Ecology and demographic structure of an extinct ibex population in late Upper Palaeolithic Italian Alps

TL;DR

This study explores the ecology and human interactions with an extinct ibex population in the Italian Alps during the late Upper Palaeolithic period.

Contribution

The study provides the first multidisciplinary analysis of Late Palaeolithic ibex teeth, including ancient DNA sequences and ecological insights.

Findings

Most ibex were local despite human presence.

Significant dietary differences were found between sexes.

Riparo Dalmeri belongs to an extinct branch of the ibex mtDNA phylogeny.

Abstract

Alpine Upper Palaeolithic contexts exhibit specialised subsistence strategies, heavily dependent on Capra ibex. Among them, the rock shelter Riparo Dalmeri stands out, with C. ibex dominating faunal remains across all occupation phases, spanning the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. This evidence positions Riparo Dalmeri as a key site for exploring the interaction between human groups and C. ibex during this period of significant climatic and cultural shifts in human evolution. Here, we present the first multidisciplinary study on Late Palaeolithic C. ibex teeth from Riparo Dalmeri, integrating direct radiocarbon dating, stable isotope (δ13C, δ18O) and 87Sr/86Sr analyses, proteomic, and aDNA data. We generated the earliest aDNA sequences for C. ibex and contextual evidence on mobility, seasonality, and sex ratios. We found that most C. ibex were local to the area despite consistent human presence. They reveal significant dietary differences between sexes as well as increased seasonality at the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Our results identify Riparo Dalmeri as belonging to an extinct branch of the ibex mtDNA phylogeny, offering unprecedented insights into ibex ecology and evolution that resonate with present-day issues on the conservation of this species in the face of climate change.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1038/s41598-025-32389-w.

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