Revisiting taphonomic methodologies in microvertebrate research: A case study from Tabun Cave Layer C (Mount Carmel Israel)

A critical reappraisal of taphonomic methodologies in microvertebrate research, using Tabun Cave Layer C (Mount Carmel, Israel) as a case study, reveals the robustness and importance of comprehensive taphonomic analysis. The study reorganizes and reanalyzes raw data from Fried et al. (2024), applying established frameworks such as those by Andrews (1990). Key findings emphasize the necessity of identifying accumulation agents and assessing post-depositional processes to avoid interpretive errors, thereby providing critical palaeoecological insights into Neanderthal and Homo sapiens fossil remains. This work advocates for the refinement and broader integration of taphonomic methodologies in microvertebrate palaeoecology.

Fernández-Jalvo, Y., García-Morato, S., Denys, C., & Andrews, P. (2026). Revisiting taphonomic methodologies in microvertebrate research: A case study from Tabun Cave Layer C (Mount Carmel Israel). Quaternary Science Advances, 23, 100323. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.qsa.2026.100323