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Ancient DNA (aDNA) analysis is an important tool capable in resolving numerous questions related to the evolution and adaptation of animals and plants. Lagomorph phylogenetic has several open topics. Here, our interests referred to European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus) where the Iberian Peninsula is considered as a main reservoir of genetic diversity as well as to migration dynamics and relation between brown hare (Lepus europaeus) and mountain hare (Lepus timidus) with respect to single (Balkans) versus multiple (Mediterranean Basin) refuges hypotheses. We have started our analysis with ancient bones of 54 lagomorphs, from deposits dated to different archaeological periods between the Upper Palaeolithic to Roman Period, that were taken from eight different archaeological sites in Croatia. After aDNA extraction, samples were prepared by multiplexed target capture enrichment method and genotyping by next-generation-sequencing (MiSeq Illumina Sequencing Platform). Complete mitogenome (around 16291 bp) was obtain for five lagomorphs that, according to taxonomic identification, exclusively based on morphometric and morphologic characteristics of bones, were previously classified as brown (2) and mountain (1) hares as well as rabbits (2). When phylogenetic analysis were performed with all complete mitogenome sequences available in the GenBank belonging to Lepus sp. and Oryctolagus cuniculus following results were obtained: (1) two different unique brown hare haplotypes were grouped with other brown hare haplotypes from Germany, Greece, Poland and Sweden ; (2) unique mountain hare haplotype was in branches with mountain hare haplotypes from Finland and as well as with Lepus granatensis from Spain and (3) two unique haplotypes were identified as typical Oryctolagus cuniculus haplotypes. Despite their chronostratigraphic correlation within archaeological layers, additional radiocarbon dating of successful samples is required, which is of particular interest for better understanding of rabbit origin.

Rad donosi najvažnije informacije o iskopavanjima provedenim u Veloj spilji kod Vele Luke na Korčuli provedenim 2011. godine.

Pleistocene rhinoceros remains have been well known in Croatia. However, Stephanorhinus hemitoechus is poorly known in the Balkans. Here, rhinoceros remains from the site of Rasohatica (Korčula) are analysed and show that they are from S. hemitoechus.

Many samples of bone breccia rich in fossil remains, as well as individual fossil bones, were collected from a pile of excavated material that was kept after digging for a water collector. The fossil material is partly cemented in clayey matrix with a lot of drusy calcite and partly loose from the matrix. Bones are fractured with dislocations, thus metric analysis was not possible. The material was morphologically compared with that from the Late Pleistocene site Šandalja II and Comparative Collection of the Institute of Quaternary Paleontology and Geology. The fossil postcranial Ovinae remains include three vertebrae (atlas), two distal parts of a radius and of a femur, two distal parts of metapodial bones and several phalanxes. The specimens identified as Ovis ammon fossilis come from a minimum of three individuals. The taxonomy and phylogeny of European Pleistocene Ovines is still debated, as well as their stratigraphic ranges and palaeoecological associations. In France, this form was known as ''mouflone antique'' (Ovis antiqua, Pommerol 1879 ; Monchot 1996) or Ovis ammon (Linneaus 1758) antiqua Pommerol 1880. Although morphologically very similar, this fossil subspecies was much larger than today's wild sheep known as the argali (Ovis ammon ammmon) or Europaean mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon). These sheep were large, argali-like in form, and ranged throughout the steppe foothills of Eurasia. During the Middle Pleistocene, fossil Ovinae were widespread from Georgia to Portugal. The most remains are found at La Caune de L’Arago, France (MIS 14-12 ; Rivals et al. 2008) and near Trieste in Visogliano, Italy (MIS 13-10 ; Masini & Sala 2006). At the Rab Island location, in the association with O. a. fossilis occur Ursus sp., Panthera cf. pardus ; Equus ferus ssp., Dama ssp., Cervus elaphus ssp. and Bos/Bison. Ovis ammon fossilis, together with Equus ferus ssp. and Bos/Bison indicate cold and aridic climatic conditions, preferentially open habitats like a steppe. The others, red deer C. elaphus ssp., fallow deer Dama sp. and Panthera cf. pardus, indicate temperate climate and inhabited open landscape, bushlands or wooded grassland. These preliminary data show that this mammalian faunal assemblage is most similar with the late Galerian fauna (latest Early Pleistocene and Middle Pleistocene) of Visogliano, in which faunal units from lower to upper levels, recorded a transition from warm-to-cool climatic conditions. Literature: Masini, F. & Sala, B. (2007): Large- and small-mammal distribution patterns and chonostratigraphic boundaries from Late Pliocene to the Middle Pleistocene of the Italian peninsula, -QI 160, 43-56. Monchot, H. (1996): Étude archéozoologique du mouflon de la Caune de l' Arago (Tutavel, Pyrenées-orientales, France ; impact sur les stratégies de chasse. - Mésogée, 55, 49-58. Rivals, F., Schulz, E., Kaiser, M.T. (2008): Climate-related dietary of the ungulate faunas from the midlle pleistocene succesion (OIS 14-12) at Caune de l'Arago (France). - Paleobiology 34, 117-127.

