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Six stratigraphically-related samples of freshwater sediments from the Middle Pleistocene paleontological site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio to NW of Rome in the Sabatini Volcanic District (SVD) have been characterized by their mineralogical, geochemical, and Sr-Nd isotopic compositions. These volcaniclastic sediments filled a valley incised by a former watercourse flowing through volcanic rocks. The samples are composed of abundant analcite after leucite, subordinate augite, sanidine, fluorite (except for the stratigraphically-deepest and most SiO 2 -poor sample), and minor anorthite. Quartz is present only in the stratigraphically-uppermost samples. The mineralogical composition is consistent with the origin of the sediments from different source rocks of the SVD. Major and trace elements allow for distinguishing among the samples. In particular, the four stratigraphically-uppermost samples share close SiO 2 , intermediate between the contents of the other two samples. Although several chemical characteristics of the Polledrara samples can be explained by impact of supergene processes on the sediments, the overall composition supports an origin from different source rocks of the SVD, in particular the “Tufi Stratificati Varicolori di La Storta” (TFVLS) and older pyroclastic rocks. The 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the samples (0.710182–0.710433) support the distinction of the sediments based on chemistry and mineralogy, and their Sabatinian origin. The isotopic range overlaps that in the lavas of Phases III-IV of the SVD and is slightly lower than the range in the TFVLS, likely because of advanced analcitization of the sediments. The ammonium acetate extracts from the samples show a narrow isotopic range (0.709613–0.709735), which is lower than the range of the bulk sediments but close to the isotopic composition of fossil elephant remains in the Polledrara sediments. Lastly, except for the most SiO2-rich sample exhibiting a higher value (0.512227), the 143 Nd/ 144 Nd ratios of the other samples show a narrow range (0.512147–0.512171) and cannot be distinguished from each other. The isotopic range is similar to that of the TFVLS, but higher than that of Sabatinian lavas, supporting the origin of the sediments from the former rocks.

A new pollen record from Valle di Castiglione near Rome (core VdC09) has been studied with the aim of providing a detailed reconstruction of the vegetation history of the Roman landscape between 13,800 and 7700 cal BP, in response to the Lateglacial and early Holocene climate events. An open landscape dominated by steppe vegetation characterized the Lateglacial, so that only a modest increase of trees took place during the Allerod interstadial. The Intra Allerod Cold Period induced instability in the development of the woody communities. The Holocene forest recovery started around 11,600 cal BP, but definite forest development occurred only around 11,100 cal BP, at the end of the Preboreal Oscillation, which produced an important re-expansion of herbs. The evergreen Mediterranean vegetation was constantly present in the landscape, even during the Lateglacial cold fluctuations. A clear early Holocene increase in evergreen trees corresponds to the attainment of high and stable values in the GISP2 δ 18 O curve, around 10,200 cal BP.

International audience; La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (20 km from Rome) discovered in 1984, is a famous Middle Pleistocene site of the Italian peninsula (Lazio) mainly thanks to its excellent preservation state and its richness in archaeological and faunal remains. This deposit presents a typical Aurelian faunal assemblage with a large number of “elephants” specimens. A human tooth and scavenging traces on “elephants” bones were also pointed out. Palaeontological and archaeological remains are located in deposits characterized by its high percentage of white volcanic material blocks embedded in a fine matrix, laying on a fluvial volcano-sedimentary sequence. This archaeological sequence belongs to the Aurelia Formation, and was correlated to the MIS 10-9. To refine this age assignment we provided a multi-methods investigation including both $^{40}$Ar/$^{39}$Ar and ESR/U-series methods. 40Ar/39Ar measurements made on single K-feldspars minerals extracted from white pumices within the archaeological horizon suggest a deposition age of 325 ± 6 ka while the ESR/U-series analyses applied on fossil enamel teeth highlighted a minimum age of 304 ± 25 ka, in agreement with the $^{40}$Ar/$^{39}$Ar ages. These results allowed us to place with confidence the occupation as well as palaeontological assemblage of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio contemporaneously to the middle part of the MIS 9 period just after the interglacial optimum s.s. La Polledrara di Cecanibbio is hence now the most precisely and accurately dated Lower Palaeolithic site among the numerous sites from the Lazio province.

The site of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio (Latium, Italy) is related to deposits of the PG6 Sequence (Middle Pleistocene, Aurelia Formation, MIS 10 and 9). The sediments are mainly volcaniclastic in composition, and constitute the filling of incised valleys, mainly characterized by fluvial deposits at the base, passing upward to fluvio-lacustrine and palustrine deposits containing abundant fossil mammal remains and artifacts. The arrangement of the specimens and taphonomic observations suggest that most of the transport of the bones occurred during flooding events, followed by progressive swampy phases, resulting in the formation of areas with stagnant and muddy waters where some elephants became trapped, as indicated by remains in partial anatomical articulation. Recent excavations carried out at the site permit a better definition of the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction, already partially outlined in previous publications. In particular, an area showing a close correlation between the skeleton of an elephant and human activity, allows documentation and better understanding of some aspects of human–elephant interaction, probably mainly represented by scavenging activity.

Il contributo si inserisce all'interno di una corposa opera in due volumi relativa alla preistoria del territorio di Roma e riprende, in sintesi, alcuni studi studi fatti nel corso degli ultimi anni. L’abitato eneolitico di Le Cerquete-Fianello è stato individuato nel 1987 nel corso di ricerche di superficie che hanno interessato l’area dell’attuale bonifica di Maccarese. Diverse campagne di scavo svolte tra il 1993 ed il 2002 hanno portato alla luce circa 1.000 mq dell’abitato pari ad un decimo dell’estensione totale stimata. Nell’area indagata sono state individuate una serie di pozzetti, fosse ed allineamenti di buche di palo che definiscono diverse strutture, in particolare tre capanne di forma ovale ed una subcircolare circondate da una palizzata, oltre ad una capanna ovale fuori della recinzione ed una probabile sesta capanna. Ad est delle capanne è stato individuato un pozzetto contenente uno scheletro di cavallo e due scheletri di cuccioli di cane (Curci, Tagliacozzo 1994, 1998, 2002) oltre ad una serie di altre fosse.