In their quest for pelts, humans may have driven cave lions to extinction

CANTABRIA, Spain, Oct. 26 (UPI) -- Scientists believe the Eurasian cave lion was the largest lion species to ever walk the Earth. Unfortunately, it's no longer with us. According to a new study in the journal PLOS ONE, humans of the Late Stone Age may be to blame.

New evidence uncovered by scientists in Spain suggests some Upper Paleolithic hunters may have dabbled in the lion trade. Until now, evidence of lion exploitation has proven elusive.

At a cave site called La Garma in northern Spain, researchers recovered cave lion bones with marks similar to those found on the bones of prey skinned by modern hunters. The marks are unique to a skinning technique used to keep the claws of the animal attached to its fur.

Radiocarbon dating suggests the lion was killed between 14300 and 14000 B.C. Cave lions went extinct not long after 14000 BC.

The evidence suggests the recovered cave lion toe bones may have been attached to a pelt that lay permanently on the floor of a cave. La Garma is known as a host site for early human rituals; the cave lion may have been an animal of symbolic importance.

Researchers acknowledge their hypothesis is just one of several possible scenarios.

"It is by no means clear that our results point towards a unique and unequivocal archaeological evidence of cave lion exploitation," scientists wrote.

But if correct, scientists argue the "outstanding evidence" could serve as a "speculative alternative explanation to cave lion extinction during the Late Pleistocene."