The Small Vertebrates Taphonomy and Palaeoecology of El Harhoura 2 Cave (Rabat-Témara, Morocco)

Résumé En

The North-Atlantic region of Morocco is a geographical zone of major interest with regard to understanding the prehistory of North Africa. It is in the region of Temara, to the south of Rabat, that the oldest human remains attributable to Homo sapiens in Morocco have been found, in an Aterian archaeological context. El Harhoura 2 Cave is situated in this region, and has yielded much archaeological material (lithic and bone artefacts, fauna, human remains) corresponding to Paleolithic and Neolithic occupations. This cave is also exceptionally rich in microvertebrates, both for its material abundance and specific diversity. Contrary to the European sites of the same epoch, microvertebrates found in archaeological context are still poorly studied in North Africa despite the fact that because of their modes of life, small Mammals, Amphibians and Reptiles are good environmental and climatic indicators. Much has to be deduced about paleoecology from modern faunal assemblages as well as taphonomical studies of modern bones concentrations (regurgitation pellets, trapping results, museum specimens collections). But, in order to obtain precise paleocological reconstruction, there is a need of completing the present reference collection for quantitative and qualitative paleoenvironmental comparisons. In order to be aware of taphonomic biases, a neo-taphonomic study of North Africa small vertebrates predation assemblages is also required.The first results of the taphonomic study of the microvertebrates of El Harhoura 2 indicate that the bones of small vertebrates were accumulated by different predators.The paleocological study shows that there were variations of the climate and the landscape during middle Paleolithic, upper Paleolithic and Neolithic in Morocco. The implications regarding human population are also discussed.