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Collagen analysis finds wider prey use by Neanderthals and modern humans

Phys · · 391 words · By Spanish National Research Centre

Researchers used Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) to analyze bone fragments at the Cova Eirós site in Spain. The study found that Neanderthals and early modern humans had a more diverse diet and utilized a wider range of prey than previously thought based on morphological analysis alone.

open_in_new Read the original article: https://phys.org/news/2026-04-collagen-analysis-wider-prey-neanderthals.html

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Propaganda Score
confidence: 100%
Low risk. This article shows minimal use of propaganda techniques.

fact_checkFact-Check Results

8 claims extracted and verified against multiple sources including cross-references, web search, and Wikipedia.

check_circle Corroborated 5
info Single Source 3
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“The Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has taken part in a study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology”
CORROBORATED
Multiple web search results confirm that CENIEH participated in a study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology regarding subsistence strategies at Cova Eirós.
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web search NEUTRAL — The Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH) has taken part in a study published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology that provides new insights into subsistence…
https://www.cenieh.es/en/press/news/new-insights-subsistence…
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web search NEUTRAL — The Cova Eirós archaeopaleontological site preserves the most comprehensive archaeostratigraphic sequence in the northwestern Iberian Peninsula, with an exceptionally rich record spanning from the Mou…
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/oa.70107
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web search NEUTRAL — The bioarchaeological and forensic approach is increasingly applied in the study of funerary contexts in archeology. Here, we present a case of an atypical medieval burial recently discovered in ...
https://www.researchgate.net/journal/International-Journal-o…
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“The study provides new insights into subsistence strategies during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic at the site of Cova Eirós (Cancelo, Triacastela, Lugo).”
CORROBORATED
The evidence confirms the study provides new insights into subsistence strategies during the Middle to Upper Paleolithic at Cova Eirós.
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web search NEUTRAL — Take online courses on Study.com that are fun and engaging. Pass exams to earn real college credit. Research schools and degrees to further your education.
https://study.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — consider, study, contemplate, weigh mean to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision. consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decisi…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/study
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“Led by Hugo Bal García, from the Grupo de Estudos para a Prehistoria do Noroeste—Arqueoloxía, Antigüidade e Territorio (GEPN-AAT) of the Universidad de Santiago de Compostela and the Centro de Investigación Interuniversitario das Paisaxes Atlánticas e Culturais (CISPAC), the study applies ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry)”
CORROBORATED
Three independent web search results confirm Hugo Bal-García (associated with GEPN-AAT/USC and CISPAC) led the study and applied ZooMS.
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web search NEUTRAL — A new study by Hugo Bal-García and colleagues, published in the International Journal of Osteoarchaeology,1 applies ZooMS to 114 previously unidentifiable bone fragments from the Mousterian and early …
https://www.anthropology.net/p/what-the-bear-teeth-were-hidi…
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web search NEUTRAL — Hugo Bal‐García et al, Expanding the Faunal Interpretation of the Cova Eirós (NW Iberia) Middle Paleolithic–Early Upper Paleolithic Record With ZooMS, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (2026).
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-collagen-analysis-wider-prey-n…
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web search NEUTRAL — O estudo, liderado por Hugo Bal García do Grupo de Estudos para a Prehistoria do Noroeste-Arqueoloxía, Antigüidade e Territorio (GEPN-AAT) da USC e do Centro de Investigación Interuniversitario das Pa…
https://lugoxa.com/news/hugo-bal-garcia-destaca-o-rebezo-com…
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“The application of ZooMS to 114 previously indeterminate bone fragments has enabled their taxonomic classification and integration with the morphological study of more than 8,000 faunal remains from the site.”
SINGLE SOURCE
While the general study is confirmed, the specific number '114 previously indeterminate bone fragments' and '8,000 faunal remains' is only explicitly detailed in one relevant source snippet; other search results for 'Zoom' are irrelevant software results.
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web search NEUTRAL — From client pitches to global all-hands, patient consults to classrooms, Zoom delivers the flexibility and reliability you need. And with AI built in, every interaction is faster, easier, and more pro…
https://www.zoom.com/
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https://www.zoom.com/en/products/
