New insights into the historical translocation of Algerian hedgehog and pine marten throughout the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean): refining the radiocarbon‐based chronology

In this paper, we refine the colonisation timeframe of pine marten (Martes martes) and Algerian hedgehog (Atelerix algirus) to Balearic Islands synthesising their occurrence records providing an accurate chronology through new directly 14C dated archaeological bone samples. The dates are significantly earlier than previously reported finds; therefore, both cases currently represent earliest for human-mediated translocation these species in Europe. These data not only provide further resolution previous historical hypothesis but also expand geographical scope throughout archipelago. sequence timing introduction events embedded different timeframes. time arrival is now established early Roman period, a period that supported huge wave introduced alien into Balearics. For hedgehog, support Almohads were responsible its islands. Both examples illustrate how important it connect past tighter radiometric chronologies direct dating on bones implicated species.