Trabajo presentado en la Annual Meeting of the Society for Molecular Biology & Evolution (SMBE 2014), celebrada en Puerto Rico del 8 al 12 de junio de 2014., The high-coverage sequencing of a Neandertal and a Denisovan individual from the Altai Mountains in Siberia provided insights into the history and relationships of these archaic individuals to modern humans (Meyer et al. 2012; Prüfer et al. 2014). We used densely tiled oligonucleotide probes to capture 30 million bases of the human chromosome 21 from two Neandertal individuals from El Sidrón in Spain and Vindija in Croatia, and sequenced them to 12- and 34-fold, respectively. We compared the genotypes of these individuals to the same regions from the chromosomes 21 of the Altai Neandertal and a Denisovan, as well as to 25 present-day humans sampled from different populations around the world. Heterozygosities in the two Neandertals from Europe are similar to that of the Denisovan individual and about one third of the lowest heterozygosity seen in the present-day humans. Only the Altai Neandertal shows a lower heterozygosity. As described, the Altai Neandertal shows a large number of large regions of homozygosity that are the result of inbreeding on the scale of half-siblings. The two European Neandertals show fewer and smaller such regions of homozygosity that are still larger than what is seen in any of the present-day humans. These results suggest that the long-term population size of Neandertals across their geographic range was low, while only the Altai Neandertal shows an excess of long homozygous regions due to recent inbreeding.

Hijenska pećina (“Hyena cave”), an Upper Pleistocene cave site, is located in the Plovanija quarry, north of Buje in Istria, Croatia. After being discovered in 1972, the fossil cave was excavated and described by Mirko Malez, who focused more on the geological features of the cave, only briefly mentioning the paleofaunal composition. Our study deals specifically with the fossil material, which consists of 453 bones, bone fragments and teeth, plus eight hyena coprolites. Twenty different taxa were identified, including large and small mammals and one reptile. Fossil bones and teeth belonging to Crocuta crocuta spelaea are the most common (41% of the total number of identified specimens, NISP), followed by Equus ferus (13.7%), which is mostly represented by teeth, Bos/Bison (7.6%), Ursus spelaeus (6.8%) and Canis lupus (6.5%). Three possible main factors responsible for the accumulation were suggested: humans as accumulators, hyenas as accumulators and an opening in the ground acting as a natural trap. Humans, as being entirely responsible for the accumulation, were eliminated, because from 453 bones present in the assemblage, only one bone (HP365 – Bos primigenius tibia) contains possible cut marks. However, their potential contribution to the accumulation cannot be ruled out. Several criteria were used in order to determine if hyenas were responsible for the accumulation: presence of cub remains, presence of hyena coprolites, gnawing damage on at least 50% of the bones in the assemblage, presence of digested bones, carnivore to ungulate minimum number of individuals (MNI) ratio of 20% or more, 15-45% of hyena remains in the assemblage, limb bones being the most represented skeletal parts, larger minimum number of elements (MNE) of distal epiphyses than the MNE of proximal epiphyses. All of these criteria were fulfilled except one: hyena gnawing damage was found on only three bones. If the possible gnawing marks and gnawing marks from unidentified animals are also assigned to the activity of hyenas, still the percentage of carnivore gnawed bones would be only 7.67%, which is way below the required 50%. However, as there are no indications that the cave used to act as a natural trap, it seems most likely that Hijenska pećina was a hyena den and hyenas were responsible for at least part of the accumulation. Other factors contributing to the accumulation are not excluded.

