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The 18 papers in this Special Issue of the Journal of Paleolimnology report new records of Holocene environmental and climate change from Arctic lake sediment. At least 15 distinct physical, chemical, and biological properties were analyzed at lakes located across the North American Arctic and subarctic, and northwestern Europe. The studies are notable for their multi-proxy approach (eight present data for at least five different proxies), and for the high quality of their geochronological control. Three of the studies analyzed sediment from more than one lake to test the influence of contrasting physiographic settings on the response of proxies to the same climate forcing. The sedimentary sequences analyzed in seven studies extend beyond 11.5 cal ka, providing evidence for pronounced climate shifts that took place during the late-glacial period. Two-thirds extend beyond 8 cal ka; many of these records were interpreted in terms of the shift in temperature and moisture that occurred during the transition from the warm early to middle Holocene to the cooler late Holocene. These records contribute to the growing network of sites that is needed to reconstruct the spatial pattern of this pronounced paleoclimate transition, and to address how ocean-atmospheric circulation changed with the mean state of climate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The calcareous tufa sequence and associated Palaeolithic site of Caours were discovered in 2002 during a test‐pit campaign aimed at identifying last interglacial (MIS 5e) archives in the fluvial terrace system of the Somme basin, northern France. The presence of an outstanding stratigraphical succession with four in situ Palaeolithic layers within the tufa sequence has motivated archaeological excavations of the site since 2005. The first malacological studies and U‐series ages quickly showed that the sequence was mainly deposited during the Eemian interglacial (MIS 5e). After 20 years of investigations, we propose here a summary of this multidisciplinary research project including stratigraphy, sedimentology, geochronology, geochemistry, malacology, mammals, palaeovegetation and archaeology. By combining 25 dates obtained by U‐series, ESR/U‐series, TL and OSL methods, the Caours calcareous tufa sequence is securely dated to the Eemian (123.1±2.8 ka). Based on the summary of the whole information, we propose a robust and detailed reconstruction of the modification of the valley environments between the Late Saalian and the Early Weichselian. At the scale of northwestern Europe, Caours provides a reference terrestrial molluscs record for the Eemian interglacial, including the climatic optimum, that is also described in the same layers by δ18O and δ13C analyses on calcite and by mammal remains. Moreover, the 300‐m‐long transect crossing the fluvial terrace covered by the tufa sequence and the bottom valley formation, combined with the chronology established from U‐series and OSL ages, shows that the incision of the present‐day valley, leading to the setting of the Very Low Terrace, was achieved during the first stages of the Early Weichselian (MIS 5d–5c). From an archaeological point of view, the configuration of the Caours site is unique at the scale of western Europe and demonstrates the adaptation of Neandertals to a forested environment and to fully temperate conditions during the Eemian. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition in Europe covers the last millennia of Neanderthal life together with the appearance and expansion of Modern Human populations. Culturally, it is defined by the Late Middle Paleolithic succession, and by Early Upper Paleolithic complexes like the Châtelperronian (southwestern Europe), the Protoaurignacian, and the Early Aurignacian. Up to now, the southern boundary for the transition has been established as being situated between France and Iberia, in the Cantabrian façade and Pyrenees. According to this, the central and southern territories of Iberia are claimed to have been the refuge of the last Neanderthals for some additional millennia after they were replaced by anatomically Modern Humans on the rest of the continent. In this paper, we present the Middle-to-Upper Paleolithic transition sequence from Cova Foradada (Tarragona), a cave on the Catalan Mediterranean coastline. Archaeological research has documented a stratigraphic sequence containing a succession of very short-term occupations pertaining to the Châtelperronian, Early Aurignacian, and Gravettian. Cova Foradada therefore represents the southernmost Châtelperronian–Early Aurignacian sequence ever documented in Europe, significantly enlarging the territorial distribution of both cultures and providing an important geographical and chronological reference for understanding Neanderthal disappearance and the complete