Insights on the Early Pleistocene Hominin Population of the Guadix-Baza Depression (SE Spain) and a Review on the Ecology of the First Peopling of Europe

The chronology and environmental context of the first hominin dispersal in Europe have been subject to debate controversy. oldest settlements Eurasia (e.g., Dmanisi, ?1.8 Ma) suggest a scenario which Caucasus southern Asia were occupied ?0.4 Ma before peopling Europe. Barranco León (BL) Fuente Nueva 3 (FN3), two Early Pleistocene archeological localities dated ?1.4 Orce (Guadix-Baza Depression, SE Spain), provide evidence presence Western At these sites, huge assemblages large mammals with butchery marrow processing unearthed associated abundant Oldowan tools deciduous tooth Homo sp. case BL. Here, we: (i) review sites Europe; (ii) discuss on subsistence strategies hominins, including new estimates resource abundance for populations Atapuerca Orce; (iii) use cartographic data sedimentary deposits reconstructing landscape habitable Guadix-Baza; (iv) calculate size population using an estimate density based abundance. Our results indicate that Guadix-Baza could be home small 350–280 individuals. This basin is surrounded by highest mountainous reliefs Alpine-Betic orogen shows limited number connecting corridors surrounding areas, gene flow other populations. Isolation would eventually lead bottlenecks, genetic drift inbreeding depression, conditions documented wild dog basin, probably compromised viability medium long term. explains discontinuous nature record Guadix-Baza, situation can also extrapolated scarcity ancient chronologies