This paper presents palaeoecological and taphonomic analyses of bird remains from Late Pleistocene sediments from two caves in southern Istria, Šandalja II and Ljubićeva pećina. Most of the determined species are found today in Istria and along the Adriatic coast, although the presence of ptarmigan (Lagopus mutus) and willow grouse (L. lagopus) indicates colder conditions than those characteristic of the region today. Taxa from both sites are characteristic of open, forest-steppe, rocky, forest, and mixed biotopes. These sites differ somewhat in avifaunal composition – aquatic-adapted taxa are only found at Šandalja, probably reflecting differences in human activities and in their geographic settings. Likewise, only Šandalja’s assemblages show an increase in the representation of forest- adapted taxa over time. These data from the bird remains complement reconstructions based on mammalian assemblages from these sites. Different taphonomic agents accumulated the bird bones, and bone surface modifications show that birds of prey, small carnivores, and Late Upper Palaeolithic people helped accumulate these assemblages. The important Late Pleistocene avifaunal assemblages from southern Istria indicate that a mosaic of habitats was present during the Late Pleistocene and a deep time-depth to the rich biodiversity of the region today. Furthermore they suggest that the exposed Adriatic Plain supported a diverse and rich biome.

Taxonomic, metric and taphonomic analysis of the Upper Pleistocene faunal assemblage found in Hijenska pećina („Hyena cave“), a fossil cave discovered through quarrying activities in 1972, that was excavated and briefly published by Mirko Malez (1973 ; 1975 ; 1986 ; Malez et al., 1974). The fossil material from Hijenska pećina consists of 453 bones, bone fragments and teeth plus eight hyena coprolites. There are 20 different taxa present in the assemblage, including large and small mammals and one reptile. Total number of identified specimens NISP is 278 which is 61, 4% of the whole assemblage. The remaining 175 specimens are unidentifiable. Taxonomic analysis of the faunal assemblage has confirmed the presence of some of the taxa determined by Malez (1986), but also it has added some new taxa and taken away some others (Table 1.). Bones and teeth belonging to Crocuta crocuta spelaea are the most abundant with 41% of the total NISP. The assemblage consists of mostly adult individuals, several infants and a few subadults and old individuals. Taphonomical analysis has shown that most of the bones, due to the microenvironmental coditions inside the cave, show some degree of weathering and 42, 1% of the bones are covered with calcium carbonate. Traces of gnawing, mostly rodent gnawing, are present on 59 bones. Bos primigenius tibia, displays interesting marks on one side of the diaphysis, which could be either cut marks, trampling marks or incisor marks produced by very young hyenas. Two main possible factors responsible for the accumulation were identified: hyenas as bone accummulators and/or the cave having a vertical opening and acting as a natural trap. However, we do not exclude the possibility of other factors contributing to the accumulation.

Within the Mesolithic layers of Vela Spila cave on the island of Korčula, Eastern Adriatic, the remains of four human juvenile skeletons have been recovered during the excavations in the late 1980s (Čečuk and Radić, 2001, 2005). One of the juvenile skeletons has been directly carbon dated to c. 9000 B.P. (Miracle pers. comm. from Wallduck, 2009). Four juvenile skeletons are all of different ages, all 6 to 12 months apart, starting with the fetus that is estimated to be 7 to 9 months in utero at the time of death (Šlaus, 2004). Considering their exceptional preservation and the nature of the sample containing children remains at different ontogenetic stage, the Vela Spila juveniles can thus provide invaluable insight into the developmental changes and the biology of the population living during the transition from hunter-gatherer to sedentary lifestyle. This paper’s goal is to: 1) present a preliminary analysis of the juvenile remains from Vela Spila, and 2) compare the Vela Spila specimens to the juvenile remains of Upper Paleolithic, Mesolithic and more recent juvenile remains from the Eastern Mediterranean region and Central Europe.

