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This research was carried out in north-central Poland, which was occupied by the ice sheet of the Saalian (Marine Isotope Stage [MIS] 6) and Upper Stadial of the Weichselian (MIS 2) glaciation. The application of the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) method supported by a digital elevation model (DEM) analysis of the orientation of glacial landforms allowed for the reconstruction of ice-sheet extent and ice movement directions of these two Pleistocene glaciations. The research used an innovative method of collecting AMS till samples from the glacial plateau areas. Based on the research, it was found that during the general recession of the ice sheet of the Saalian glaciation, a previously undescribed glacial transgression occurred, characterized by a different direction of ice-sheet movement. On the basis of detailed geomorphological studies of the area of terminal moraines, previously described in fragments, the maximum extent of the ice sheet during the Weichselian glaciation was clarified. The recession of the ice sheet of the Weichselian glaciation from the area of north-central Poland took place in four regressive or transgressive–regressive stages with variable directions of ice-sheet movement. The results obtained indicate the great potential of the AMS method in paleoenvironmental studies of glaciated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the palaeoenvironmental conditions of a Late Pleistocene marine unit assigned to the Puente de Pascua Formation (MIS 5e), Buenos Aires, Argentina. For this study, a micropalaeontological (Phylum Foraminifera) and lithological analysis was conducted, based on a PPas-section extracted in the Puente de Pascua site, located 32 km inland from the coastline of Bahía Samborombón (35°55′37” S; 57°43 ′7.6” W). The base of this section comprises finely stratified with brown clays, followed by a layer of dark brown sandy sediments with layers of shells, interspersed with light brown to yellowish deposits. Hyaline foraminifera of relative well preservation and small size prevail. The assemblage was represented mainly by Buccella peruviana and Ammonia parkinsoniana accompanied by other species such as Elphidium galvestonense, Ammonia tepida, Cribroelphidium poeyanum and Bolivina spp. in minor proportion. From this integrated study, palaeoenvironmental changes were established in Puente de Pascua Fm. (>66.5 kyrs). Results reflect transition from a tidal flat depositional environment towards a littoral estuarine environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Widely distributed wetlands in China play an important role in the global carbon cycle. However, the long-term response of wetland evolution and carbon storage in tropical southern China to climate change remains unclear. Here, we present a sediment core record from the Tiaoshu Wetland in the northern Leizhou Peninsula and multiple proxy indicators are investigated, with the aim of better understanding past vegetation and environmental changes. The following conclusions were drawn: (i) The organic matter deposited in the Tiaoshu Wetland was mainly derived from terrestrial C3 plants and aquatic plants growing in and/or around the catchment. The temporal variability in the relative proportions of organic matter contributed by various sources revealed paleoenvironmental changes in the study area, generally consistent with regional and global climate records. (ii) The peat formation pattern in the Tiaoshu Wetland is in contrast to some individual sites reported in subtropical China, suggesting that there may be different peat formation patterns in the tropical and subtropical regions of China, which may be closely related to specific hydrothermal conditions in different regions. In addition, by comparison with atmospheric CH 4 concentrations, our results suggest potential relationships between the evolution of wetlands in tropical China and global atmospheric CH 4 cycles. • Alternation between terrestrial and aquatic plants dominated the organic matter sources in the Tiaoshu Wetland. • Variations in organic matter sources reveal vegetation succession and a response to climate changes. • Peat formation patterns may differ between tropical and subtropical regions of China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent geological history of the Northern Andes is characterized by the interaction of dynamic surface processes such as volcanic activity, fluvial erosion, mass movements, etc. that have shaped landscapes for millennia. Despite its great geological and biological importance, the long-term ecological history of middle-elevation tropical habitats (between 1000 and 2500 m.a.s.l.) is unknown, due to the scarcity of suitable paleo archives preserving the paleoecological signal, leading to a critical data gap. This manuscript reports well-preserved subfossil woods of the Pleistocene volcanoclastic deposits from the Central Cordillera of Colombia. Four wood specimens are described and identified as Terminalioxylon gumminae sp.nov., Andesanthus risaraldense sp.nov., Anacardium quindiuense sp.nov., and Chrysochlamys colombiana. This report demonstrates the potential of volcanic deposits in the Northern Andes as paleo archives, and contributes to the fossil record of the tropical Andes, as it contains elements of mid-altitude vegetation preserved in association with the Pleistocene volcanic activity of the Central Cordillera. The environments where these subfossil species lived resemble present environmental conditions. This is a baseline for future paleobotanical exploration and paleoenvironmental analyses. • We investigated four subfossil woods from the late Pleistocene of the Northern Andes. • Novel species of Anacardium, Andesanthus, and Terminalioxylon described. • One specimen was identified as Chrysochlamys colombiana. • This is a baseline for future paleobotanical and paleoenvironmental studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Palaeoenvironmental information on Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3) coastal Latium is sparse, mainly based on studies of isolated faunal assemblages or long pollen records from lake sediments, often of insufficient resolution to aid in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. This study describes in detail the Late Pleistocene faunal assemblage from layers SU11 and SU12 of Cava Muracci (Cisterna di Latina, central Italy), the first of which is a partially-preserved hyena den. The first multi-disciplinary palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of coastal Latium between 34–44 ka BP, a critical time span for the presence of the latest Neanderthals and the arrival of Anatomically Modern Humans (AMH), is provided combining palaeoecological inferences from a previous pollen study of hyena coprolites with the palaeontological study described here. The results indicate a temperate climate and a landscape characterised by the coexistence of at least three habitats within a short distance between the coastline and the inland mountains, suitable for a wide variety of species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract To understand the Late Pleistocene human dispersals to the Japanese Archipelago, we examine the paleobathymetric changes in and around the archipelago based on the results of recent paleoclimatological study of the Japan Sea that has provided millennium-scale sea level changes, the Pleistocene mammalian faunal record (e.g., extinct proboscideans), and the Paleolithic archaeological record. Proboscideans likely migrated from continental East Asia to Paleo-Honshu (consisting of the present day Honshu, Shikoku, and Kyushu islands) and the Ryukyu islands via land bridges across the Tsushima Strait and Yonaguni Strait during the coldest periods of the Middle Pleistocene (MIS 6, 12, 16, and probably 35). However, no clear evidence of hominin arrival in the archipelago has been dated to the Middle Pleistocene. Further, land bridges connecting continental East Asia and Paleo-Honshu were not present during the period of initial major human dispersals to the Japanese Archipelago, i.e., Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3 and 2. Thus, initial dispersals to Paleo-Honshu and the Ryukyus were achieved by watercraft and would have involved advanced seafaring skills. The paucity of archaeological sites before the onset of late MIS 3 (prior to 40 ka) and the significant increase of archaeological sites since late MIS 3 suggests that increasing population density on the East Asian mainland may have been a factor for humans to disperse into the Japanese Archipelago. Highlights • Paleobathymetric data were examined to discuss the presence/absence of land bridges around the Japanese Archipelago. • Mammals migrated to the Japanese Archipelago via land bridges during the Middle Pleistocene. • No clear evidence of hominin dispersals to the Japanese Archipelago during the Middle Pleistocene • Initial hominin dispersals to the Japanese Archipelago were MIS 3 and 2. • Dispersals were achieved by water craft and seafaring skills. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Foraminifera have a wide spatial-temporal distribution, from coastal to deep marine environments, and are good environmental and paleoenvironmental indicators. The determination of assemblages and indicator species has characterized the level of marine and continental influence, as well as enabling events such as marine ingressions and sea level rise and decrease during Late Pleistocene – Holocene, to be inferred. This work aims to characterize the biofacies based on benthic foraminifera preserved in sediments of the 2-BG-1-RJ well core drilled in the Rio Paraiba do Sul Deltaic Complex, at the south of the current river mouth, located in the municipality of Campos dos Goytacazes (RJ). The analyzed samples are located at the top of the well core, ranging from 40.50 m to 10.50 m, and were chosen because that core interval was described as a succession of Estuary (PGH′)/Marine facies (QP'). Two biofacies were defined, respectively: QP′ characterized by shelf miliolids and PGH′, characterized by Pararotalia cananeiaensis , Gavelinopsis praegeri , Haynesina germanica and Hanzawaia nitidula. Those species suggest estuarine environment with fluvial influence in the base and marine influence from the middle to the top of the core. Correlating the results of the biofacies with the sedimentary facies, two falling and one rising relative sea level are inferred. These results contributed to the understanding of the estuarine complex dynamics, which is influenced both by the oscillation of the sea level and fluvial influence. Highlights • Two biofacies based on benthic foraminifera were recognized. • Lithofacies were correlated with foraminiferal biofacies. • Was possible to confirm that area is marine under fluvial influence with