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The Aurelian Mammal Age for peninsular Italy was introduced on the basis of faunal assemblages mainly recovered at sites along the Via Aurelia west of Rome. These sites exposed a set of sedimentary deposits currently attributed to the Aurelia and to the Vitinia Formations correlated with MIS 9 and MIS 7, respectively. In the present paper we reconstruct the geologic-stratigraphic setting in the western sector of Rome within the wider context of glacio-eustatically controlled, geochronologically constrained aggradational successions defined for this region. We present a chronostratigraphic study based on dedicated field surveys, that, combined with five new 40Ar/39Ar ages and eighteen trace-element and EMP glass analyses of volcanic products, allow us to revise age and correlation with the Marine Isotopic Stages for 10 sites out of 12 previously attributed to the Aurelia Formation and the Torre in Pietra Faunal Unit. In particular, we demonstrate a MIS 13/MIS 11 age for several sections along the Via Aurelia between Malagrotta and Castel di Guido. Based on this new geochronological framework, the first occurrences of Canis lupus and Vulpes vulpes in Italy are antedated to MIS 11, within the Fontana Ranuccio Faunal Unit of the Galerian Mammal Age, consistent with the wider European context. This contribution is intended as the groundwork for a revision of the Middle Pleistocene Mammal Ages of the Italian peninsula, according to the improved chronostratigraphy of the geologic sections hosting the faunal assemblages.

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In this paper the Late Pleistocene and Holocene fossil and subfossil bats collected in Latium have been examined. Seventeen taxa belonging to eight genera and to four families were reported in the list of fossil species (the presence of three additional species in the fossil assemblages is dubious). Fifteen of them are reported as living today in the region. Exceptions are the boreal species Myotis dasycneme and Eptesicus nilssonii. On the other hand the presence in Latium of Myotis mystacinus and Barbastella barbastellus after 1980 is dubious. The majority of the fossil remains of bats collected in the sites of Latium (especially in terms of number of specimens) belong to troglophilous species, forming reproductive and/or hibernating colonies in caves (Rhinolophidae, Myotis myotis, M. blythii, M. capaccinii and Miniopterus schreibersii). Bats roosting in trees or rock fissures (Nyctalus noctula and Tadarida teniotis) or visiting the caves only during colder winters (Myotis bechsteinii and members of the genera Pipistrellus and Hypsugo) are quite rare. During the colder stages of the Late Pleistocene, the coastal regions of Latium must have played the role of refugia for animals and plants, as testified by several thermophilous Mediterranean sensu stricto species of bats, e.g. Rhinolophus euryale, M. capaccinii, Pipistrellus kuhlii, M. schreibersii and T. teniotis.

New and detailed taphonomic and stratigraphical analyses have been carried out at the early Late Pleistocene site of “La Grave”, nearby Avetrana (Taranto, Southern Italy). These, together with population analyses of the principal species represented (Bos primigenius, Dama dama, Cervus elaphus, Sus scrofa and Stephanorhinus hemitoechus), suggest that the fossiliferous deposits were probably accumulated rapidly, over a short time span, by exceptional events of heavy rainfall with overbank flooding. These results are supported particularly by comparison of the mammalian death assemblages from Avetrana with data from recent and Pleistocene catastrophic death assemblages documented in the literature. Furthermore, population analysis of species pinpoints the time of death between late autumn and winter. Periods with abundant and heavy rainfall are recorded in Late Pleistocene Mediterranean marine cores by the presence of sapropel levels, and in continental pollen diagrams covering the same time. Finally, observations on the morphometric variations in the bones of Bos primigenius reveal an increase in size of the species during the early Late Pleistocene and a decrease in size during the late Late Pleistocene and the Holocene. SHORT NOTE-NOTA BREVE, Rivista italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, Vol 119, No 1

The evolutionary trends and adaptations of the red deer from the Middle Pleistocene to the present day are well documented in Eurasia. These are generally explained by the high capability of this deer to adapt to different enviromental and climatic conditions. The large number of subspecies attributed to Cervus elaphus , often limited to specific paleogeographical areas above all during the late Middle Pleistocene, can be explained by this characteristic. The abundant remains of red deer collected from Late Pleistocene and older Holocene fossiliferous localities in Italy has allowed a detailed analysis of morphometric features in different areas of the Italian Peninsula and also some interesting paleoecological discussion. The variation and differences observed in the size of the red deer show close relationships with the latitude and the paleoclimate., Rivista italiana di Paleontologia e Stratigrafia, Vol 121, No 1