Archeogenetics is a discipline based on molecular and population genetics with target to analyse ancient biological remains (ancient DNA). It is mainly oriented to ancient DNA from humans and domestic animals and plants, although, analyses of other materials might come to use. The full exploitation of archeogenetic information is heavily dependent on the interdisciplinary research as the sound explanations would require knowledge on a number of diverse disciplines (paleontology, zooarchaeology, archaeology, molecular genetics and population genetics). We built a small team of researchers involved in all required disciplines in order to analyse faunal remains present in Croatia with focus on domestic animals and their wild relatives. While our interests are wide with respect to a number of domestic species and their wild relatives we decided to start with lagomorphs. This decision has been very much influenced by the activities of a COST RGB project entitled "A collaborative European Network on Rabbit Genome Biology - RGB- Net " where we are participating (WG1: Refinement of the European rabbit genome resource and development of genome-based platforms and WG4: Genetics and comparative genomic aspects for the study, exploitation and management of wild lagomorphs). Currently, the status of literature overview is the following. MtDNA (mitochondrial DNA) has been determined from a large number of lagomorph species at the individual level and the comparison of those DNA sequences represents a mainstay of phylogenetics, in that it allows biologists to elucidate the evolutionary relationships among species and it also permits an examination of the relatedness of populations. MtDNA genetic diversity analysing mitochondrial DNA from remains of archaeological sites with present population theories of origin of O. cuniculus were postulated, also other markers were used as well (heteroplasmy, RFLP, mtDNA sequencing–cyt b, tRNA, CR). The study of restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of the entire rabbit mtDNA molecule revealed the existence of two very distinct maternal lineages (Ennafaa et al., 1987 ; Biju-Duval et al., 1991). Lineage A was found in the south-west of the Iberian Peninsula and lineage B in the rest of Europe (including northern Spain) and also in domestic breeds. A clear subdivision into two groups was also found when nuclear genes were studied (Van der Loo et al., 1991, 1999 ; Ferrand, 1995), with a geographical distribution that largely coincides with that of the two mitochondrial clades A and B. Thus clade A was tentatively associated with O. c. algirus and clade B with O. c. cuniculus, as well as the corresponding nuclear gene pools (Biju-Duval et al., 1991 ; van der Loo et al., 1991 ; Ferrand, 1995 ; Branco & Ferrand, 1998). Even during the coldest periods, three regions in the Mediterranean area had temperate climates ; the Iberian and Italian peninsulas, and the Balkans (Bennet et al. 1991). When the temperature decreased, the northern populations of many species became extinct, but the species may have survived during hostile times in these Mediterranean refugia. From plant and animal remains it is clear that most organisms presently distributed across Europe were in refugia in the south at the height of glaciations 18 000 BP, many in the peninsulas of Iberia, Italy and the Balkans, and some possibly near the Caucasus and Caspian Sea (Hewit, 1999). Present lagomorphs in Croatia are Lepus europaeus and Oryctolaguscuniculus. Taxonomic identification of lagomorphs remains in this preliminary study is based exclusively on their morphometric characteristics. Future work is the ancient DNA analysis, sequencing of whole mtDNA by new technology, and filling gaps with Balkan refugia which we missed in literature.

