The highly fragmented nature of Palaeolithic faunal assemblages is a regular limitation in archaeozoological analyses as it prevents a precise taxonomic identification following comparative anatomy criteria. In this paper, we integrate Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) analysis of unidentifiable bone fragments within archaeozoological and taphonomic data to overcome this limitation and disentangle the subsistence strategies of Solutrean and Magdalenian human groups of the La Viña rock shelter (northern Iberia). The ZooMS results are consistent with the archaeozoological data showing preferential exploitation of red deer complemented by horses and caprids, whereas large bovids and reindeer are a minor component. This study also reveals significant species variability in classifying unidentifiable bones to mammal-size classes. The combination of biomolecular methods and traditional archaeozoology and taphonomy provides a higher resolution of faunal diversity in Palaeolithic assemblages and hominin subsistence behaviour related to carcass transport and seasonality.

旧石器时代动物群落的高度分散性是考古动物学分析中的一个常见限制，因为它妨碍了按照比较解剖学标准进行精确的分类识别。在本文中，我们将动物考古学质谱法（ZooMS）对考古动物学和埋藏学数据中无法识别的骨头碎片进行分析，以克服这一局限性，并理清拉维纳岩石庇护所（伊比利亚北部）的索鲁特雷安人和马格达林人类群体的生存策略。ZooMS 的结果与考古动物学数据一致，表明优先开发马鹿，并辅之以马和山羊，而大型牛科动物和驯鹿只占少数。这项研究还揭示了将无法识别的骨骼分类为哺乳动物大小类别的显着物种差异。生物分子方法与传统考古动物学和埋藏学相结合，提供了旧石器时代动物群落的动物多样性以及与尸体运输和季节性相关的古人类生存行为的更高分辨率。