian carnivores. In this article, we analyse the tooth-root morphology of maxillary teeth from CT scans of living bears (Ursus arctos, Ursus americanus, Ursus maritimus, Ursus thibetanus, Melursus ursinus, Helarctos malayanus, Tremarctos ornatus and Ailuropoda melanoleuca) in order to make inferences about the diet and feeding behaviour of the extinct cave bear (Ursus spelaeus sensu lato). Specifically, we investigate two major mitochondrial clades of extinct cave bears recognized by previous authors: Ursus ingressus and Ursus spelaeus (U. spelaeus spelaeus, U. spelaeus ladinicus, U. spelaeus eremus). Our results indicate a close association between tooth-root surface area and feeding behaviour in all living bear species. Tooth-root surface area values of cave bears suggest that they relied more on vegetative matter than living brown bears (Ursus arctos) but subtle differences between these species/subspecies could also indicate different feeding strategies among the members of cave bear complex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diet of the cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a controversial topic, as different paleobiological approaches (e.g. dental wear, isotopic biochemistry, skull morphometrics) result in different dietary inferences for the cave bear, ranging from carnivory to pure herbivory. Here, we review the main results obtained from these approaches, with special emphasis on those obtained from the morphometric analyses of the cave bear craniodental skeleton. Then, we compute a between-group Principal Components Analysis from a set of 3D-landmarks digitized on 103 mandibles of living bears and extinct cave bears and using a phylomorphospace approach. Moreover, we also reconstructed the evolutionary trajectory of the cave bear mandible from the hypothetical shape of its inferred ancestor. Our results indicate that the mandible of the cave bear possess specific traits indicative of a highly-herbivorous diet or, at least, more herbivorous than their closest living relative, the brown bear (Ursus arctos). Moreover, we also propose new directions for future research to obtain more detailed inferences on the potential food resources consumed by the cave bear being crucial to understand the 'life and death' of this vanished animal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than 300 cave bear bones from all over Europe have carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition that match overwhelmingly a diet based on plants, except for samples from two caves in Romania, for which high nitrogen-15 amounts have been interpreted as reflecting an omnivorous diet. This paper aims at deciphering the various factors influencing the carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition of a potential omnivorous species like cave bear, those linked to trophic levels and variations among plants and those caused by physiological factors. The comparison of European cave bears with coeval Late Pleistocene large mammals with different diets clearly shows that all the cave bear populations, including those from Romania, present isotopic values overlapping with herbivores, not with carnivores. Therefore omnivory is very unlikely for cave bears. Consumption of plants with high δ15N values, such as graminoids, forbs and possibly fungi, could explain in part the observed isotopic pattern. In addition, the variations in δ15N values through ontogeny support the hypothesis of a different hibernation pattern for the Romanian cave bears with high δ15N values. Future investigations using new isotopic approaches, especially nitrogen isotopic composition of collagen amino acids, should contribute to decipher the paleoecology of these Romanian cave bears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Cave Bear, Ursus spelaeus (sensu lato), was one of many megafaunal species that became extinct during the Late Pleistocene in Europe. With new data we revisit the debate about the extinction and paleoecology of this species by presenting new chronometric, isotopic and taphonomic evidence from two Palaeolithic cave bear sites in northeastern Italy: Paina Cave and Trene Cave. Two direct radiocarbon dates on well-preserved collagen have yielded ages around 24,200-23,500 cal yr BP, which make them the latest known representatives of the species in Europe. The carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N) isotopic values of bone collagen exhibit values similar to those of older cave bears from Swabian Jura and France, suggesting that the feedings preferences of cave bears remained unchanged until the disappearance of this species in Europe. Several bear remains preserved traces of human modification such as cut marks, which enables a reconstruction of the main steps of fur recovery and the butchering process. The broad range of plant types available and the favorable location of Berici Hills may have played an important role in the range expansion of cave bears and their interaction with the Paleolithic hunters settled the same area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Longevity