Search results for "PLEISTOCENE"

Land Snails as a Diet Diversification Proxy during the Early Upper Palaeolithic in Europe

2014

Despite the ubiquity of terrestrial gastropods in the Late Pleistocene and Holocene archaeological record, it is still unknown when and how this type of invertebrate resource was incorporated into human diets. In this paper, we report the oldest evidence of land snail exploitation as a food resource in Europe dated to 31.3-26.9 ka yr cal BP from the recently discovered site of Cova de la Barriada (eastern Iberian Peninsula). Mono-specific accumulations of large Iberus alonensis land snails (Ferussac 1821) were found in three different archaeological levels in association with combustion structures, along with lithic and faunal assemblages. Using a new analytical protocol based on taphonomic…

A revision of medium and small sized deer from the Middle and Late Pleistocene of Calabria and Sicily

2001

The remains of Megaceroides calabriae from Middle Pleistocene deposits at locality Bovetto (Southern Calabria) and of Megaceroides carburangelensis from the late Middle and Late Pleistocene locality Cimillà (South-eastern Sicily) are revised. These deer were considered as endemic species of strongly reduced size, related to genus Megaceroides (=Praemegaceros), which evolved in insular environment similarly to the endemic megaceroids from Sardinia, Corsica and Crete, M, cazioti and M. cretensis. The comparison of M. calabriae and M. carburangelensis with representatives of genera Megaceroides and Dama, carried out in the present study, shows that the Calabrian and Sicilian deer belong to Dam…

Pleistocene Calabrian and Sicilian bioprovinces

2002

During the Pleistocene, southern Calabria was the area through which several mammalian taxa dispersed into the Sicilian island via the Straits of Messina. The rich fossil record of Sicily allowed for the construction of a fairly detailed bio-chronological frame that is dated by correlation of vertebrate bearing deposits with marine deposits. At present five Faunal Complexes (F.C.), characterised by the occurrence of different taxa, have been recognised. The two older Faunal Complexes (Monte Pellegrino F.C.'xes Elephas falconeri F.C.) include taxa with differently marked endemic features denoting the occurrence of an insular system made up of geographically isolated small islands, with very …

The structure of western Sicily, central Mediterranean

2002

Western Sicily is part of the Sicilian chain, a sector of the SE-verging Alpine orogenic belt in the central Mediterranean. Interpretation of seismic reflection profiles, boreholes and recent inland geological data, have enabled us to assess the deep structural grain. A wedge of flat-lying Mesozoic–Miocene carbonate and terrigenous rocks (pre-Panormide nappes) is superimposed on NW-trending, 7–8 km thick, Mesozoic–Paleogene carbonate thrust ramps (Trapanese units), arranged in two structural levels extending from the Tyrrhenian coast to western offshore Sicily. Upper Miocene to Pleistocene terrigenous strata, often deformed, fill syntectonic basins above the thrust pile. The main tectonic t…

A latest Biharian small vertebrate fauna from the lacustrine succession of San Lorenzo (Sant’Arcangelo Basin, Basilicata, Italy)

2005

Abstract The Sant’Arcangelo Basin is located in the southern part of the Apennine chain (Basilicata). It is filled by a siliciclastic sequence 3500 m thick, dated to the Late Pliocene–Middle Pleistocene time interval. In this basin an Early Middle Pleistocene fluvio-lacustrine sequence, known as San Lorenzo Cycle, has been recognised. In the upper part of the sequence, in Rifreddo, a fairly diversified small vertebrate assemblage has been recovered. The occurrence of Mimomys savini allows to the fauna to be considered as Biharian. The presence of some faunal elements such as Microtus ( Terricola ) arvalidens, Microtus ( Iberomys ) ex gr . huescarensis-brecciensis, and Macroneomys cf. brachy…

Mammoth remains from the Opole area, southwest Poland

2016

Isolated skeletal remains of woolly mammoths, found in the Opole region, are described and illustrated. Most of these were recovered in the first half of the twentieth century; they are now deposited in several museum collections but have not yet been described in detail, nor illustrated. Recent discoveries in the area were the prime trigger for the present review of previously collected material. A summary of current knowledge of all finds of mammoth remains from the Opole area is the main aim of this note, inclusive of a brief history of research. In addition, a single radiocarbon dating has been performed. All skeletal elements, i.e., molars, pelvis, femur, scapula, jaw, tusks and cement…

Lower pleistocene deposits in east part of the Favignana island, Sicily, Italy

2011

The Late Pliocene and Pleistocene Small mammal chronology in the Italian Peninsula

2004

Late Pliocene and Pleistocene small mammal chronology in the Italian peninsula

2007

The abundant documentation of small mammals in the Italian peninsula, collected over recent years, furnishes a detailed biochronological sequence mainly from the Late Pliocene onwards. An updated stratigraphic framework is here presented, based on the European small mammal biozonation. The Early Villanyian is characterized by Mimomys hassiacus, M. stehlini, and, later, poorly documented M. polonicus. The Late Villanyian localities are well characterized with M. pliocaenicus, M. pitymyoides and M. tigliensis. The older part of the Early Biharian is documented by assemblages containing Microtus (Allophaiomys) ex gr. pliocaenicus, M. pusillus, M. cf. ostramosensis and M. tornensis, while the l…

THE PLEISTOCENE–HOLOCENE TRANSITION IN THE IBERIAN PENINSULA: CONTINUITY AND CHANGE IN HUMAN ADAPTATIONS

1998

Abstract Data obtained from recent excavations (as well as from selected older excavations) are used to outline the principal environmental, technological and economic aspects of the Pleistocene–Holocene transition in three distinct regions of the Iberian Peninsula: Portugal, Cantabrian and Mediterranean Spain. The period covered extends from the terminal Paleolithic Magdalenian period to the initial Neolithic. Despite proximity to SW France and many similarities with that classic prehistoric culture area in terms of artistic/symbolic expression and technology, the Iberian regions show significant differences, especially in terms of subsistence strategies and their development during the Ta…