Remains of birds that migrated 90,000 years ago from regions near the Arctic have been found in the Cova del Gegant in Sitges
Researchers from the University of Barcelona have discovered the remains of Artic birds, typical of regions close to the Arctic, at the site of the Cova del Gegant in Sitges (Garraf). The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, indicate that, at different times since 90,000 years ago, species such as the snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) or the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) travelled thousands of kilometres south to the Mediterranean region, to seek shelter during episodes of extreme cold weather.
Researchers from the University of Barcelona have discovered the remains of Artic birds, typical of regions close to the Arctic, at the site of the Cova del Gegant in Sitges (Garraf). The findings, published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, indicate that, at different times since 90,000 years ago, species such as the snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis) or the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) travelled thousands of kilometres south to the Mediterranean region, to seek shelter during episodes of extreme cold weather.
More than 1,200 bird bones of 46 different species have been identified at the site. Although most of them are of species that inhabit the Mediterranean, there are also birds from northern regions of Europe bordering the Arctic. This is the case of the snow bunting (Plectrophenax nivalis), which inhabited the cave 90,000 years ago. From around 45,000 years ago, remains of the pine grosbeak (Pinicola enucleator), the parrot crossbill (Loxia pytyopsittacus) and the bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) have been identified. And remains of the snowy owl (Bubo scandiacus) have been found from around 39,600 years ago. The remains of these birds have been found together with those of typical Mediterranean species with which they coexisted, such as the red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) or the red-billed chough (Pyrrhocorax pyrrhocorax).
“The Cova del Gegant presents a combination of bird species unparalleled today. Many of these birds are not adapted to the modern Mediterranean climate, indicating that their presence on the Catalan coast was due to forced migrations due to climatic conditions adverse to their original habitats”, note the UB researchers Montserrat Sanz and Joan Daura, authors of the findings —together with Antonio Sánchez, researcher at the Miquel Crusafont Catalan Institute of Palaeontology.
The discovery was made by the UB’s Quaternary Research Group of the Prehistoric Studies and Research Seminar (SERP), with funding from the Department of Culture of the Government of Catalonia and the Spanish Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.
Sánchez Marco, Antonio; Daura, Joan; Sanz, Montserrat. «Nordic irruptive birds within a Mediterranean avian assemblage at the Neanderthal and modern human site of Cova del Gegant (Sitges, Barcelona)». Journal of Archeological Science: Reports, May 2025. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jasrep.2025.105201
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