oscillation (falling and rising) of sea level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Late Pleistocene to Holocene evolution of the Northern coast of Sfax (Gulf of Gabes, Tunisia) is deduced on the basis of the analyses of sediment cores and coastal outcrops. The environmental changes are established by means of microfauna and mollusk assemblages and biocenotic parameters complemented by geochemical, sedimentological and correspondence analysis (CA). An opened embayment, rich in warm Senegalese fauna, allowed the deposition of quartz-rich sands Late Pleistocene in age. During the Late Holocene, a major modification of the environmental characters is recognized. The dominance of marine ostracod and coastal foraminifera coupled with high values of species richness characterize a widely opened lagoon. This lagoon is subjected to the action of the alongshore drifts which are responsible for the build-up of sand spits and the genesis of the present sebkhas. Two transgressive events, overlying the marine Late Pleistocene quartz-rich sands, are dated at 2018–2419 and 1001–1804 a cal BP. The dominance of marine and coastal foraminifera, the recurrence of ostracods and the high values of biocenotic parameters testify these two events. Sudden changes, toward 0–502 a cal BP, in the structure of populations, geochemical element concentrations and sedimentological trend argue in favor of a tsunami event and the settlement of peculiar environment. The latter records (1) the reworking of Holocene microfauna and Tyrrhenian sands rich in mollusks eroded from the marine substrata; (2) the high concentration of poorly stratified and poorly sorted shells; (3) fining-upward and thinning landward sequences; (4) the dominance of articulated bivalves and sharpened shells; and (5) the locally extensive deposits up to 160 m inland rising in altitude of about 0.75 m. This extreme event can be correlated with the tsunami generated by the strong earthquake, 1908 AD in age, in Eastern Sicily or by one of the earthquakes recorded during the 18th Century around the Mediterranean basin such as Sfax earthquake of 1750 AD. Highlights • Ostracod and foraminifera associations relevant to paleoenvironmental change during the last 3000 a cal BP. • Transgressive events at 2018–2419 and 1001–1804 a cal BP overly Pleistocene sands. • Tsunami event deduced by meiofauna, sedimentological and geochemical proxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A sedimentary discontinuity is present in the late Pleistocene alluvial deposits exposed along the cliff in stream side, Gyeongju, Korea. Sedimentological study, Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) age dating, and X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and X‐ray fluorescence spectrometer (XRF) analyses were conducted in order to interpret the origin of the discontinuity surface. Based on the sedimentological study, these deposits can be divided into three distinct stages, in ascending order: (Stage 1) development of a braided stream flowing from south to north and deposition by debris flows from the mountain aside the stream during and/or after deposition of the braided stream; (Stage 2) deposition by intermittent events during a state of stagnation after the abandonment or migration of the previously existed braided stream; and (Stage 3) deposition of gravels from debris flows from the mountain aside the stream. Hornfelsic gravels are common in Stage 1, whereas andesitic gravels are predominant in Stage 3, suggesting the provenance change from Stage 1 to Stage 3. The discontinuity surface is laterally extensive and marked by a distinct carbonaceous dark grey horizon between Stage 2 and Stage 3. It is characteristic that rootlets mineralized by vivianite are present, and iron‐oxide crusts are cutting across irregularly below the discontinuity surface. It is thus interpreted that the shift of depositional environment from an alluvial plain (Stage 2) (125 ka) to an alluvial fan (Stage 3) (94–55 ka) was an alluvial response to sea level change from the interglacial to the glacial. The development of iron‐oxide crusts and diagenetic vivianite in the discontinuity surface suggests humid condition persisted during the paleoclimatic shift from the last interglacial to the last glacial stages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we sought to reconstruct the Pleistocene and Holocene evolution of Cartagena Bay. Therefore, 16 borehole cores were analysed with the following aims: (1) to define a chronological framework; (2) to obtain data on the palaeoenvironment; and (3) to establish the relationship with human activities, especially focused on the reconstruction of the Carthago Nova (also known as Qart Hadasht) conquest. A total of 147 samples were recovered for amino acid racemisation (AAR) dating; 32 for radiocarbon dating (14C); and 159 for sedimentological, palaeontological, and biomarker determination. These approaches allowed us to elucidate the evolutionary phases of the palaeolandscape in Cartagena. The simultaneous use of AAR and 14C dating allowed the discrimination of spurious ages and the establishment of a chronological scale. During the Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 7 and 5, the sea level (SL) in Cartagena Bay was almost the same as today. An alluvial plain developed in the northern area, and a delta was formed by an ephemeral river. In contrast, during MIS4, after a fall in SL, a wide sandy coastal plain emerged, leading to the accumulation of colluvial and aeolian deposits. The Holocene transgression was reflected in the hinterland in a late and temporarily floodable marsh fed by alluvial fans and creeks, producing a salinity gradient from freshwater to brackish and saline waters. Along the sea front, the marine influence was evident but not dominant, grading up and landwards to saline and freshwater marshes. Therefore, at the time of Scipio's conquest, the geography of Carthago Nova was quite different from that described by Polybius. The Roman's sudden attack seized Qart Hadasht from the south-west, avoiding the marshy area and not crossing a fast and deep ebb stream as it never existed on the Mediterranean Iberian coast. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We report on an assemblage of vertebrate fossils from a limestone cave in the southwestern portion of the Ozark Highlands. The fauna includes several extinct, large-bodied mammalian taxa including Megalonyx jeffersonii (Jefferson's ground sloth), Canis dirus (dire wolf), Arctodus simus (short-faced bear; two individuals), and Equidae (extinct horses), which indicate a late Pleistocene age. In addition, there is a variety of extant vertebrates including a fish, Aplodinotus cf. grunniens (freshwater drum), unidentified Anura (frogs and toads) and Caudata (salamanders), Terrapene sp. (box turtles), cf. Ophisaurus (legless lizards), Colubroidea and Crotalidae (non-venomous snakes and pit vipers), Bubo virginianus (great horned owl), and at least 12 other mammals: Sorex sp. (long-tailed shrews), Perimyotis subflavus (tricolored bat), Eptesicus fuscus (big brown bat), Myotis grisescens (gray myotis), possibly other species of Myotis, Vulpini (foxes), several rodents, Geomys sp. (pocket gophers), Chaetodipus or Perognathus (pocket mice), Peromyscini (native mice), Neotoma cf. floridana (eastern wood rat), Microtus cf. ochrogaster (prairie vole), and, Sylvilagus sp. (cottontail rabbits). An earlier report provided a tentative age of one of the Arctodus simus of about 34,000 years ago (late Pleistocene, Rancholabrean). Among the 23 taxa in the Three-Forks Cave assemblage, two species are added to the Oklahoma Ozark Highland paleofauna: freshwater drum and great horned owl. One extralimital taxon, the pocket mouse Chaetodipus or Perognathus, is present in the assemblage. Numerous remains of juvenile bats of Myotis grisescens and Eptesicus fuscus provide evidence that these species used Three-Forks Cave as a maternity site. Large crater-like pits in the floor of Three-Forks Cave and other caves in the vicinity may represent ancient and modern beds of the short-faced bear and black bear, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioturbation structures from Ponta das Bicudas in Santiago Island, Cape Verde Archipelagoare located in coarse-grained biocalcirudite sandwiched between basaltic lavas of the Upper Pleistocene Assomada Formation. Four ichnospecies have been identified: Rhizocorallium commune irregulare, Rhizocorallium jenense versum , nov ichnosubsp., Alaichnus kabuverdiensis nov. ichnogen. nov. ichnosp. and cf. Dactyloidites . From a taphonomic point of view, most trace fossil specimens are undergoing throughout intense erosion. Nevertheless, the observations made on their taphonomy and state of preservation allowed i) to reconstruct the original, complete structures of the trace fossils, ii) to evaluate the existence and magnitude of erosional and depositional episodes, and iii) to quantify the reach of erosion on the seafloor sediment. In this context, it was possible to quantify the thickness of sediment being eroded at the final erosional episode, which happened right before the second extrusion episode of volcanic pillow lava, which buried all the traces previously formed: the total interval of sediment eroded was estimated in ca. 1 m. From a palaeoenvironmental point of view, in a synthesis, the traces were produced in a soft to stiffground substrate composed of very coarse-grained biocalcirudite with common rhodolith debris, in a shallow setting (4 to10 m of depth) with moderate wave energy, nearby rocky basalt knobs where corals and red coralline algae crusts were growing. Organisms producing Rhizocorallium commune irregular settled in the seafloor during a first phase of sedimentation, which was followed by an erosional episode. Once sedimentation resumed, specimens of R. jenense versum nov. ichnosubsp. were produced and overlapped with the former ones. Later, a new erosional event erased most of the previous traces, being preserved only the basal imprint of the specimens. This was followed by a rapid sedimentation episode where Alaichnus kabuverdiensis nov. ichnogen. nov. ichnosp. recorded intense bioturbation activity of the bivalve Panopea . Subsequently, under low-energy sedimentation, a new episode of intense bioturbation of the seafloor occurred, resulting in the development of abundant cf. Dactyloidites . Finally, a strong erosional event – probably related to the onset of the second volcanic episode – cut all previous structures before being buried by the overlying, well preserved pillow lava. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-resolution paleoecological proxies, such as stable isotopes or tooth microwear in large mammals, are often used for their potential to deliver information about the paleodietary traits of individuals and populations at the time of death. Such proxies are of interest in high resolution sites because they provide accurate data regarding the diet of large herbivores as well as the habitats that were available at the time of formation of the site, and by inference can detect seasonality in the formation of the assemblages. The integration of two techniques, tooth mesowear and microwear, applied to Middle Pleistocene assemblages of large herbivores from Steinheim and Heppenloch did not indicate seasonality at any of the two sites, most likely due to low resolution and time averaging of the dietary signal. However, the combination of the two proxies was highly informative for reconstructing the paleodiets of the large herbivores. The two paleodietary proxies provided consistent results that permitted us to propose a reconstruction of the paleodiets and habitats available at each site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The South Yellow Sea (SYS) Basin, which is part of the West Pacific Continental Margin, began to form in the late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic as a result of regional tectonic activity in Asia. The pre-Middle Pleistocene sedimentary history of the area remains poorly understood or controversial, mainly due to a lack of long borehole cores penetrating pre-Quaternary strata. Borehole core CSDP-1 (300.10 m long), the longest sediment core recovered thus far from the SYS, was drilled in 2013 in the western SYS. Recently, a reliable timescale for the core for the last ~ 3.50 Myr was obtained by magnetostratigraphy (Liu et al., 2016a). Here we report the results of integrated analyses of the core, including sedimentary characteristics, downcore changes in environmental proxies (benthic foraminifera and ostracods), and accelerator mass spectrometry 14 C and optically stimulated luminescence dates. In addition, we analyze 546 km of single-channel seismic profiles and ~ 50 km of a boomer seismic profile around the core site, and correlate the regional stratigraphy. The core sedimentary succession contains 17 depositional units (lithofacies associations) corresponding to three major seismic units, reflecting a variety of depositional environments during the last ~ 3.50 Myr. Our results show that fluvial environments prevailed in the western SYS from ~ 3.50 to 1.66 Ma, followed by alternations of tidal-flat to shallow-subtidal environments with fluvial environments from ~ 1.66 to 0.83 Ma, and alternations of modern-like marine environments and fluvial environments from ~ 0.83 Ma to the present-day in response to glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles. The depositional succession during the last ~ 3.50 Myr was dominantly controlled by tectonism and glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles. The presumed first marine transgression since the Neogene in the western SYS at ~ 1.66 Ma is interpreted to suggest that sea water could partially flood the Zhe-Min Uplift (ZMU) into the SYS due to tectonic subsidence, and further subsidence of the ZMU and the SYS shelf is inferred to have resulted in establishment of normal marine environments in the SYS during the highstands of glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles since ~ 0.83 Ma. The average subsidence rates in the western SYS were ~ 120–165 m/Myr during the last ~ 1.66 Myr. The sedimentary succession comprises fifth- and fourth-order sequences, which are interpreted to have been driven by the 20-kyr or 41-kyr and by the 100-kyr glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles, respectively, since the late Pliocene. The sequences deposited since the Late Pleistocene are relatively complete, recording deposits from MIS 5 to MIS 1. However, the pre-Upper Pleistocene sequences show significant stratigraphic hiatuses, presumably caused by fluvial erosion during the glacial sea-level lowstands and subsequent transgressive erosion. This type of significant discontinuity in the sedimentary record can be considered to be diagnostic of shelf sequences controlled by glacio-eustatic sea-level cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ferrimagnetic iron sulfide greigite (Fe 3 S 4 ) occurs widely in sulfidic lacustrine and marine sedimentary environments. Knowledge of its formation and persistence is important for both magnetostratigraphic and paleoenvironmental studies. Although the formation mechanism of greigite has been widely demonstrated, the sedimentary environments associated with greigite formation in lakes, especially on relatively long timescales, are poorly understood. A long and continuous sequence of Pleistocene lacustrine sediments was recovered in the Heqing drill core from southwestern China, which provides an outstanding record of continental climate and environment. Integrated magnetic, geochemical, and paleoclimatic analysis of the lacustrine sequence provides an opportunity to improve our understanding of the environmental controls on greigite formation. Rock magnetic and scanning electron microscope analyses of selected samples from the core reveal that greigite is present in the lower part of the core (part 1, 665.8–372.5 m). Greigite occurs throughout this interval and is the dominant magnetic mineral, irrespective of the climatic state. The magnetic susceptibility (χ) record, which is mainly controlled by the concentration of greigite, matches well with variations in the Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) index and total organic carbon (TOC) content, with no significant time lag. This indicates that the greigite formed during early diagenesis. In greigite-bearing intervals, with the χ increase, B c value increase and tends to be stable at about 50 mT. Therefore, we suggest that χ values could estimate the variation of greigite concentration approximately in the Heqing core. Greigite favored more abundant in terrigenous-rich and organic-poor layers associated with weak summer monsoon which are characterized by high χ values, high Fe content, high Rb/Sr ratio and low TOC content. Greigite enhancement can be explained by variations in terrigenous inputs. Our studies demonstrate that, not only the greigite formation, but also its concentration changes could be useful for studying climatic and environmental variability in sulfidic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The loess–red clay sequences in northern China provide high-resolution terrestrial records of Asian monsoon evolution and aridification of the Asian interior. To date, however, aeolian deposits of late Pliocene-early Pleistocene age (3.5–2.4 Ma) have only rarely been reported from the western Chinese Loess Plateau (CLP), which significantly hinders our understanding of the distribution of aeolian deposits and the palaeoenvironmental evolution of the region. Here, we present magnetostratigraphic, lithologic and magnetic susceptibility results for two recently-drilled boreholes from the north bank of Baxie River, central Linxia Basin, which are highly correlative with those of the loess–red clay deposits spanning the interval from 3.6 to 2.4 Ma in the eastern CLP. Our results provide the first direct evidence for the occurrence of late Pliocene-early Pleistocene aeolian deposits in the western CLP and provide new insights into the distribution of aeolian deposits in northern China. The spatial coherence of the magnetic susceptibility fluctuations further indicates that magnetic susceptibility is a powerful tool for stratigraphic correlation of late Pliocene aeolian deposits in the western CLP. In addition, our results demonstrate that erosional events may have occurred in the early or middle Pleistocene, and they may provide new insights into the reasons for the absence of loess–red clay deposits from 3.5 to 2.4 Ma in most parts of the western CLP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Palaeolithic record of Greece remains highly fragmented and discontinuous in both space and time. Nevertheless, new surveys and excavations, along with the revisiting of known sites or old collections, and the conduction of lithic and faunal laboratory analyses, have altogether enriched the Greek Palaeolithic dataset with important new evidence and novel interpretations. The goal of this paper is threefold: 1) to critically review the most important aspects of the Greek Pleistocene archaeological record, from the Lower to the Upper Palaeolithic; 2) to provide a synthesis of current knowledge about the Palaeolithic of Greece and in the framework of broader discussions in human evolution research; and 3) to put in prospect the Greek record by addressing a research agenda for the future. The review of the evidence shows that Palaeolithic research in Greece has expanded its focus not only geographically but also temporally: it now includes investigations at previously under-studied areas, such as the insular settings of the Aegean and Ionian Seas, as well as formerly overlooked targets, such as Lower Palaeolithic open-air sites. The synthesis and discussion which follows offers a state-of-the-art perspective on how the primary Palaeolithic data can be assessed within local or regional geomorphic, paleoenvironmental and chronological contexts; here, our focus is on spatio-temporal discontinuities, trends in subsistence strategies and lithic technology, as well as potentially emerging biogeographical patterns. Finally, we highlight the complex topography and mosaic landscapes of the Greek peninsula in order to address two major themes for a future research agenda: the potential role of Greece as a glacial refugium, and how the Greek record could contribute to our knowledge of early hominin mobility patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this presentation is to review the current evidence in order to model the early peopling of the highlands of Northwestern Argentina. Paleoenvironmental evidence of the late Pleistocene and early Holocene is thoroughly reviewed in order to set the stage of the process of human settlement of the Puna region of Argentina. I will analyze chronological evidence and the archaeological record –especially the archaeofaunas- of early hunter-gatherer occupations dated between 10,500 and 9000 BP (12,500 to 10,000 cal. BP). Finally, I discuss specific cultural and environmental aspects related to the dispersion and human colonization of the highland plateau. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The GICE (Guttenberg Carbon Isotope Excursion) is a positive δ13C excursion and a prominent feature of the Late Ordovician chemostratigraphic record. The GICE has been identified on different paleocontinents, and its cause is still unresolved. One explanation suggests that the GICE is the carbon isotopic expression of changes that occurred during the transition from an icehouse to greenhouse climate ~10 myr prior to the end Ordovician glaciation and mass extinction event. There are lithological and paleontological observations across this time interval that support cooling, but such evidence contradicts documented oxygen isotopic trends at low to middle latitudes that instead indicate warming during this interval.We measured neodymium isotopes, which are a weathering proxy and water mass tracer, in conodonts from the Upper Mississippi Valley to determine if changes in the global climate system might account for the lithologic and paleontologic changes observed across the GICE interval. The Nd isotopic values increase from -14.7 to -10.3 across 2 m of section up to the stratigraphic level of the Deicke K-bentonite. A decrease in εNd values occurs between the Deicke K-bentonite and the overlying Millbrig K-bentonite with values ranging from -16.2 to -18.5 across 8 m of section above the Millbrig K-bentonite. These results suggest high inputs due to weathering of proximal Precambrian shield rocks with lower εNd values high in the section, reflecting a regression (consistent with glacial growth) between the Millbrig and Deicke K-bentonites. However, a documented decrease in δ18O values in the study area and stratigraphic evidence for a regional transgression conflict with scenarios invoking glaciation and regression at this time. Local tectonic quiescence during the GICE also precludes a tectonically driven regression as a source of increased nonradiogenic εNd weathering flux. Therefore, the decrease in εNd values in this stratigraphic interval is suggested to result from increased weathering rates driven by global climatic change and/or circulation changes that increased input of a nonradiogenic signature to the region. These findings imply that using εNd as a direct proxy for eustatic changes, as suggested in previous work, is complicated during periods of changing climate and weathering fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the East China Sea (ECS) is presented using rare earth element (REE) analysis of sediments from Core MZ02, which was retrieved from the inner continental shelf's mud area. The analytic results show that the total REEs in the fine sediment vary between 137.76 μg/g and 231.53 μg/g with an average value of 187.69 μg/g. Obvious changes were found during the process of sedimentation. By comparing with the REE compositions from the potential provenances, the ratios of (La/Sm)ucc and (Gd/Yb)ucc revealed that the sediments were mainly derived from river detrital outputs of the Changjiang (Yangtze River), Minjiang and mountainous rivers from western Taiwan Island. The contributions of terrestrial materials from these three main provenances were controlled by sea level change and the Taiwan Warm Current (TWC)-Chinese Coastal Current (CCC) system, which is mainly driven by the East Asian monsoon. The high sedimentation rate during the transgression period between the late Pleistocene and early Holocene (13000–9800 a B.P.) was caused by a well-proportioned mixed provenance from Changjiang, western Taiwanese rivers and Minjiang sediments, due to the lower sea level and the location of the foreshore-nearshore face. Because of the stronger sediment reworking and erosion at the shelf edge during the early Holocene (9800–7300 a B.P.), the strengthening summer East Asian monsoon transported the Minjiang and western Taiwanese river material northeastward, and it became the main sediment source for fine sediments in the shallow sea region of the ECS, while the Changjiang provided a relatively minor amount of detrital sediment to the shelf. The increasing strength of the TWC might have played an important role in sediment dispersal and deposition on the ECS inner shelf during the period 7300–3500 a B.P., thus mountainous river material became the dominant sediment on the shelf of the ECS. Furthermore, the results indicate that the East Asian monsoon and the weakening of the TWC were linked to an abrupt increase in Changjiang-derived terrigenous detritus material since 3500 a B.P.; the source and sink pattern during this period is consistent with the modern sedimentation environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative paleotemperature reconstruction is a challenging and important issue in paleoenvironmental studies, for which carbonate clumped isotope (Δ 47) thermometry is a promising approach. Here we analyzed Δ 47 values from 66 layers of OT02 stalagmite from Ohtaki Cave in central Japan, covering two separate time intervals (2.6–8.8 and 34.8–63.5 ka) to reconstruct terrestrial temperature and meteoric δ18O records. The average Δ 47 temperatures of the Holocene interval and the latest Pleistonece interval were 16.3 °C ± 5.6 °C and 9.7 °C ± 4.6 °C, respectively. The Δ 47 thermometry also revealed that the cold intervals (5 °C–10 °C) correspond to the Heinrich stadials HSs4–6, and the warm interval (up to 19.9 °C ± 6.0 °C) in middle Holocene (approximately 6–5 ka) accompanied by the Hypsithermal climate optimum. We also reconstructed past meteoric δ18O by subtracting the temperature effect from stalagmite δ18O. Average meteoric δ18O was −8.2‰ ± 1.0‰ vs. VSMOW in the Holocene interval and − 8.8‰ ± 0.8‰ in the latest Pleistocene interval. Over centennial timescales, meteoric δ18O was more negative during colder periods, such as Heinrich stadials and a cooling event around 7 ka, and less negative in warmer periods, such as Hypsithermal warming. A temperature dependency of total 18O fractionation from sea water to precipitation is a likely reason for the negative correlation between temperature and meteoric δ18O. Additionally, East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) brought larger rainfall of less negative δ18O during the warm periods, whereas larger snow/rainfall of more negative δ18O brought from East Asian winter monsoon (EAWM) in colder periods. The relative influences from EASM and EAWM were changing in a centennial timescale. δ18O of OT02 had reflected changes in terrestrial temperature and meteoric δ18O, which are both strongly related to EASM and EAWM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Changes in large mammal population and biotic regionalism of the Italian Peninsula during Upper Pleistocene have been well documented over the last twenty years. On the other hand, only few studies have focused on the changes in small mammal fossil assemblages. Grotta Paglicci is a key archaeological site for Italian prehistory. It is well dated and it shows an uninterrupted chronological sequence of Upper Palaeolithic lithic industries, ranging from the Aurignacian to the Late Epigravettian. Small mammal remains from the Upper Palaeolithic layers of this cave have been identified and the assemblage has been analysed through the application of Simpson diversity index, Habitat Weighting and Bioclimatic model methods. The results show remarkable differences through the record: major climatic changes (GS2 is particularly well defined) are visible and a clear turning point is observable at the Bølling-Allerød interstadial transition. This is in line with environmental and climatic oscillations already detected in the Italian Peninsula. These data also suggest that a strong regionalism characterized the south-eastern Italian Peninsula during the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to reconstruct environments associated with Plio-Pleistocene hominins in southern Africa, researchers frequently rely upon the animals associated with the hominins, in particular, animals in the Family Bovidae. Bovids in southern Africa are typically identified by their teeth. However, identifying the taxon of a bovid tooth is challenging due to various biasing factors. Furthermore, inaccurate identification of fossil bovids can have significant consequences on the reconstructed paleoenvironment. Recent research on the classification of bovid fossil teeth has relied on using elliptical Fourier analysis to summarize the shape of the outline of the occlusal surface of the tooth and the resulting harmonic amplitudes. Currently, an expert in the field must manually place landmarks around the edges of each tooth which is slow and time consuming. This study tests whether it is possible to crowdsource this task, while maintaining the necessary level of quality needed to perform a statistical analysis on each tooth. Amazon Mechanical Turk workers place landmarks on the edge of the tooth which is compared to the performance of an expert in the field. The results suggest that crowdsourcing the digitization process is reliable and replicable. With the technical aspects of digitization managed, researchers can concentrate on analyzing and interpreting the data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Application of the glass fission-track dating method to Chester Bluff tephra (CBt), exposed in loess deposits at Chester Bluff along the Yukon River in east-central Alaska, has clarified the age of the immediately underlying fossiliferous interglacial bed. Surprise Creek tephra (SZt), at site CRH47 in the northern Old Crow basin of the Yukon Territory, is a correlative of CBt so that the new age information on CBt can also be applied to the interglacial sediments below SZt. Two independent age determinations were obtained on CBt, 243 ±28 ka and 249 ±26 ka, giving a weighted mean age and error of 246 ±19 ka. Therefore, the closely associated interglacial bed belongs to the early part of Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 7. The stratigraphy and paleoenvironmental setting of SZt show that deposition of the tephra occurred soon after interglacial conditions, when the climate became colder, probably between MIS 7.5 and 7.4, that is, slightly younger than the mean fission-track age, but within the 1σ uncertainty. This result tightly constrains the age of the rich mammalian faunal assemblage found at and just below SZt at the CRH47 site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A megaslump at Batagaika, in northern Yakutia, exposes a remarkable stratigraphic sequence of permafrost deposits ~50–80 m thick. To determine their potential for answering key questions about Quaternary environmental and climatic change in northeast Siberia, we carried out a reconnaissance study of their cryostratigraphy and paleoecology, supported by four rangefinder 14C ages. The sequence includes two ice complexes separated by a unit of fine sand containing narrow syngenetic ice wedges and multiple paleosols. Overall, the sequence developed as permafrost grew syngenetically through an eolian sand sheet aggrading on a hillslope. Wood remains occur in two forest beds, each associated with a reddened weathering horizon. The lower bed contains high amounts of Larix pollen (>20%), plus small amounts of Picea and Pinus pumila, and is attributed to interglacial conditions. Pollen from the overlying sequence is dominated by herbaceous taxa (~70%–80%) attributed to an open tundra landscape during interstadial climatic conditions. Of three hypothetical age schemes considered, we tentatively attribute much of the Batagaika sequence to Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage (MIS) 3. The upper and lower forest beds may represent a mid–MIS 3 optimum and MIS 5, respectively, although we cannot discount alternative attributions to MIS 5 and 7. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most interesting aspects of the settlement of Europe is the possible continuity or discontinuity of the populations living in this continent during the Early and Middle Pleistocene. In this paper we present an analysis of the mandibular fossil record from four important Pleistocene European sites, Gran Dolina-TD6-2 (Sierra de Atapuerca), Mauer, Arago, and Atapuerca-Sima de los Huesos. We focus this study in the recognition of key derived mandibular features that may be useful to assess the relationship among the populations represented at these sites. In order to make an approach to the ecological scenario, we also present a short review and discussion of the archaeological and paleoenvironmental evidences at that time. Our results suggest that probably there was a demographic discontinuity between the late Early Pleistocene populations (MIS 21-MIS 19), and those dated to the MIS 15. Hybridization between residents and new settlers cannot be discarded. However, some features of the Gran Dolina-TD6 hominins point to some relationship between the population represented in this site (probably dated to the MIS 21) and the European Middle Pleistocene and early Late Pleistocene populations. A hypothetical scenario is presented in order to understand this apparent contradiction with the model of discontinuity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Worldwide, loess-paleosol sequences are archives of terrestrial Quaternary paleoenvironment data. The Rulo site is a newly described site in the Palouse loess of southeastern Washington State, USA. The site reveals a 19 m thick deposit of loess and flood sediment, preserving a total of 30 m of reconstructed stratigraphic section. Five unconformity-bound sequences of sediment are exposed at the site, the lowest two of which have yielded fossil remains, including the first reported occurrence of flat-headed peccary ( Platygonus compressus ) in northwestern North America. The unconformities, two diamicts bearing extrabasinal clasts, and a number of clastic dikes provide evidence for pre-Wisconsin glacial outburst floods in southeastern Washington. More than a dozen paleosols are preserved at the site. These soils are relatively unweathered and therefore primarily record periods of slow sedimentation accumulation in the Palouse, rather than changes in weathering rates. A paleosol near the base of the sequence is unusually weathered for Palouse paleosols, and records a period of increased weathering during the Middle Pleistocene. All units above the sand are normal paleomagnetic polarity; additional age control is provided by a tephra in the upper third of the sequence that matches a ca. 220 ka tephra from Newberry Volcano, and by stratigraphic correlation of later units to other sites in the Palouse. The Rulo site adds to the record of Irvingtonian fauna in North America, and supports accumulating evidence for pre-Late Wisconsin glacial outburst floods in the Pacific Northwest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent archaeological studies in the Lori Depression of Armenia (Lesser Caucasus) revealed a series of multilevel Early Paleolithic (Acheulian) sites belonging to the Early-Middle Pleistocene stage of occupation of the Caucasus. In the uppermost layers of these sites, the paleosols and sediments contain carbonate features (CFs) whereas the lower layers are absolutely free from carbonates. The aim of this work is to examine the role of detected CFs as an indicator for reconstructions of the Early-Middle Pleistocene paleoenvironments, to determine the source, time and conditions of carbonates' accumulation in initially non-calcareous and high-degree weathered humid paleosols. Three sections were studied: Kurtan I, points 1–2 and Muradovo. There are different forms of CFs represented by the calcified root cells in the layer 1, the hard nodules in the layer 2 and the laminae-like carbonates in the layer 3 of the sites studied. All the CFs are of the aqueous (hydrogenic) origin. The CFs of the uppermost layers 1 and 2 in the Kurtan I, point 2 were accumulated in the Holocene lake. The calcified root cells were formed on the swamp shore whereas the hard nodules on the lake bottom under stagnant water. The laminae-like carbonates in the layer 3 were accumulated in the Kurtan I and Muradovo sections due to strong erosion cycle(s) in the Late Pleistocene interglacial period(s) that led to the limestone scour in the region by ground and surface water. They reflect the earliest stage of the allochthonous carbonate accumulation in the area dated by radiocarbon method to approximately 20 ka cal BP. Therefore, all the CFs cannot be regarded as indicative of Early and Middle Pleistocene environmental changes, as they appeared in the uppermost layers of the studied sections much later than the time of formation for the surrounding groundmass. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Body mass was reconstructed for early Middle Pleistocene Canis mosbachensis and late Middle to Late Pleistocene Canis lupus from key assemblages in Britain, to explore the presence of temporal size variability and whether size fluctuations were related to changes in climate and environment or to differences in Pleistocene carnivore community structure. Using the well-known body mass predictor of lower carnassial (m1) tooth length, combined with an extant canid dataset incorporating 25 species, least squares regression was used to assess allometric scaling prior to modelling the relationship between body mass and m1 length, producing a new predictive equation of Pleistocene canid body mass. The medium-sized C. mosbachensis had relatively stable body mass, with remarkable consistency in size compared to populations in the late Early Pleistocene of Europe. Periodical fluctuations in climatic conditions had a minimal effect on C. mosbachensis size over time, with the terrestrial connection between Britain and mainland Europe at this time key in promoting body mass stability by enabling movement away from less favourable conditions and to follow prey into refugia. Overall changes in carnivore guild structure were of minimal influence to C. mosbachensis in Britain, as the continued predominance of larger carnivores, in particular a larger canid, effectively constrained C. mosbachensis . In contrast, the body mass of larger-sized C. lupus was highly temporally varied, with an increasing size trend evident into the Devensian. Similar body size in the penultimate interglacial (MIS 7) and Middle Devensian (MIS 3) populations likely reflects palaeoenvironmental similarity and comparable carnivore community and prey spectrums, with larger predators effectively constraining C. lupus . However, the severely cold conditions of the Early Devensian (MIS 5a) may have caused a Bergmannian response in wolves, leading to their comparatively much larger size, with C. lupus further ecologically “liberated” by an absence of larger multiple larger predators at this time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sediment record of Lake El’gygytgyn (67°30′N, 172°05′E) spans the past 3.6 Ma and provides unique opportunities for qualitative and quantitative reconstructions of the regional paleoenvironmental history of the terrestrial Arctic. Millennial-scale pollen studies of the sediments that accumulated during the Late Pliocene and Early Pleistocene (ca. 2.7 to 2.5 Ma) demonstrate orbitally-driven vegetation and climate changes during this transitional interval. Pollen spectra show a significant vegetation shift at the Pliocene/Pleistocene boundary that is, however, delayed by a few thousand years compared to lacustrine response. About 2.70–2.68 Ma the vegetation at Lake El’gygytgyn, currently a tundra area was mostly dominated by larch forests with some shrub pine, shrub alder and dwarf birch in understory. During the marine isotope stages G3 and G1, ca. 2.665–2.647 and 2.625–2.617 Ma, some spruce trees grew in the local larch-pine forests, pointing to relatively warm climate conditions. At the beginning of the Pleistocene, around 2.588 Ma, a prominent climatic deterioration led to a change from larch-dominated forests to predominantly treeless steppe- and tundra-like habitats. Between ca. 2.56–2.53 Ma some climate amelioration is reflected by the higher presence of coniferous taxa (mostly pine and larch, but probably also spruce) in the area. After 2.53 Ma a relatively cold and dry climate became dominant again, leading to open steppe-like and shrubby environments followed by climate amelioration between ca. 2.510 and 2.495 Ma, when pollen assemblages show that larch forests with dwarf birch and shrub alder still grew in the lake’s vicinity. Increased contents of green algae colonies ( Botryococcus ) remains and Zygnema cysts around 2.691–2.689, 2.679–2.677, 2.601–2.594, 2.564–2.545, and 2.532–2.510 Ma suggest a spread of shallow-water environments most likely due to a lake-level lowering. These events occurred simultaneously with dry climate conditions inferred from broad distribution of steppe habitats with Artemisia and other herbs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aves are represented by abundant fossil remains in Quaternary sites. Birds are well adapted to the environment they inhabit, so they make very good paleoenvironmental indicators for Quaternary sites. Here we analyse the avian remains from the Late Pleistocene (probably MIS3) site of Aguilón P-7 (AGP-7). The Pleistocene sediments fill up a shallow cave, which is located in the Zaragozan part of the Iberian Range, 55 km south of the city of Zaragoza. We have for the first time provided a taxonomic and taphonomic study of the avian assemblage of AGP-7, as well as a preliminary paleoenvironmental analysis based on these data. Nine avian taxa have been identified: Galliformes indet.,Lagopussp.,Aquila chrysaetos,Gyps fulvus, Passeridae indet.,Anthussp.,Prunella modularis,Sturnuscf.unicolorandCorvus monedula. The taphonomic analysis did not provide conclusive information. However, it suggests an accumulation of uneaten food remains by diurnal birds of prey. The identified taxa currently inhabit the Iberian Peninsula, populating woodland environments with rocky areas. They are found in areas with an oceanic climate, in contrast to the Mediterranean climate that now prevails in Aguilón. