Monospecific or Species-Dominated Faunal Assemblages During the Middle Paleolithic in Europe

Monospecific or species-dominated faunal assemblages are a common phenomenon especially during the Upper Pleistocene in Europe. Analysis of these assemblages indicated hunting by Neandertals and moreover point to a variety of exploitation tactics used which can be interpreted in terms of a highly flexible subsistence strategy. Though these assemblages provide an excellent source for our understanding of Neandertals' subsistence, the coarse chronological resolution during the Pleistocene prevents further and far-reaching conclusions concerning evolutionary behavioural trends during the Middle Paleolithic.