The bearded vulture (Gypaetus barbatus), also known as ossifrage (the 'bone-breaker'), was a frequent inhabitant of the Lagar Velho rockshelter. Its presence is evidenced by thousands of coprolites, which can hardly be quantified. Coprolites are excrement preserved by time, that is, fossilised, and are real time capsules of scientific information. Through the macro- and microscopic study of these peculiar finds, it is possible to discover the living beings that produced them, what they ate and even obtain information about the surrounding landscape through the pollen preserved in these remains.
The different recesses on the back wall of the rockshelter, sometimes quite deep, were used as nesting sites by the bearded vultures. These quite large birds have a white plumage that acquires an ochre colour over time as they bathe in waters rich in iron oxides.
OTHER INHABITANTS OF THE ROCKSHELTER
The ossifrage...