Abstract This paper presents pollen analyses and radiocarbon dating on Crocuta coprolites from Las Ventanas (LV) and Carihuela (Car) Caves in southern Spain (Granada), with the aim of reconstructing the environmental conditions of these hominin sites. The LV coprolites are radiocarbon dated from c. 37,890 to 6980 cal yr BP, and the Car coprolites from c. 31,063 to 7861 cal yr BP. Overall, the palaeoecological scenario inferred from both coprolite series display similar patterns, with Pinus, Poaceae, and Artemisia as dominant during the full Pleistocene, and an important contribution of Quercus in the most recently dated coprolite samples. While the palynology is consistent with results of former investigations on the past environments in the region as obtained from other deposits (peat bogs, cave infills), the Late Glacial and Holocene chronology of several coprolites in both sites is in conflict with the generally accepted timing of extinction of Crocuta in western Europe. A discussion on the taphonomical processes and potential sources of carbon contamination of the radiocarbon samples is provided. The correlation between pollen from coprolites and from sedimentary records, and the paucity of the fossil bone record suggests nevertheless, that a late survival of Crocuta in southern Spain should not be categorically discarded.

中文翻译：

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西班牙南部 Piñar 岩溶洞穴 Las Ventanas 和 Carihuela 的鬣狗粪化石的孢粉学和年代学

摘要 本文介绍了西班牙南部（格拉纳达）Las Ventanas (LV) 和 Carihuela (Car) Caves 的 Crocuta 粪化石的花粉分析和放射性碳测年，旨在重建这些古人类遗址的环境条件。LV 粪化石是放射性碳，年代从 c。37,890 至 6980 cal yr BP，以及来自 c. 的 Car coprolites。31,063 至 7861 cal yr BP。总体而言，从两个粪化石系列推断出的古生态情景显示出相似的模式，松属、禾本科和蒿属在整个更新世期间占主导地位，而栎属在最近确定日期的粪化石样本中具有重要贡献。虽然孢粉学与从其他沉积物（泥炭沼泽、洞穴填充物）获得的对该地区过去环境的先前调查结果一致，两个地点的晚冰期和全新世的几种粪化石的年代学与普遍接受的西欧 Crocuta 灭绝的时间相冲突。提供了关于放射性碳样品碳污染的埋藏过程和潜在来源的讨论。来自粪化石和沉积记录的花粉与化石骨骼记录的缺乏之间的相关性表明，西班牙南部的 Crocuta 晚期存活不应该被断然丢弃。