and other life history variables are key to understanding evolutionary processes and the biology of extinct animals. For the past 20 years, the lifespan of cave bears received an increased interest. Studies focusing on incremental lines of tooth cementum resulted in detailed mortality patterns from different localities. In this review, we summarise literature on age estimation as well as mortality of different European cave bear localities and present novel data on longevity from 94 teeth originating from 20 European localities. Additionally, the relative tooth emergence pattern of the permanent dentition is investigated under the Schultz's rule framework of possible life history implications. For this, the known sequences of extant bear species are compared with the one of cave bears. Our results suggest that the typical duration of the life of cave bears was 19 years but data from literature show that in rare cases ages of up to 30-32 years were achieved. Additionally, we present the oldest known age for the Middle Pleistocene cave bear Ursus deningeri, 29 years. The tooth eruption pattern of cave bears exhibits a heterochronic shift that implies, under the assumption of Schulz' rule, a slightly faster life history than closely related species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few members of the Pleistocene megafauna have been as extensively studied as cave bears. Multidisciplinary research into cave bears has provided insights into their morphology, ecology, and evolution. Genetic studies have profited from the availability of large numbers of well-preserved remains. As a result, 'ancient DNA (aDNA)' from cave bears has provided significant insights into cave bear ecology, phylogeography and even potential causes of their extinction. Here I review the contributions that genetic research has made to our understanding of cave bear biology and evaluate the potential that new, genomic tools provide to shed further light onto how these iconic representatives of the Pleistocene megafauna lived and died. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this issue, we cover an exceptional topic in Vertebrate Paleobiology that has been an enjoyable challenge for scientists and the popular media alike: the life and death of the Pleistocene cave bear (Ursus spelaeus). As an icon of the ice-age, the cave bear inhabited the glacial ecosystems of Eurasia, and it was the inspiration of a popular book written in 1976 by Björn Kurtén, entitled The cave bear story: life and death of a vanished animal. Although 'The life and death' was a summary of the knowledge acquired on cave bear biology at that time, four decades later, many aspects of its palaeoecology, extinction and evolution are still a matter of debate. With this volume, we aim to bring together the most recent research on cave bear biology in order to provide an update on the palaeoecology, biogeography, systematics, and phylogeny of this recently extinct ursine bear. We thus organised a symposium on the 1st of August 2017 as part of the three-day Annual Meeting of the European Association of Vertebrate Palaeontologists (EAVP) in Munich, Germany, that was an additional opportunity to announce the volume and to discuss this exciting subject face-to-face among specialists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of dental wear was first used years ago to infer the palaeoecology of fossil mammals and in particular their diet. Results depend predominantly on the scale of the analysis used. Analyses of dental macrowear, mesowear or microwear do not provide the same type of dietary information, be it about the seasonal, annual or lifetime diet. This contribution focuses on emblematic species, cave bears (Ursidae), in particular Ursus spelaeus spelaeus. Methods used by previous researchers to infer their dietary preferences and thus their palaeoecology are reviewed and compared. This review is complemented by an analysis of several specimens of cave bears from the Goyet cave in Belgium, using dental microwear texture analysis (DMTA), a methodology widely applied for reconstructing palaeodiets. Three main conclusions are drawn here: (1) DMTA is the method that provides the most precise palaeobiological inferences; (2) during the pre-dormancy period, cave bears show dietary flexibility; (3) dental wear alone might be not sufficient to provide a complete reconstruction of the cave bear palaeodiet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Paleogenomics, also known as genome-wide ancient DNA analysis, is transforming our understanding of the human past, but has been much less intensively used to understand the history of other species. However, paleogenomic studies of non-human animals and plants have the potential to address an equally rich range of evolutionary, paleoecological, paleoenvironmental, and archaeological research questions. Three recent case studies of cave bears, horses, and maize provide examples of the ways that paleogenomics can be used to examine potential causes of extinctions and