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The past 5 million years mark a global change from the warmer, more stable climate of the Pliocene to the initiation of glacial–interglacial cycles during the Pleistocene. Marine core sediment records located off the coast of southwestern Africa indicate aridification and intensified upwelling in the Benguela Current over the Pliocene and Pleistocene. However, few terrestrial records document environmental change in southwestern Africa over this time interval. Here we synthesize new and published carbon and oxygen isotope data of the teeth from large mammals (> 6 kg) at Langebaanweg (~ 5 million years ago, Ma), Elandsfontein (1.0–0.6 Ma), and Hoedjiespunt (0.35–0.20 Ma), to evaluate environmental change in southwestern Africa between the Pliocene and Pleistocene. The majority of browsing and grazing herbivores from these sites yield enamel δ 13 C values within the range expected for animals with a pure C 3 diet, however some taxa have enamel δ 13 C values that suggest the presence of small amounts C 4 grasses at times during the Pleistocene. Considering that significant amounts of C 4 grasses require a warm growing season, these results indicate that the winter rainfall zone, characteristic of the region today, could have been in place for the past 5 million years. The average δ 18 O value of the herbivore teeth increases ~ 4.4‰ between Langebaanweg and Elandsfontein for all taxa except suids. This increase may solely be a function of a change in hydrology between the fluvial system at Langebaanweg and the spring-fed environments at Elandsfontein, or a combination of factors that include depositional context, regional circulation and global climate. However, an increase in regional aridity or global cooling between the early Pliocene and mid-Pleistocene cannot explain the entire increase in enamel δ 18 O values. Spring-fed environments like those at Elandsfontein may have provided critical resources for mammalian fauna in the mid-Pleistocene within an increasingly arid southwestern Africa ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hinterland intermountain basins and northern and southern piedmonts of the Qinling Mountains accumulated a large amount of loess during the Pleistocene. The loess strata not only record local paleogeographic and paleoenvironmental changes, but also contain rich hominin fossils and Paleolithic remains. In the northern piedmont of the Qinling Mountains and the lower valley of the South Luohe River, the loess strata have multi loess-paleosol sequences with aeolian loess continuously accumulating during glacial and interglacial cycles. In contrast to the northern piedmont, loess stratigraphy in the hinterland intermountain basins of the Qinling Mountains is relatively thin and contains finer loess particles. In this 'mini' type of loess stratum, the density of Paleolithic remain generally is higher than the Loess Plateau in the north of the Qinling Mountains. Based on stratigraphic, chronological, and lithic artifacts analysis in recent years, it appears that the regional lithic assemblage belongs to the Oldowan (Mode I) lithic industry, and it is dominated by choppers, cores, flakes, and simple retouched flake tools from 1.15 to 0.6 Ma. Paleolithic open-air sites such as Gongwangling and Chenjiawo in the Lantian area, Shangbaichuan and Liuwan in the Luonan Basin, Qiaojiayao in the Lushi Basin, Longgangsi and Yaochangwan in the Hanzhong Basin, Guanmiao in the Ankang Basin, and the Yunxian Man Site in the Yunxian Basin are representative sites in the region; from 400 to 250 ka, the Longyadong cave site in the Luonan Basin inherited the characteristics of the local Mode I lithic industry, the stone assemblage is made up of cores, flakes, and small retouched flake tools, such as scrapers, points, and burins; during the period from 250 to 50 ka, bi-facially retouched Acheulean tools (Model II), such as hand-axes, picks, and cleavers, were commonly found in the Qinling Mountains region. The emergence of a large number of Model II artifacts indicates that local lithic industries went through a major transition process. Zhanghuokou, Guoyuan, and Huaishuping sites in the Luonan Basin, Diaozhai, Ganyu, Laochihe, and Xiehu sites in the Lantian area, Hejialiang site in the Hanzhong Basin are representative sites in this period; to the turn of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, it may also exist a small flake-retouched tools lithic industry in the piedmonts of the northern and southern sides of the Qinling Mountains. The lithic assemblages in different stages of the Qinling Mountains region reflect the hominin behavioral changes and the development of lithic technology during the Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three sediment cores from the Northwind, Mendeleev, and Lomonosov Ridges distributed across the western Arctic Ocean were investigated for foraminiferal composition with a focus on benthic assemblages. This investigation provides insights into middle to late Pleistocene history of paleoceanographic and sea-ice conditions on multi-millennial time scales. Calcareous foraminiferal abundances and assemblage composition show stratigraphically consistent development, including glacial–interglacial variability and long-term evolution of foraminiferal assemblages. Major long-term changes occurred at the end of the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (estimated ca. 0.7–0.8 Ma) and later near the bottom of Marine Isotope Stage 7 (ca. 0.25 Ma) and near the top of MIS 5 (ca. 0.1 Ma). These changes include notably a diminishing role of phytodetritus-related species, such as Epistominella exigua , at the expense of oligotrophic species adapted to live under persistent sea ice, presumably indicating an overall expansion of year-round ice cover in the Arctic during the Pleistocene. The pronounced MPT shift from mostly seasonal to perennial sea ice was coeval, and possibly related to a growth of North American ice sheets and the beginning of glacially-controlled sedimentation in the western Arctic Ocean. The ca. 0.25 Ma transition, interpreted as another step in sea-ice expansion, also co-occurs with signs of ice-sheet expansion in both North America and, especially, Eurasia. The apparent synchronicity of major steps in sea-ice and glaciation histories necessitates a more in-depth investigation of feedbacks involved and broader linkages beyond the Arctic region. The ca. 0.1 Ma change in foraminiferal assemblages marks a consistent stratigraphic event, expressed notably in a proliferation of the cosmopolitan species Oridorsalis tener , although its paleoenvironmental significance is not yet fully understood. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The terminal Pleistocene is a period of profound climatic and environmental change in Africa, with paleoenvironmental records documenting tremendous regional variation. Environmental records needed to understand these dynamics are currently lacking from the Horn of Africa. Here we provide a new paleoenvironmental record based of new faunal data from archeological sites along the Bulbula River (Ziway–Shala Basin, Main Ethiopian Rift) in Ethiopia. Research conducted in this area has uncovered archeological assemblages that document various phases of the Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene. Two sites dated to the terminal Pleistocene are considered here, B1s1 and B1s4. The former includes a very large assemblage of more than 20,000 skeletal remains. Both faunal assemblages are dominated by bovids of the tribes Alcelaphini and Antilopini and include Damaliscus hypsodon , a small extinct alcelaphine. The faunal remains from these sites, like those from the contemporary site of Lukenya Hill in south-central Kenya, are indicative of widespread arid grasslands. Several ungulates are found outside of their historic ranges, including Grant's gazelle ( Nanger granti ) and Dorcas gazelle ( Gazella dorcas ). Their absence from the region today likely reflects a combination of paleoenvironmental change since the end of the Pleistocene coupled with more recent human impacts. The combination of archeological and faunal data suggests that B1s1 could have been a residential site with seasonal occupation to acquire raw material from local obsidian sources and to hunt bovids in the arid plain, including species that ultimately disappear or shift their range at the onset of the Holocene with the return of warmer and moister conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gebel Akhdar massif in Cyrenaica, northeast Libya, has yielded a long record of human occupation going back at least 100,000 years. To date, there is only a limited understanding of how the landscape of the region varied in response to the climatic fluctuations of the last glacial–interglacial cycle, and the implications of these changes for local human populations remain largely unexplored. This study provides an isotope-based interpretation of past environments directly linked to the archaeological record. Tooth enamel stable carbon isotope ratios (δ 13 C) from herbivore species hunted by past human populations are used to infer the isotopic characteristics of past diet and vegetation, and in turn the likely environmental conditions that prevailed during periods when humans were active within the landscape. To provide a baseline from which to interpret the archaeological δ 13 C data, modern samples are considered in relation to their diet and environmental origin. Archaeological samples come from 2 cave sites, Haua Fteah and Hagfet ed Dabba, and span a period from oxygen isotope stage 4 to the mid-Holocene. Whilst results indicate a more arid environment in the Pleistocene and an increase in humidity at the onset of the Holocene, the overall picture is one of relative environmental stability. The biggest landscape change observed in the data occurs during the mid-Holocene Neolithic, when C 4 plant species become evident in the herbivore diet for the first time. There is little evidence to suggest that this occurred at a time of any large-scale climate variation, and thus the contribution of anthropogenic influences to vegetation change is considered likely. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The So'a Basin in central Flores contains the earliest known evidence for hominins on this remote Indonesian island, with stone tools from this region dating back at least 1.0 Ma. At least 16 late Early to early Middle Pleistocene terrestrial fossil localities record evidence for highly insular endemic faunas and proxy evidence for hominins. The hominin presence in the So'a Basin raises many questions as to how, when, and from where hominins arrived on the island, and key issues regarding their adaptation to this insular environment remain poorly understood. Here, we provide palaeoenvironmental data based on avian remains recovered during recent, systematic excavations of late Early to early Middle Pleistocene deposits at Mata Menge and Bo'a Leza in the So'a Basin. At least six species of birds in five avian orders were recovered, forming the oldest bird remains recovered from Wallacea. Two species, a swan ( Cygnus sp.) and an eagle owl ( Bubo sp.), no longer occur on Flores. The avian assemblage from Mata Menge and Bo'a Leza described here is indicative of an open environment with a strong open, freshwater component and nearby grasslands, and with forests at a distance. In that, it differs from the Late Pleistocene limestone cave site of Liang Bua, the find locality of Homo floresiensis , and is more similar to the Early Pleistocene Homo erectus sites of the Sangiran Dome on Java. Although little is known regarding the identity of the So'a Basin toolmakers, the presence of an open, savannah-type environment in the late Early to early Middle Pleistocene of Flores may have facilitated their dispersal from the Asian shelf into Wallacea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil footprints of ground sloths are mostly restricted to the late Miocene to Pleistocene of South America. This study is focused on the oldest known ground sloth trackways, Megatherichnum oportoi Casamiquela, 1974 from the late Miocene Río Negro Formation of northern Patagonia. The section logged at the study site, near Carmen de Patagones (Buenos Aires province), includes the uppermost part of the middle member (marine) and the upper member (aeolian) of the Río Negro Formation. Identified sedimentary facies can be grouped into four facies associations: tidal flat, aeolian dune, dry/damp interdune and wet interdune (shallow lacustrine). M. oportoi trackways are preserved in an upper intertidal mixed flat. Associated trace fossils belong to a wet aeolian system developed close to the sea coast and were mostly preserved in interdune facies. These include Poaceae root and stem traces and Nagtuichnus meuleni (Chlamyphorinae burrow) in dry interdune facies, indeterminate tetrapod footprints in damp interdune facies, Lockeia siliquaria and chevron-like trace fossils (bivalve resting and horizontal locomotion traces) in wet interdune facies (shallow lakes), and Palaeophycus tubularis in aeolian dune facies. The most likely trackmaker of M. oportoi is Pyramiodontherium sp. (Megatheriinae), recorded from the same stratigraphic unit at Chubut province, with a body mass ranging from 2.5 to 3.6 t. M. oportoi is interpreted as a quadrupedal trackway of a late Miocene ground sloth without overlap of the pes on the manus. The previously proposed bipedal interpretation for the trackway requires angles of gait in excess of those permitted for such a large and heavy animal. Pleistocene ground sloth trackways are distinctive because of the much smaller size of the fore footprint. For the latter examples, a quadrupedal locomotion with overlap of the pes on the manus may be applied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The chronology of layer EVT7 of the Vallparadís Estació section has been a hotly debated topic during recent years, with some authors supporting an age close to the Early-Middle Pleistocene boundary (0.83 Ma), others favouring an age older than the Jaramillo magnetostratigraphic subchron (ca. 1.2 Ma) and others proposing a chronology between 0.98 and 0.95 Ma for layer EVT7. Here, we review the biochronological data from EVT7, and review the biochronology based on the study of Mimomys savini using all the available remains of this species, which is the most abundant rodent species from this layer. Based on the morphologic and biometric comparison with remains of the same species from other similarly-aged Iberian localities (Gran Dolina TD4-6 from Atapuerca, and Barranco León D and Fuente Nueva 3 from the Guadix-Baza Basin), we propose an estimated age for EVT7 in the chronologic range from 0.99 to 0.94 Ma. We further perform a paleoenvironmental study based on the whole small-mammal assemblage from EVT7, which allows us to infer an open and humid environment in the vicinity of a lacustrine area or fluvial course. Recently published work also studied the rodent assemblage from EVT7. However, in this study only a part of the small mammals recovered from EVT7 was studied, and therefore its results can be partially biased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Barranco (creek) León section is located in the NE marginal area of the lacustrine Plio-Pleistocene Baza Basin (Southern Spain). The Barranco León BL-5D mammal and archeological site has delivered abundant lithic tools and a hominin tooth; the age ascribed to this site is comprised between the Olduvai and Jaramillo subchrons, close to 1.4 Ma, based on magnetostratigraphy, biostratigraphy and ERS dating. The studied BL-5 section consists from base to top, of dark sandy mudstones and lutites with interbedded sandy marls. The lower part of the dark sandy mudstones contains a brackish fauna of foraminifera, ostracods, and mollusks. Sandy carbonate mudstones and sandy lutites with freshwater-oligosaline ostracods and mollusks form the upper part of the archeological excavation sequence. Stable isotope (δ 13 C, δ 18 O) and trace element analyses on ostracod and mollusk shells allow depicting the paleoenvironmental conditions recorded in the lacustrine sequence. Moreover, indications on provenance for waters have been obtained from 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios from shells and opercula from mollusks. The isotopic composition of the biogenic carbonates shows a strong correlation between δ 13 C and δ 18 O, which is noticeable for some gastropod shells. This correlation is a characteristic feature of closed lake settings. In our case, the more negative isotopic values reflect the input of meteoric waters and the more positive ones the skeletal carbonates formed in more isotopically concentrated waters. Some of the more negative isotopic values correspond to biogenic carbonates from the BL-5D level. They correspond to isotopically diluted waters, although the trace element data and the invertebrate fauna indicate oligosaline to mesosaline waters. Moreover, the presence in BL-5D of shells from Melanopsis tuberculata , a thermophilous gastropod, together with their isotopic signatures suggest the input of oligosaline waters with a thermal influence. The available geochemical data indicate a first stage of varying influence of several water types under changing water level in a closed lake recorded in the base of the studied sequence (brackish fauna level). The overlying beds record a through flowing open lacustrine environment mainly fed by meteoric surface and ground waters with significant inputs of stream waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Shungura Formation in the lower Omo River Valley, southern Ethiopia, has yielded an important paleontological and archeological record from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of eastern Africa. Fossils are common throughout the sequence and provide evidence of paleoenvironments and environmental change through time. This study developed discriminant function ecomorphology models that linked astragalus morphology to broadly defined habitat categories (open, light cover, heavy cover, forest, and wetlands) using modern bovids of known ecology. These models used seven variables suitable for use on fragmentary fossils and had overall classification success rates of >82%. Four hundred and one fossils were analyzed from Shungura Formation members B through G (3.4–1.9 million years ago). Analysis by member documented the full range of ecomorph categories, demonstrating that a wide range of habitats existed along the axis of the paleo-Omo River. Heavy cover ecomorphs, reflecting habitats such as woodland and heavy bushland, were the most common in the fossil sample. The trend of increasing open cover habitats from Members C through F suggested by other paleoenvironmental proxies was documented by the increase in open habitat ecomorphs during this interval. However, finer grained analysis demonstrated considerable variability in ecomorph frequencies over time, suggesting that substantial short-term variability is masked when grouping samples by member. The hominin genera Australopithecus , Homo , and Paranthropus are associated with a range of ecomorphs, indicating that all three genera were living in temporally variable and heterogeneous landscapes. Australopithecus finds were predominantly associated with lower frequencies of open habitat ecomorphs, and high frequencies of heavy cover ecomorphs, perhaps indicating a more woodland focus for this genus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We measured oxygen and carbon isotope compositions from teeth from three fossil localities in California, The McKittrick Tar seeps (Rancholabrean), Fairmead Landfill, and Irvington (both Irvingtonian). These sites have produced a variety of megafauna fossils, and to date are relatively understudied. Previous ecological studies of Pleistocene California megafauna have focused on the coastal Rancho La Brea tar seeps (RLB), neglecting inland faunas. Both Fairmead Landfill and McKittrick are located in California's San Joaquin Valley, and provide the first isotopic data from the region. We sampled a wide range of taxa; Equus, Camelops, Mammuthus, Mammut, Hemiauchenia, Odocoileus, Tetrameryx, Capromeryx, Platygonus, Canis dirus, Canis latrans, Arctodus simus, Smilodon, Homotherium, Miracinonyx, Panthera onca and Panthera atrox. Stable carbon values from both middle Pleistocene localities are consistent with a C 3 dominated environment. Mean annual precipitation (MAP) estimates for the middle Pleistocene localities are ~ 340 mm/year for Fairmead Landfill and ~ 900 mm/year for Irvington. While the inland MAP estimate is similar to modern levels, Irvington MAP estimates are significantly higher than the modern average. In contrast, the McKittrick tar seeps show clear evidence of C 4 consumption among Equus , Bison and Camelops , suggesting a mixture C 4 grasses and halophytes. Similarly, comparing between McKittrick and published data for RLB indicate a higher level of C 4 resources inland. Serially sampled teeth from both inland localities reveal diet and resource partitioning between browsers and grazers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The late Pliocene–early Pleistocene Tosunlar succession (Denizli Basin, southwestern Turkey) represents fluvial-dominated delta environments at the margins of a brackish long-lived lake. Two main facies associations are documented: (i) a delta front facies association, with a distal (DF1) and proximal (DF2) deposits; and (ii) a delta plain facies association that contains distributary channel (DP1) and interdistributary swamp (DP2) deposits. The stable isotopic analysis of the mollusc faunas exhibit a narrow range of values (–4.68 < δ 18 O < + 0.21‰ and + 0.43 < δ 13 C < + 3.27‰, respectively) and the very poor δ 18 O–δ 13 C correlation (r = − 0.16) may indicate hydrologically open lake and significant diagenetic alteration. The mollusc faunas and their stable isotope ratios show a biogeographically isolated brackish lake