Vela Spila is a cave on the western end of Korčula island, Croatia. The first archaeological excavations date back to the mid-20th century, and since the 1970s systematic research has been carried out. The zooarchaeological analysis of larger mammal remains shows interesting shifts in taxonomic representation. They are interpreted in terms of the nature and intensity of human occupations, changes in past human diet, ecological changes (climate and sea level rise), and demographic/cultural changes caused by the spread of farming in the Eastern Adriatic region. This paper presents an analysis of animal remains from Trench 2 (NISP = 1784) excavated in 2010 and 2011. During the final stages of the Late Pleistocene and transition to the Early Holocene a significant increase in leporid remains can be seen, while big game (e.g. red deer) is decreasing and in some layers is almost completely missing. This could indicate a somewhat different pattern of use of the cave by people during that period, in which other animals used it more often. Later in the early Holocene and on into the Mesolithic one finds a very different assemblage composed of small to medium-sized carnivores (mostly red fox), roe deer, marine mammals (dolphins), and a small number of other small animals (e.g. hedgehog) of which some remains have clear cut marks indicating human agency. Significantly, hare is absent from this assemblage. These data suggest a very specialized diet focused mostly on foxes and roe deer. Although relatively common, none of the dolphin remains have evidence of human activity, so the significance of their presence in the assemblage has yet to be determined. The Early Neolithic is characterized by the appearance of domestic taxa (mainly sheep and/or goat with occasional pig remains), indicating a dramatic shift in human diet. During the initial stages of the Early Neolithic remains of small to medium-sized carnivores (red fox in particular) can still be traced in the assemblage suggesting that certain elements of the Mesolithic tradition continue during the first Neolithic occupations at the cave. There is little evidence of the hunting of larger game (e.g. roe and red deer). These layers also revealed a few dog remains. In overlying Neolithic layers (Early, Middle, and Late Neolithic) the fauna is composed almost exclusively of sheep and/or goat remains. At the end of Neolithic and continuing into the Copper and Bronze Ages, other domestic taxa (pig and especially cattle) become more common.

The fossil cave of Šandalja II and the cave Ljubićeva pećina are located in Cretaceous limestones 4 and 13 km, respectively, to the east and northeast of the city of Pula. Although these sites today are located within a few kilometres of the coast, during the late glacial period (MIS 2), due to global regression of the sea, the sites were situated on the northern edge of the Great Adriatic Plain and the coastline was many kilometres to the south. Aim of this research was to examine, through detailed taxonomic and taphonomic analysis what were the main taphonomic agents of accumulation of birds remains, and do they change over time. A total of 1016 bird remains were identified (NISP - number of identified specimens). From the order Passeriformes, only the family Corvidae was analyzed ; other remains were only recorded as Passeriformes (NISP = 538). A total of 478 complete and fragmented bird bones were anatomically, taxonomically and taphonomically analyzed. Rich assemblages of bird remains have been found in Šandalja II (older assemblage: layers Cs – B/C and younger assemblage: layers Bd – Bg) and Ljubićeva pećina (trench B, two assemblages: “older”/ca. 15-16 cal BP and “younger”/ca. 10-13 cal BP). Following orders are represented: Podicipediformes, Pelecaniformes, Ciconiiformes, Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Columbiformes, Strigiformes and Passeriformes. The avifauna from these sites indicates the existence of the various habitats in southern Istria during the late glacial period: aquatic, open, forest steppe, rocky, forest and mixed. The bird bone surfaces are generally well preserved and bear evidence of cut marks, burning, and gnawing. There are some weathering features, including eroded surfaces, fine line fractures, and slight root etching. The frequency of bone surface modifications does not vary dramatically by site or over time, with the exception of the unusually high frequency of burning in the “older” assemblage at Ljubićeva pećina as well as absence of gnawing marks in both assemblages from the same site (Figure 1.). The different taphonomic agents accumulated bird remains. Birds such as rock dove, raven, yellow-billed chough, red-billed chough, kestrel and owls probably roosted or nested in the caves or crevices near the caves and might have died naturally there, although some of them were prey of human or animal predators. Other species do not use caves and probably were brought there by humans or animal predators. Small carnivore gnaw marks are found on bones of falcons, ducks, hazel grouse, black grouse, great bustard, small bustard, and yellow-billed chough at Šandalja II. The relative abundance of the remains of small passerines is probably related to the activities of birds of prey (owls and falcons) that fed on them and regurgitated pellets under their roost and nest sites. Cut marks and to a lesser extent burned bones are evidence that humans used the birds. Some birds probably were hunted for food (e.g. ducks, grouses, partridges and bustards) but others might have been used not only for food, but also for other, symbolic purposes. Humans were important agents of accumulation of bird bones at both sites, which was expected since both caves are important archaeological sites.