dynamic processes of domestication. Much more research in these areas is needed, and we conclude by highlighting key future directions. Highlights To date, genome-wide analyses of ancient organisms have primarily focused on humans, despite the fact that there are millions of living and extinct plant and animal species that also can be studied with these techniques. Natural history museums, archives, and archaeological collections harbor abundant sources of ancient DNA for studying past plant and animal genetic diversity around the world. Ancient DNA provides access to genomic data covering hundreds of thousands of years, allowing for the investigation of evolutionary, ecological, social, and environmental questions in deep time, especially regarding the ways that humans have interacted with other species and modified past ecosystems and environments. Case studies of cave bears, horses, and maize highlight the power of paleogenomic data to shed light on extinctions, admixture between domestic and wild animals, and the gradual selection for domestication genes during plant and animal domestication. It is time to apply the power of genome-wide ancient DNA analysis to non-humans as ambitiously as it has been applied to our own species, making sure to treat ancient specimens in an ethical way that preserves them for future generations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Morphometric and morphotypic variability of the cave bear upper incisors from two different geographic regions (Caucasus and Urals), different stratigraphic periods (middle and late Pleistocene), and bearing different mitochondrial haplogroups (kudarensis and ingressus) was studied. The specific diet of the cave bears, i.e. hard vegetables, led to noticeable differences between their incisors and the incisors of the brown bear (Ursus arctos). It was found that the upper incisors of the Caucasian cave bears from different stratigraphic periods demonstrate consistent development of their morphology. The late Pleistocene cave bears from the Urals show a greater similarity to the Caucasian cave bears from earlier periods than with the cave bears from later periods. Our results suggest that the incisor morphology has evolved independently in the Caucasian and Ural cave bears as they belong to different phylogenetic lineages and display different ways of adaptation to local environmental conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accumulations of cave bear bones are common in Pleistocene cave sediments. The reasons for the deposition are usually clear, and believed to be associated with the hibernation behavior of bears. Although they are common, little is known about the post‐sedimentary processes that affect the assemblages. The cave bear bone accumulations from the Lower Weichselian layers of Biśnik Cave, Poland, represent an interesting case of intensive post‐depositional bone destruction. Bones are highly fragmented and rounded, although no traces of water currents have been detected in the stratigraphic series. In this paper we use the case of Biśnik Cave as an example of cave bear strata, to describe the taphonomic features of the abraded‐like bones and to recognize the underlying processes. We present a micromorphological study of rounded bones and surrounding sediments to increase knowledge of the depositional context in the cave environment. Micromorphological analysis of the sediments indicated in situ disintegration of bones rather than abrasion. The factor responsible here was internal stress, as opposed to the external pressure of mineral grains in the case of abrasion. We indicate frost action as a possible factor responsible for the post‐depositional bone disintegration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The abundance of skeletal remains of cave bears in Pleistocene deposits can offer crucial information on the biology and life history of this megafaunal element. The histological study of 62 femora from 23 different European localities and comparisons with specimens of five extant ursid species revealed novel data on tissue types and growth patterns. Cave bear’s femoral bone microstructure is characterized by a fibrolamellar complex with increasing amounts of parallel-fibered and lamellar bone towards the outer cortex. Remodelling of the primary bone tissue initially occurs close to the perimedullary margin of the bone cortex around the linea aspera. Although similar histological traits can be observed in many extant bear species, the composition of the fibrolamellar complex can vary greatly. Cave bears reached skeletal maturity between the ages of 10 and 14, which is late compared to other bear species. There is a significant correlation between altitude and growth, which reflects the different body sizes of cave bears from different altitudes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In 1995, an unusually perforated femur of a juvenile cave bear was found in the Divje babe I Palaeolithic cave site in Slovenia. The supposition that it could be a flute led to heated debates. According to