Prehistoric humans were hunters who killed prey to survive and Eurasion cave lions may have been one of their casualties.
While scientists say they are not certain why the big cat disappeared, they believe our ancestors may have played a role in their extinction – because these lions were hunted down for their pelts.
The Eurasion cave lions once roamed across northern European countries including the UK, but vanished around 14,000 years ago.
While humans from this time period are known to have pursued other carnivores, evidence of lion hunting is sparse.
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However, a new study of fossilised cave lion toe bones from La Garma cave in northern Spain has indicated they were once part of a single lion pelt that may have been laid on the floor.
Most of the bones showed signs of cut and scraping marks left by stone tools.
A specialised technique appears to have been used similar to that employed by modern hunters when skinning to keep an animal’s claws attached to its fur.
La Garma is known to have been associated with human rituals and cave lions may have had symbolic significance for those occupying the cave.
Marian Cueto, from the University of Cantabria in Spain, and her team describe the finds in the journal Public Library of Science ONE.
The researchers concluded: “This site is one of the few that provides Pleistocene examples of lion exploitation by humans. Our archaeo-zoological study suggests that lion-specialised pelt exploitation and use might have been related to ritual activities.
“Moreover, the specimens also represent the southern-most European and the latest evidence of cave lion exploitation in Iberia.
“Therefore, the study seeks to provide alternative explanations for lion extinction in Eurasia and argues for a role of hunting as a factor to take into account.”
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