expansion of anatomically Modern Humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A substantially updated version of the correlation table showing chronostratigraphical subdivisions of late Cenozoic geological time, spanning the last 2.7 million years is presented. It provides scientists, students, professionals and the general public with a ready reference to stratigraphical terms and schemes in use in different areas for similar periods. The updates comprised the status of Quaternary chronostratigraphic subdivision, the combined age-modelled geomagnetic and isotope records from ocean drilling records, and revised regional correlation schemes, notably for eastern Europe. The paper describes the chart in its 2019 QI-500 form and contains sections on its types of usage and formal subdivision status, besides reference and description of the contents of the various columns. The paper also describes and discusses the resolution of correlations in younger and older parts of the last 2.7 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines Neanderthal survival skills in Britain. Its starting point is that there are major tensions between the three main sources of relevant information – archaeological, palaeoanthropological and palaeoenvironmental data and their subsequent interpretation – that make our understanding of Neanderthal survival much more precarious than is generally supposed. The paper is speculative, and proffers questions not answers. It challenges us to look past the often mute material record, and to equip Neanderthals with a number of logically prerequisite but generally archaeologically invisible survival tools and practices, beyond the well-trodden paths of mobility, hunting and planning. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper reports the results of CHIME (chemical Th–U–Pb isochron method) dating of detrital monazites from Carboniferous sandstones in the Upper Silesia Coal Basin (USCB). A total of 4739 spots on 863 monazite grains were analyzed from samples of sandstone derived from six stratigraphic units in the sedimentary sequence. Age distributions were identified in detrital monazites from the USCB sequence and correlated with specific dated domains in potential source areas. Most monazites in all samples yielded ca. 300–320 Ma (Variscan) ages; however, eo-Variscan, Caledonian and Cadomian ages were also obtained. The predominant ages are comparable to reported ages of certain tectonostratigraphic domains in the polyorogenic Bohemian Massif (BM), which suggests that various crystalline lithologies in the BM were the dominant sources of USCB sediments. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Late Paleozoic (Variscan) magmatism is widespread in Central Europe. The Lusatian Block is located in the NE Bohemian Massif and it is part of the Saxothuringian Zone of the Variscan orogen. It is bordered by two major NW-trending shear zones, the Intra-Sudetic Fault Zone towards NE and the Elbe Fault Zone towards SW. The scarce Variscan igneous rocks of the Lusatian Block are situated close to these faults. We investigated 19 samples from Variscan plutonic and volcanic rocks of the Lusatian Block, considering all petrological varieties (biotite-bearing granites from the Koenigshain and Stolpen plutons, amphibole-bearing granites from three boreholes, several volcanic dykes, and two volcanites from the intramontane Weissig basin). We applied whole-rock geochemistry (18 samples) and zircon evaporation dating (19 samples). From the evaporation data, we selected six representative samples for additional zircon SHRIMP and CA–ID–TIMS dating. For the Koenigshain pluton, possible protoliths were identified using whole-rock Nd-isotopes, and zircon Hf- and O-isotopes. The new age data allow a subdivision of Variscan igneous rocks in the Lusatian Block into two distinct magmatic episodes. The spatial relation of the two age groups to either the Elbe Fault Zone (298–299 Ma) or the Intra-Sudetic Fault Zone (312–313 Ma) together with reports on the fault-bound character of the dated intrusions suggests an interpretation as two major post-collisional faulting episodes. This assumption of two distinct magmatic periods is confirmed by a compilation of recently published zircon U–Pb CA–ID–TIMS data on further Variscan igneous rocks from the Saxothuringian Zone. New geochemical data allow us to exclude a dominant sedimentary protolith for the Koenigshain pluton as supposed by previous investigations. This conclusion is mainly based on new O- and Hf-isotope data on zircon and the scarcity of inherited zircons. Instead, acid or intermediate igneous rocks are supposed as the main source for these I-type granitoids from the Koenigshain pluton. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Turonian interval represents a unique confluence of climatic and oceanographic conditions including peak surface temperatures, high greenhouse‐gas concentrations, and maximum Phanerozoic sea level. The susceptibility of this climate mode to astronomical insolation forcing remains poorly understood partly due to a limited time control and unknown phasing of astronomical cycles in this interval. Here, we offer a refined astrochronology of the Early Turonian based on laterally consistent precession signals preserved in offshore strata of the Bohemian Cretaceous Basin (central Europe). Pristine amplitude modulation verified through interference patterns in depth‐frequency plots provides a robust indication of ∼100 and 405‐kyr eccentricity phases (maxima and minima) that are pinned to ammonite biozones and new carbon‐isotope data from two cores. The Early Turonian is estimated as 885 ± 41 (2σ) thousand years (kyr) in duration, with the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary predating the first Turonian 405‐kyr maximum (no. 232 in the Geological Time Scale 2020) by 82 ± 70 (2σ) kyr. The results support a possible link of the recovery from Oceanic Anoxic Event II to increasing magnitude of seasonal insolation extremes due to rising eccentricity on 405‐kyr and million‐year (Myr) time scales. Superimposed upon this trend are small‐scale carbon‐isotope anomalies the pacing of which passes from ∼110 kyr, resembling short eccentricity, to ∼170 kyr, possibly related to obliquity modulation. This eccentricity‐to‐obliquity transition, paralleling the rising phase of Myr‐scale eccentricity, suggests decoupling of the carbon‐cycle perturbations from low‐latitude seasonal insolation. Mid‐latitude to high‐latitude carbon reservoirs became involved toward the Middle Turonian. Key Points: Well‐preserved precessional and eccentricity signals constrain the duration of the Early Turonian to 885 ± 41 kyrRecovery from OAE II is superimposed upon rising phases of the 405 and ∼2.4‐Myr eccentricityShort‐term carbon‐isotope anomalies decouple from low‐latitude insolation control toward the Middle Turonian [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most of the Paleolithic art and ornaments discovered in Romania come from the site of Poiana Cireșului. Four Paleolithic layers have been studied at this site—the oldest one belongs to the Early Gravettian period between 30 ka and 31 ka BP. The ornaments discovered in this layer include perforated shells from three species of mollusks: freshwater Lithoglyphus naticoide and Lithoglyphus apertus as well as Homalopoma sanguineum (an exclusively Mediterranean species). Poiana Cireșului is one of the very few Gravettian sites where perforated Homalopoma sanguineum shells were found, and the importance of this discovery is stressed even more by the very long distance between the site and the nearest source located over 900 km away. This find suggests the connection of communities here with the Mediterranean area as well as a possible movement of populations from the south of the continent to the east of the Carpathians with significant implications in understanding human group mobility and the origin of the Early Gravettian in this area. Furthermore, Poiana Cireșului is the only Gravettian settlement where Lithoglyphus naticoides shells were used. The unique association of perforated shells—not found in any other Gravettian settlement—contributes to the identity of the Paleolithic community of Poiana Cireșului through their ornaments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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During the last two decades, a range of microfossils have been collected from strata of Late Cretaceous (Coniacian-Maastrichtian) age. The name gilianelles has been coined to accommodate these microproblematica. On the basis of many thousands of specimens, typical features of this group have now been assessed. Distinctive traits are calcareous unilocular, basically axially symmetrical test, in the size range 80-200 μm, with a single-layered wall of radially arranged crystals, 15 μm thick, the outer surface with a crochet-like nanostructure, a small-sized aperture (one tenth of test diameter), situated on the upper surface in vivo. Secondary criteria include modification of axial test symmetry into radial or bilateral symmetry, development of expansions, either spiny or laminar and presence of longitudinal and latitudinal ornament. To date, 60 taxa have been described from northern Spain to northern Germany and from Central America. Evolutionary patterns of gilianelles are diverse, with both short- and long-ranging forms, some of which comprise lineages that were affected by a marked crisis dated at about 73 Ma. This event is here illustrated by the tribe Coraliellini, of which a key taxon, Coraliella cognatio, is described as new. Previous interpretations of Gilianelles as dinoflagellate cysts are discussed and rejected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]