RM Godinho is funded by Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT; contract reference 2020.00499.CEECIND). This research was also funded by: FCT R&D projects (project “ParaFunction—Are Neanderthals adapted to heavy masticatory and paramasticatory function?”, reference 2022.07737.PTDC; https:// doi. org/ 10. 54499/ 2022. 07737. PTDC); the Synthesys+ program (project reference IL-TAF-98, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem). Thanks are also due to the FCT for funding of the following projects: the European Regional Development Fund (FEDER) via the Programa Operacional CRESC Algarve 2020, of Portugal2020, in the context of the MugePortal project (“Muge Shellmiddens Project: a new portal for the last hunter-gatherers of the Tagus Valley, Portugal (MugePortal)”, project reference ALG-01-0145-FEDER-29680/ PTDC/HAR-ARQ/29680/2017); “Os últimos caçadores‑recolectores de Muge (Portugal): as origens da complexidade social” (PTDC/HIS‑ ARQ/112156/2009); “Os últimos caçadores‑ recolectores do vale do Tejo—os concheiros de Muge” (PTDC/HAH/64185/2006). The EarthWatch Institute funded “Discovering Ancient Societies in Portugal”. C. Umbelino is funded by the Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT, reference UIDB/00283/2020). J Cascalheira is funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; contract reference DL 57/2016/CP1361/CT0026). C Gonçalves is funded by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT; contract reference DL 57/2016/ CP1361/CT0029). This research was also funded by the Archeological Institute of America (The Archeology of Portugal Fellowship