Search results for "Taphonomy"
showing 10 items of 90 documents
Estudio de la fauna del nivel IV del Abrigo de la Quebrada y su aportación al conocimiento de la economía y el comportamiento humano en el Paleolític…
2019
El Abrigo de la Quebrada (Chelva, Valencia) es un yacimiento con varios niveles de ocupación neandertal. El nivel IV, con dos dataciones de 43.930 ± 750 BP (Beta-244002) y >50,6 ka BP (OxA-24855), se caracteriza por su estructura de palimpsesto y la elevada densidad de restos arqueológicos (industria lítica, fauna, carbones y estructuras de combustión). El conjunto óseo se compone de 100.907 restos, con una mayor presencia de las familias Bovidae, Equidae, Cervidae y Testudinidae. La presencia de fracturas frescas, muescas de percusión y marcas de corte confirman el carácter antrópico de la muestra, así como las termoalteraciones. Dada la elevada fragmentación de la muestra (1% de identific…
Amusium cristatum shell beds in the lower Pliocene deposits of Almería-Níjar Basin (SE Spain)
2020
Densely packed monospecific-paucispecific Amusium cristatum-dominated shell beds are signifi cant features in the lower Pliocene deposits of the Almeria-Nijar Basin (SE Spain), embedded in distal prodelta fi ne-grained sand and silt. The shells in these concentrations are exceptionally well preserved: articulation is relatively high, fragmentation is low, abrasion is almost lacking, and many shells preserve the original colour pattern. These taphonomic signatures suggest in situ deposition forming autochthonous fossil assemblages, i.e. biological concentrations. Benthic foraminiferal assemblages found in the prodelta deposits indicate that they formed in mesotrophic mid-shelf settings.The A…
Research perspectives for the study of Neandertal subsistence strategies based on the analysis of archaeozoological assemblages
2012
Abstract The discipline of archaeozoology holds the potential to considerably contribute to knowledge about the social behaviour of Neandertals. However, the translation of proposed subsistence strategies into predictions about Neandertal social organisation still remains a challenge. The paper discusses the current state of archaeozoological research with respect to Neandertal subsistence. It is concluded that the methodological research focus in archaeozoology has shifted from its original holistic perspective to intensified/specialised studies of particular taphonomic components. The authors argue for a return to a more holistic perspective to develop the full potential of archaeolozoolo…
Dinosaur bonebed amber from an original swamp forest soil
2021
AbstractDinosaur bonebeds with amber content, yet scarce, offer a superior wealth and quality of data on ancient terrestrial ecosystems. However, the preserved palaeodiversity and/or taphonomic characteristics of these exceptional localities had hitherto limited their palaeobiological potential. Here we describe the amber from the Lower Cretaceous dinosaur bonebed of Ariño (Teruel, Spain) using a multidisciplinary approach. Amber is found in both a root layer with amber strictly in situ and a litter layer namely composed of aerial pieces unusually rich in bioinclusions, encompassing 11 insect orders, arachnids, and a few plant and vertebrate remains, including a feather. Additional palaeont…
TRIBUTE TO JORDI MARIA DE GIBERT ATIENZA
2020
On September 23rd 2012, Jordi Maria de Gibert Atienza, an innovative explorer of the fossil record, passed away suddenly in Barcelona. He left behind interesting scientifi c contributions in the areas of invertebrate ecology, palaeoecology, evolutionary ecology, taphonomy and ichnology. Jordi Maria was only 44 and had a whole life in science ahead of him. The 2014 volume of the Spanish Journal of Palaeontology is dedicated to his memory.
Paleoecology: An Adequate Window on the Past?
2014
Starting from Ernst Haeckel’s famous definition of ecology, our review considers the premises and the meaning of paleoecological research. Unlike current ecology, paleoecology has to pay more attention when dealing with ‘‘facts’’: the concept of uniformitarianism is presented and demonstrates the importance of philosophical constructs for scientific work. The middle‐range theory attempts to filter out false conclusions. Abiotic factors have had a strong influence on adaptive evolution; volcanism, tectonism, and climate are exemplified. Subsequently we discuss the biotic viewpoint with regard to aspects of fossil findings and in this context taphonomy, stratigraphic research, and interaction…
Early Palaeozoic palaeobiogeography and palaeoecology of stylophoran echinoderms
2007
44 pages; International audience; Stylophorans (cornutes, mitrates) represent one of the most diverse classes of Cambro-Ordovician echinoderms. They were freeliving, benthic, non-radiate forms, closely related to asterozoans and crinoids. Taphonomic, sedimentological, and palaeosynecological data provide useful information on key aspects of stylophoran palaeoecology. Such a combined approach suggests that the rarity of stylophorans in proximal environments (above storm-wave base) was probably original and does not exclusively result from the possession of a loosely articulated polyplated calcitic test. Conversely, stylophorans were relatively abundant in deeper settings (below storm-wave ba…
Triassic lingulide brachiopods from the Iberian Range (Spain)
1999
Abstract During the Middle Triassic marine transgression in Spain, several lingulide populations were fossilized in the Iberian Range (western part of Sephardic Province) and the recorded specimens have been described previously under several specific names. The paleontological aspects of the Jalance (Valencia province) section have been studied for the first time. Its exceptionally large population was fossilized in situ as flat-lying valves and can be interpreted as an autochthonous association related to a very shallow marine environment. The lingulide specimens belong to the genus Lingularia Biernat & Emig , 1993 , but the species name remains under debate, probably Lingularia smirnovae…
Latest Cretaceous storm-generated sea grass accumulations in the Maastrichtian type area, the Netherlands – preliminary observations
2019
Abstract Ever since the first description of fossil material during the mid-nineteenth century, sea grass has been shown to be quite commonly preserved in ‘pockets’ or ‘clumps’ at certain levels within the Gulpen, Maastricht and Kunrade formations in southern Limburg (the Netherlands) and contiguous areas in northeast Belgium. In those places where silicification occurred during early diagenesis, even completely silicified and three-dimensionally preserved stems and roots can be found, mostly of Thalassocharis bosquetii, in association with fully marine molluscs such as dentaliid scaphopods and a range of larger foraminifera, bivalves, gastropods and ammonites. Such occurrences are best kno…
Taphonomy of the vertebrate bone beds from the Klūnas fossil site, Upper Devonian Tērvete Formation of Latvia
2012
Combined sedimentological and taphonomical study of the siliciclastic sequence of the Tērvete Formation in the stratotypical area was aimed at revealing the formation of the three oryctocoenoses discovered and related structural and textural features of the deposits, as well as at detailed observation of the taphonomical peculiarities of the obtained palaeontological material. The fossil vertebrate assemblage is represented by 14 taxa comprising placoderms, acanthodians, sarcopterygians and actinopterygians. The three oryctocoenoses, first recognized in 2010, differ in the proportions of repeatedly buried material, in the number and degree of preservation of small and fragile skeletal eleme…