Search results for "Taphonomy"
showing 10 items of 90 documents
A Reconstruction of the Taphonomic History of GBY
2011
This chapter aims to reconstruct the taphonomic processes that influenced the assemblages of Layers V-5 and V-6, as well as to identify the taphonomic role of particular agents that may have influenced the fossil bones and the stone artifacts deposited in these layers, and considers these results vis-a-vis other data, both from the site and experimental.
Reconstitution du squelette d'astérides fossiles à partir d'ossicules isolés : intérêt taxinomique et phylogénétique
1999
Abstract Dissociated ossicles of asteroids are frequent in neritic sediments. Until now, this material was mainly used in the identification of species. A new method, associating a morphological analysis and counting of plates, allows the architecture of the skeleton and the shape of the body to be reconstructed. This method provides new elements for taxonomic and phylogenetic comparisons. It also provides indications on the adaptation of the asteroids to their environment. In geological beds, frequencies of the different kinds of plates will allow qualification of bioerosion and taphonomic sorting.
Mass mortality or exceptional fossilization ? The case of the early and middle Toarcian fossiliferous beds from the Digne-Les-Bains area (southeaster…
2003
Abstract The latest Domerian to late Toarcian sedimentary series (from −190 Ma up to −180 Ma) from the « Réserve Géologique de Haute-Provence » (southeastern France) yields two kinds of remarkable fossiliferous beds. The greatest interest of the early Toarcian type is the occurrence of ichtyosaur remains (at least in six sites) among many other fossils such as ammonites, belemnites, bivalves, wood. The middle Toarcian type is specifically rich in ammonites and nautiluses. Litho- and biostratigraphical, palaeontological, sedimentological and geochemical analyses allow us to determine whether these fossiliferous beds are the results of mass mortalities, linked or not to biological crisis, o…
Taphonomic and Sedimentary Factors in the Fossil Record of Mammals
1990
The composition of the fossil assemblages of mammals (MFA) is traditionally considered as being controlled by historical factors. Its variations are attributed to biochronological changes due to evolutionary process or to biogeographic changes due to geodynamic process. The different MFA are compared as sampling units of similar nature. The presence or absence of taxa and their relative abundance are used as biochronologic and biogeographic indicators, and the samples (MFA) are considered homologous, although they appear in a different sedimentological, taphonomical, or tectonic context.
Plant macrofossil, pollen and invertebrate analysis of a mid-14th century cesspit from medieval Riga, Latvia (the eastern Baltic): Taphonomy and indi…
2017
The paper presents the results of an integrated environmental analysis on the fill of an exceptionally well-preserved mid-14th century cesspit from the historic centre of Riga (Latvia, eastern Baltic). Palynological, plant macrofossils and invertebrate analysis yielded important new information about the use of plants by the indigenous community living within the medieval city, including their socio-economic status. The taphonomy of the botanical and invertebrate data is considered to largely reflect the input of undigested food waste and human faecal material with a subordinate component derived through the input of cereal waste-products. The results show that the diet of the indigenous co…
Detecting human impacts: non-pollen palynomorphs as proxies for human impact on the environment
2021
International audience; Abstract Non-pollen palynomorphs (NPPs) are widely used to detect human activities, in addition to the anthropogenic indicators used in palynology. This paper first tries to determine the best way to approach most probable number (MPN) counting for young scientists. It then looks at the anthropogenic indicators and the different types of human activity that can reveal the studied taxa. Among the different fungal spores, coprophilous fungi are very useful to evidence pastoral activities and grazing pressure. Numerous taxa related to dung are also indicators of decaying organic matter and deserve our attention. Erosion processes due to human activities increase the rep…
Quaternary pollen analysis in the Iberian Peninsula: the value of negative results
2009
Most unsuccessful palynological work is never published. As a consequence, pollen analysts waste time re-processing sterile sediments, and the available literature exhibits a uniformly positive record of success in pollen extraction. Here we report failures with Quaternary pollen analyses in the Iberian Peninsula; that is, case studies where it was not possible to extract palynomorphs for pollen counting. Both totally sterile and partially sterile sites are considered. Sites and perspectives for future studies are suggested. The majority of the failed studies are openair archaeological and palaeontological sites, caves and rockshelters, but there are prominent cases of success. Peat bogs ha…
A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Analysis of Multifactorial Land Mammal Colonization of Islands
2013
A highly debated question that engages paleontologists, zoogeographers, and zoologists is how terrestrial mammals colonize islands. The question’s oversimplification and the subjective and partial responses to it have led to reductionist models. Insular faunas and fossil assemblages result from a complex interaction of geological, biological (in a broad sense), climatic, eustatic, taphonomic, and historical processes. Insular assemblages and their accompanying variables should be investigated on a case-by-case basis. In this article, we discuss not only common misconceptions and their potential origins but also the key issues that should be addressed when dealing with the colonization of is…
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…
Experimental taphonomy in museums: Preparation protocols for skeletons and fossil vertebrates under the scanning electron microscopy
2008
Natural history institutions use different standards and methods to prepare and preserve skeletons of both modern and fossil vertebrates. These standards and treatments may be considered as taphonomic agents of museum collections. Modifications may occur during preparation, affecting the integrity of bone tissues and skeletons or their molecular and geochemical composition. The present evaluation uses a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) to analyze the most common preparation methods and standards. The aim of this paper is to evaluate preparation methods to determine those that provide the best SEM observations and those that best preserve osseous tissues and least damage fossil surfaces. I…