system under semiarid climatic conditions. Under special environmental conditions the endemic faunal composition remained constant which is very unusual for a (semi-) isolated long-lived lake setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary Isotopic and geochemical evidence of paleoclimatic conditions from the Pleistocene (∼30ka BP) has been obtained from groundwater in a non-monsoon area in the East Junggar Basin, NW China. The major ion chemistry of groundwater is controlled by some processes including ion exchange in clay minerals and dissolution of gypsum as well as other evaporites in the desert groundwater, while carbonate minerals seem to be essentially absent in the aquifers. The water chemistry, oxygen and deuterium, deuterium excess, and stable carbon isotopes of groundwater show distinctive excursions inferred to be related to environmental variations such as air temperature and land cover change. Shallow groundwater bears an isotopic signature similar to that of the mean annual rainfall in Urumqi, suggesting recharge under warm climate conditions in the Holocene. Deep groundwater in the central part of the basin is characterized by depleted heavy isotopes, lower deuterium excess and low 14 C content, indicating lower air temperature in the late Pleistocene, after correction for altitude effect. Old groundwater with enriched 13 C indicates the higher proportion of C4 species in the late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The El Harhoura 2 cave (Morocco) presents a high density of white-toothed shrew (Crocidurinae) remains in the eight studied archaeological levels, ranging from around 108,000 to 5800 BP. A detailed understanding of the species contained in these assemblages is important for palaeoecological studies, yet often difficult to achieve because the remains are systematically broken. Here we apply geometric morphometric methods that use sliding landmarks allowing us to assign broken mandibles to five potential species present in Morocco today. Four species were detected, with a distinct distribution in the different levels. Surprisingly, Crocidura russula , a species typically associated with relatively humid habitats, was found to be more abundant in periods characterized by dry conditions. Moreover, the abundance of the Saharan species Crocidura tarfayensis and Crocidura lusitania followed an inverse pattern. Both groups appear to affect each other's abundance throughout the studied period. We suggest that the coastal position of El Harhoura 2 as well as the inter-specific competition between C. russula and other species may explain this pattern. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quantitative analyses on pollen and ostracods were performed on the Montalbano Jonico succession (MJS) through Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 18–21 in order to acquire details of paleoenvironmental changes and climate pattern during MIS 19, which includes the Matuyama–Brunhes paleomagnetic boundary (MBB). While the MJS does not record the MBB, which is the main criterion for defining the Early–Middle Pleistocene boundary, it is a candidate Global Boundary Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the Ionian Stage and Middle Pleistocene Subseries because of its excellent exposure, continuous deposition, and astronomically tuned record between MIS 37 and MIS 16. The new 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age of 773.9 ± 1.3 ka for volcaniclastic layer V4 allows the age-model for the succession to be refined. Ostracod assemblages show significant paleodepth fluctuations at the glacial–interglacial scale, in agreement with the pollen distality index ( Pinus vs. Caryophyllaceae, Amaranthaceae and Ephedra ) which also suggests higher values during MIS 19. Pollen analysis provides supplementary paleoclimate data that are valuable to reconstruct temperature variation during the identified phases. A major expansion of steppic vegetation at 790 ka in the uppermost MIS 20 correlates with a significant cold and arid Northern Hemisphere climate phase, as documented by a concurrent peak both in North Atlantic ice rafted debris and Mediterranean dust records. Climate conditions recorded in MIS 19.3 were similar to those of the present interglacial, whereas a dry climate phase marks MIS 19.2 at 771.84 ka, slightly above the V4 layer. Millennial scale climate variability occurred during MIS 19 as evidenced by two abrupt short-term moderately dry pollen events at 783.5 ka and 774.8 ka that could be related to a period of reduced geomagnetic field intensity through the MBB transition. Additional environmental/chronological events accompanied this stratigraphic interval: i) the volcaniclastic layers V3 and V4, radiometrically dated at 801.2 ± 19.5 ka and 773.9 ± 1.3 ka, respectively; ii) the co-occurrence of maximum flooding and thermal maximum in agreement with the previously recorded co-occurrence of the Neopycnodonte community and tropical–subtropical mesopelagic teleostean Bonapartia pedaliota , close to the increase of Quercus ; and iii) the maximum depth (MD) between 777.3 and 773.25 ka as recorded by outer shelf/upper slope macroinvertebrate fauna, close to the highest value of pollen distality index in MIS 19. Results enhance the understanding of orbital-suborbital paleoenvironmental change during the mid-Pleistocene, and particularly of the climate pattern during MIS 19 and across the MBB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

L’Arbreda Cave is one of the southernmost of the Reclau Caves (Serinyà, Girona, northeastern Iberian Peninsula), located between the west margin of the Pla d’Usall and the Serinyadell river, at an altitude of about 211 m a.s.l. The Pla d’Usall forms part of the Banyoles-Besalú Basin, which is bounded by Eocene and Neogene reliefs. It is filled with sediments of Plio-Pleistocene age. The cave is a shelter formed by travertine cascades with a degree of karstification, and contains sedimentary deposits ranging from the end of the Middle Pleistocene to the Early Holocene, thus constituting an important archaeo-palaeontological record for an understanding of the prehistoric occupation of northeastern Iberia. It is one of the most complete and best-dated terrestrial sequences in Iberia from the Mousterian to the Early Holocene period. In this paper we present a palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstruction of the sequence based on non-flying small mammals (insectivores and rodents) and pollen analyses. The environmental and climatic results, together with the absolute dating of the sequence and direct comparison with NorthGRIP δ 18 O and the sea-surface temperatures (SST) of the Alborán Sea, allow us to identify various climatic periods within our sequence: a cold period between interstadials 12 and 10 in Level I, probably interstadial 10 in Level H, the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) in Levels C and B, the Bölling-Allerød interstadial (B/A) in Level A, and the Preboreal/Boreal (Pr/B) in the Terra Rossa Level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate models are potentially useful tools for addressing human dispersals and demographic change. The Arabian Peninsula is becoming increasingly significant in the story of human dispersals out of Africa during the Late Pleistocene. Although characterised largely by arid environments today, emerging climate records indicate that the peninsula was wetter many times in the past, suggesting that the region may have been inhabited considerably more than hitherto thought. Explaining the origins and spatial distribution of increased rainfall is challenging because palaeoenvironmental research in the region is in an early developmental stage. We address environmental oscillations by assembling and analysing an ensemble of five global climate models (CCSM3, COSMOS, HadCM3, KCM, and NorESM). We focus on precipitation, as the variable is key for the development of lakes, rivers and savannas. The climate models generated here were compared with published palaeoenvironmental data such as palaeolakes, speleothems and alluvial fan records as a means of validation. All five models showed, to varying degrees, that the Arabia Peninsula was significantly wetter than today during the Last Interglacial (130 ka and 126/125 ka timeslices), and that the main source of increased rainfall was from the North African summer monsoon rather than the Indian Ocean monsoon or from Mediterranean climate patterns. Where available, 104 ka (MIS 5c), 56 ka (early MIS 3) and 21 ka (LGM) timeslices showed rainfall was present but not as extensive as during the Last Interglacial. The results favour the hypothesis that humans potentially moved out of Africa and into Arabia on multiple occasions during pluvial phases of the Late Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The overriding of the Luzon volcanic arc atop the underlying Chinese rifted-continental margin has caused the formation of the Taiwan mountain belts and a peripheral foreland basin west of the orogen since the late Miocene. In this study, lithofacies analysis and calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphic investigations of the Dahan River section in northwestern ( NW) Taiwan were performed. Our results offer insights into the temporal evolution of the sedimentary environments and the competing effects of the sedimentation and basin tectonics of the NW Taiwan foreland basin from the Pliocene to early Pleistocene. Nannofossil biostratigraphic studies showed that the upper Kueichulin Formation and the overlying Chinshui Shale can be assigned to the NN15 biozone of the Pliocene age, and the Cholan Formation pertains to NN16- NN18 of the early Pleistocene. The NN15- NN16 boundary coincides roughly with the boundary of the Chinshui Shale and Cholan Formation. We recognized three major sedimentary environments in the studied foreland succession comprising the upper Kueichulin Formation, Chinshui Shale, Cholan Formation and Yangmei Formation, in ascending order. During the deposition of the upper Kueichulin Formation in the early Pliocene, the dominant environment was a wave- and tide-influenced open marine setting. During the late Pliocene, the environment deepened to an outer-offshore setting when the sediments of Chinshui Shale were accumulated. In the Pleistocene, the environment then shallowed to wave-dominated estuaries during the deposition of the lower Cholan Formation, and the basin was rapidly filled, generating a meandering and sandy braided river environment during the deposition of the upper Cholan to the Yangmei Formation. In summary, the evolution of sedimentary environments in the studied succession shows a deepening then a shallowing and coarsening upward trend during the period from the Pliocene to the Pleistocene, spanning the age from approximately 4 to 1 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]