Cantabrian interstadial phase
Palaeolandscape reconstruction of a pre-coastal Cantabrian valley during an interstadial phase of the Neanderthal period. This composite image integrates regional data from multiple archaeobiological studies, with an emphasis on pollen and charcoal records (see Carrión et al., 2024c, for compilation). Warmer and moister interstadial conditions favour forest expansion, with broad-leaved trees (mostly deciduous oaks, but also groundwater-fed vegetation) in deeper soils, and conifers and birches in montane zones. Shrub and herbaceous diversity is greater than during the stadial phase. Deer, fallow deer, and foxes complement the scene.
Carrión JS, Amorós G, Amorós A, Marín-Arroyo AB. Beyond the Cold Steppes: Neanderthal Landscapes and the Neglect of Flora. Quaternary Science Reviews, invited paper. Volume 371, January 2026, 109673
