Cantabrian stadial phase
Palaeolandscape reconstruction of a pre-coastal Cantabrian valley during a stadial phase of the Neanderthal period. This composite image represents average vegetation patterns derived from multiple regional archaeobiological studies, with a focus on pollen and anthracological data (see Carrión et al., 2024c, for compilation). The landscape is dominated by heliophilous, graminoid vegetation with abundant Artemisia, Ericaceae, Asteraceae, and Cyperaceae. Woody elements include birch trees (foreground and lower slopes) and scattered pines and junipers in the background. Two species of the Pleistocene cold-adapted fauna, Coelodonta antiquitatis and Rangifer tarandus, are depicted grazing.
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