its archaeological context and chronostratigraphic position, if made by humans, it could only be attributed to Neanderthals. The crucial question was related to the origin of the holes. These could only have been made either by a carnivore or by human intervention. Results of experimental testing of both hypotheses do not support a carnivore origin of the holes. Furthermore, the method of artificial creation of the holes, which left no conventional traces of manufacture, was defined. Computed tomography revealed traces, which could be the result of human agency and called into serious question the origin of some features previously declared to be solely of carnivore origin. Recent musical experiments performed on a replica of the reconstructed musical instrument revealed its great musical capability. Together with some other findings from Divje babe I, the Mousterian musical instrument offers a unique insight into the Neanderthals' symbolic behaviour and their cognitive abilities. The multidisciplinary results of comprehensive analyses of this exceptional find are first presented here together with its chronostratigraphic, palaeo-environmental, and archaeological contexts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Absolute dates of cave bears from Northern Italy are rare. The first radiocarbon date from Covoli di Velo Cave (Verona Province, Veneto, N. Italy) from a cave bear first phalanx is reported; its value is 29,130 ± 0.90 14C yr BP. The date, combined with morphological features of dentition suggest that cave bear populations that lived in Northern Italy were relatively underived compared to other European populations, hinting at patters of migration. Comparison of dental morphology suggest that the Covoli di Velo bear is Ursus spelaeus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we performed stable isotope analysis on bone collagen of 81 samples from at least 39 brown bears ( Ursus arctos ) dating from Late Pleistocene to nowadays, that lived in the western of the Cantabrian Mountains. To interpret the data obtained we compared brown bear stable isotope signatures with those of cave bears ( Ursus spelaeus ), red deer ( Cervus elaphus ), and humans ( Homo sapiens ) from the same area. We observed that the diet of cave bears and brown bears in the Cantabrian Mountains was based on vegetable matter, although their different isotopic signatures suggest different ecological niches: wooded lowlands for the cave bear and steep highlands with scarce tree cover for the brown bear. In the Holocene brown bear maintains isotopic signatures similar to the Pleistocene ones in spite of the climatic tempering, which seems to be related to an even greater displacement toward the uplands due to a greater anthropic pressure in the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The palaeoichnology of the cave bear, Ursus spelaeus , was studied at Urşilor Cave, Apuseni Mountains, Romania, to acquire new data about the ethology and the metrics of this extinct species. Eight stations containing footprints, scratch marks and nests were surveyed using laser scanning to build tridimensional models for several cave bear nests, wall scratch marks and footprints. Morphological observations were made using the models, and precise measurements of the breadth or depth of the scratch marks were performed. In addition, >100 cave bear nests and 10 footprints were measured and analyzed. The palaeoichnogical data were corroborated with previously obtained information on the taphonomy, geomorphology, sedimentology and geochronology from this site. Several bioglyphs (e.g., scratch marks, footprints) were indirectly dated to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 by identifying and assigning them to co-occurring cave bear skeletons. As a consequence, we stress the need for a multidisciplinary approach in order to assess the palaeoichnology of cave bear sites. Findings fill a gap in our knowledge because cave bear bioglyphs are one of the less studied branches of cave bear research due to the scarcity and fragility of ichnological features. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the detailed analysis of a cervical vertebra from a cave bear, found at Pešturina cave, Serbia, in a Mousterian archaeological level dated by radiocarbon at 43.5–44.6 kyr cal BP, and by ESR to between 93.5 and 102.5 kyr BP. Identified as a portion of the cranial articular facet, the fragment displays ten subparallel grooves. The microscopic study of these grooves and other surface modification present on the bone fragment, conducted with multifocus optical and confocal microscopes and complemented by a taphonomic analysis of the associated faunal assemblage, supports the hypothesis that the incisions were made by humans. Results are used to critically examine ambiguities implicit in the analysis and interpretation of early engravings, a category of material culture that has been playing a key role in the identification of early instances of symbolically mediated behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]