Dental wear analysis of Early Pleistocene ungulates from Quibas (Murcia, Spain): A comparative perspective with other Iberian sites

The Early Pleistocene site of Quibas preserves a rich terrestrial vertebrate assemblage, dated between 1.1 and 0.9 Ma, providing an opportunity to investigate ungulate dietary strategies and habitat use during a crucial phase of hominin dispersal in the Iberian Peninsula. Dental wear analyses of Equus altidens, Hemitragus alba, Praeovibos mediterraneus, and Dama vallonnetensis, combining long-term tooth mesowear and short-term occlusal microwear, reveal a broad spectrum of feeding behaviours in these large vertebrates, ranging from browsing to mixed feeding and grazing, with evidence of seasonal dietary shifts. The occurrence of high pit frequencies, puncture pits, and gouges suggests occasional ingestion of exogenous grit, consistent with the use of open and arid habitats. Integration of dental wear results with previous microfaunal palaeoecological reconstructions indicates a heterogeneous landscape composed of grasslands interspersed with wooded patches. A comparative analysis with other Early Pleistocene Iberian sites reveals recurring patterns of dietary flexibility among ungulates, reflecting the exploitation of mosaic environments. However, no distinct landscape-related pattern emerges from dental wear analyses when comparing sites with and without hominin presence.