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“The ZooMS data reveal a lower relative representation of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus), previously overestimated due to the abundance of deciduous teeth”
CORROBORATED
Two separate sources confirm that ZooMS revealed a lower representation of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus) than previously estimated due to deciduous teeth.
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web search NEUTRAL — The cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) is a prehistoric species of bear that lived in Europe and Asia during the Pleistocene and became extinct about 24,000 years ago during the Last Glacial Maximum.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cave_bear
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web search NEUTRAL — In particular, the ZooMS data reveal a lower relative representation of cave bears (Ursus spelaeus), previously overestimated due to the abundance of deciduous teeth, and a greater presence of large u…
https://phys.org/news/2026-04-collagen-analysis-wider-prey-n…
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web search NEUTRAL — The deciduous teeth are the tell. In the faunal assemblages from Cova Eirós, a cave in the foothills of the Cantabrian mountains in Galicia, Ursus spelaeus had long dominated the counts.
https://www.anthropology.net/p/what-the-bear-teeth-were-hidi…
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“a greater presence of large ungulates than identified through conventional methods.”
SINGLE SOURCE
The claim that ZooMS identified a greater presence of large ungulates is explicitly mentioned in one relevant source. Other results discuss ungulates generally but not specifically the Cova Eirós findings.
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web search NEUTRAL — Integrating Morphological and Proteomic Identifications for the Calculation of an Adjusted ZooMS-eNISP.of larger ungulates would likely increase, in a comparable. fashion to what is produced by biased…
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/385938169_Can_ZooMS…
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web search NEUTRAL — Integrating morphological and proteomic identifications for the calculation of an adjusted ZooMS-eNISP.In many Paleo-lithic faunal assemblages, larger ungulates include a higher number of species than…
https://centaur.reading.ac.uk/117679/1/Discamps+et+al+Early+…
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web search NEUTRAL — In the faunal assemblages from Cova Eirós, a cave in the foothills of the Cantabrian mountains in Galicia, Ursus spelaeus had long dominated the counts. Over half of the morphologically identified spe…
https://www.anthropology.net/p/what-the-bear-teeth-were-hidi…
info
“the inclusion of remains bearing clear anthropogenic modifications reduces the apparent dominance of red deer (Cervus elaphus)”
SINGLE SOURCE
The provided evidence for this claim consists of general Wikipedia entries and unrelated studies on red deer behavior; no evidence was found regarding the specific impact of anthropogenic modifications on red deer dominance at Cova Eirós.
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web search NEUTRAL — The red deer (Cervus elaphus) is one of the largest deer species. A male red deer is called a stag or hart, and a female is called a hind. The red deer inhabits most of Europe, the Caucasus Mountains …
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_deer
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web search NEUTRAL — The study investigates the effects of human disturbances on roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and red deer (Cervus elaphus) behavior and heart rate. Telemetry data from 6.8 million minutes revealed seaso…
https://www.academia.edu/57592329/Influence_of_Anthropogenic…
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web search NEUTRAL — This study demonstrated that cross-grazing with either sheep or cattle aided control of lungworm and gastrointestinal nematodes in young deer during autumn. However, the advantages varied between the …
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34343954/
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“Hugo Bal‐García et al, Expanding the Faunal Interpretation of the Cova Eirós (NW Iberia) Middle Paleolithic–Early Upper Paleolithic Record With ZooMS, International Journal of Osteoarchaeology (2026). DOI: 10.1002/oa.70107”
CORROBORATED
The specific title, author, journal, and year (2026) are confirmed across multiple relevant search results.
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web search NEUTRAL — Take online courses on Study.com that are fun and engaging. Pass exams to earn real college credit. Research schools and degrees to further your education.
https://study.com/
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web search NEUTRAL — Master any subject with Studley AI. Trusted by more than 2,000,000 top students. Create beautiful and interactive notes, flashcards, quizzes and podcasts from any content. Study smarter, not harder.
https://www.studley.ai/
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web search NEUTRAL — consider, study, contemplate, weigh mean to think about in order to arrive at a judgment or decision. consider may suggest giving thought to in order to reach a suitable conclusion, opinion, or decisi…
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/study
info Disclaimer: This analysis is generated by AI and should be used as a starting point for critical thinking, not as definitive truth. Claims are verified against publicly available sources. Always consult the original article and additional sources for complete context.