The karstic areas of Apulia in SE Italy are characterized by fissures locally called ventarole, which are known to contain bones of Pleistocene mammals. These bone assemblages have been commonly associated to the Late Pleistocene, based on stratigraphic, geo- morphological and biochronological observations. We undertook palaeontological, radiocarbon and isotope analyses to verify whether the animal remains from the quarry of Cava Donno, near Corigliano d’Otranto (Apulia), were all actually of Pleistocene age. Our study shows that the infills of the ventarole contain, along with Late Pleistocene bones attributable to the Melpignano Faunal Unit, Holocene vertebrate skeletal remains. The deeper red clay infill at Cava Donno contains fauna of Pleistocene age, whilst the upper dark-reddish clayey sands contain mainly the bones of domestic animals and of a modern human. The AMS radiocarbon date, obtained to establish the age of this human from the ventarola, coincides with the Neolithic period. Carbon and nitrogen isotope analyses on the same bone collagen suggest that the diet of this individual was similar to that of other Neolithic humans from Italy. The individual from Cava Donno had a balanced diet, centred upon terrestrial foods, with nutrients acquired both from vegetal and animal resources. The combined palaeontological, radiocar- bon and isotopic data presented here suggest that crypto-solution processes occurred at Cava Donno both in the Last Interglacial and, to some extent, also around the Holocene Climatic Optimum. This implies that ventarole karst infills may contain vertebrate remains of Plei- stocene and Holocene age and that, therefore, the assemblages from them probably need revising because they may not all date back to the early Late Pleistocene.

The Pastena cave is located in central Italy, and its best-preserved sector is Grotticella W2, which is dated radiometrically to the Early-Middle Bronze Age. The aim of this paper is to explore human diet, animal husbandry, and plant management, analysing the findings there discovered. Carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analysis was carried out on 40 charred seeds, six faunal remains, and four human individuals, investigating the whole bio-archaeological material available. To the best of our knowledge, this is one of the first papers presenting stable isotope analysis on carpological remains dated to the Italian Early-Middle Bronze Age. The obtained results are consistent with a diet based on terrestrial protein, mainly on plants, and secondly on animal products. The data suggest that plants, especially broad beans, were partially subjected to human management, while livestock was managed through different husbandry strategies. The cooperation between archaeological studies and molecular analysis allows us to contribute to clarifying the economic strategies for a Central Italian community in a scenario that is still poor in published data.

After more than sixty years since its discovery, the fossils from Monte Peglia (late early Biharian, Umbria) are reconsidered in their entirety. The small mammals of Monte Peglia upper and lower levels had been studied in the past, whereas the remains of large mammals of Monte Peglia lower level, stored in several Institutions of central Italy, are described here for the first time. The following taxa have been described: Hystrix refossa, Homotherium latidens, Panthera cf. P. gombaszoegensis, Felis cf. F. lunensis, Canis mosbachensis, Vulpes alopecoides, Meles meles, Pannonictis cf. P. nestii, Mustela palerminea, Ursus cf. U. etruscus; Macaca sylvanus florentinus, Equus altidens, Stephanorhinus cf. S. hundsheimensis, Sus sp., Capreolus sp., Axis eurygonos, Hemitragus cf. H. orientalis, Bison degiulii. Moreover, the list of small mammals of the lower level has been updated with the addition of three new small vertebrate taxa: Rana sp., Myotis sp. (large size), cf. Miniopterus sp. The study of the remains of large mammals of the lower layer indicate the survival of a number of taxa of latest Villafranchian age. If we accept the biochronological correlation of Monte Peglia with the Colle Curti local fauna, its age should be ~1.072 Ma. In this case, it is possible to pinpoint the accumulation of the lower level to the MIS 35/33, as the small mammals confirm the presence of a mixed environment with forested and open spaces and warm temperate climate. The accumulation of the upper level, characterized by taxa typical of open spaces and steppes and a cooler climate, probably occurred during MIS 34/32., RIVISTA ITALIANA DI PALEONTOLOGIA E STRATIGRAFIA , V. 126 N. 3 (2020)

Bat remains are useful for palaeoecological reconstructions, they provide independent information on palaeoenvironment and are good indicators for hypogean microclimates. Nine taxa of Chiroptera divided into three families (Rhinolophidae, Vespertilionidae and Miniopteridae) and four genera (Rhinolophus, Myotis, Plecotus and Miniopterus) were discovered in three fossil assemblages from the Grotta dei Pipistrelli, in Sicily, a key region for an understanding of Quaternary climates and environments. Bat remains were deposited during three distinct timespans: one late Pleistocene, MIS 2, around the Last Glacial Maximum, and two Holocene, both referable to the Atlantic chronozone. The presence of yearlings, adult and old individuals suggests hibernating colonies, but the cave was also utilized as a nursery. The diversity of taxa indicates a composite landscape with prevailing vegetation cover and relatively warm climatic conditions. The percentage variations of the frequencies of the recognized taxa suggest a progressive increase of open spaces in the middle Holocene.