Beyond Bones: Digestive Taphonomy and Coprolites from Quaternary

Dear Colleagues,

The study of digestive processes and their imprint on biological remains has become an essential line of research for understanding interactions, predator–prey dynamics, and the structure of Quaternary ecosystems. Coprolites and other digestively modified materials preserve a unique record of past behaviours, diets, and ecological relationships, offering insights that cannot be obtained from skeletal assemblages alone. Their analysis provides a powerful tool for reconstructing past environments, identifying the agents responsible for bone accumulations, and refining interpretations of site formation processes across a wide range of contexts.

Recent advances in analytical methods—including microscopy, geochemistry, biomolecular approaches, and digital imaging—have expanded the potential of digestive taphonomy to address questions at multiple scales. These techniques help clarify the identity of the producers of coprolites, reveal variations in digestive physiology among carnivores and birds of prey, and improve the recognition of biogenic accumulations in the Quaternary record. At the same time, the increasing number of new discoveries and case studies highlights the need for shared methodological criteria and a common analytical framework to enhance comparability and strengthen interpretations across regions.

This Special Issue aims to bring together contributions linked to the activities of the TaphEN (IRN 0871 CNRS) Working Group on the Taphonomy of Digestion, as discussed during the meeting held at the Faculty of Geography and History, University of Barcelona, on 28 October 2025. Submissions will cover the diverse approaches currently used to study coprolites and digestively modified remains, including taxonomic identification, chemical and molecular analyses, taphonomic characterization, ecological reconstruction, and methodological standardization. By integrating studies of Quaternary fossils and modern contexts, this collection seeks to advance our understanding of digestive processes and their role in shaping the Quaternary record.

We warmly invite researchers working on any aspect of digestive taphonomy or coprolite analysis to contribute to this Special Issue and help strengthen a shared framework for future studies.

Dr. Montserrat Sanz
Dr. Jean-Philip Brugal
Dr. Philippe Fosse
Guest Editors

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• coprolites
• palaeoenvironment
• carnivores
• taphonomy
• digested bones
• quaternary
• human–carnivore interactions