First results of a recent project to radiometrically date the animal remains from the fossil cave of Šandalja II (Istria, Croatia). Šandalja is an extremely important Palaeolithic site in southern Europe because of a 15-m depth of stratified deposits (Malez 1964, 1990 ; Miracle 1995, 1996, 2007), rich Upper Palaeolithic artifact assemblages (Janković et al. 2012, Karavanić 2003 ; Malez 1987 ; Montet-White and Kozlowski 1983), a diversity of ice-age mammals (Brajković 2000 ; Miracle 1995, 1996, 2007), and associations with human fossils (Janković et al. 2012 ; Malez 1972). Adequate and reliable dating of its sequence is crucial for our understanding of the timing and pacing of the appearance of the Upper Palaeolithic, use of the region as a “refugium” by Upper Palaeolithic populations during the Last Glacial Maximum, and the timing and rate of demographic expansion at the end of the last ice age. Here we report on the results of over 20 new AMS 14C samples on animal bones made using the “ultra-filtration” technique at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. We discuss the implications of these new dates for reconstructions of Pleistocene environments and associated human occupations at the site.

Preliminarna istraživanja Spile nad Procjepom u Nacionalnom parku «Mljet» nastavljena su tijekom 2011. godine. U probnoj Sondi I i II sakupljeno je više tisuća ostataka različitih morskih i kopnenih životinja, kao i veliki broj arheološkog materijala.

Istria is a peninsula in the northern part of Adriatic coast that is characterized by temperate climate. However, during the Late Glacial period Istria was continental hilly to sub-mountain region above Great Adriatic Plain (Šercelj, 1996). After the Last Glacial Maximum, sea level started to rise and gradually flooded this plain in the next 10.000 years. A few cold and warm phases, stadials and interstadials, exchanged during that, relatively short period of time. In this study, we examine how these climatic and environmental changes affected avifauna and what were the main agents of accumulation of bird remains. To answer these questions, we analyzed bird remains both taxonomically and taphonomically from two Palaeolithic sites in south Istria, fossil cave Šandalja II and cave Ljubićeva pećina that are 4 km and 13 km away from the town of Pula. Avifaunal assemblages show that during the Late Glacial period different habitat types existed in south Istria. In older layers (ca. 15 -16 ky BP) of the Šandalja II assemblage species indicative for open environment were dominant and in younger layers (ca. 13 - 14 ky BP) species common for water- and forest environment were more numerous. In the assemblage of Ljubićeva pećina, however, species that are characteristic for rocky environment were dominant in both older and younger layers. Preliminary results from another trench of Ljubićeva pećina show presence of water species (e.g. various species of Anatidae and Podicipedidae families) and forest species (Tetrao urogallus and Aegolius funereus), which could be comparable with Šandalja II (but this layers haven't been apsolute dated yet). Birds that nowadays live in boreal region (Lagopus lagopus) or on mountains (Pyrrhocorax graculus) were also recorded on both sites. Cut marks and burned bones, as evidence of human use of birds, are found on both sites, in older and younger levels as well. Small carnivore tooth marks are recorded in Šandalja, which indicate animal predator. Other birds, such as rock dove, raven, jackdaw and alpine chough probably lived and nested in the cave or crevices near the cave.

Predstavljeni su rezultati arheozoološke analize skeletnih i dentalnih ostataka vertebrata (Mammalia, Aves) sakupljenih prilikom zaštitnih iskopavanja uz južni zid Arheološkog muzeja Istre u Puli.

Preliminarnim istraživanjima tijekom 2010. godine iskopavane su špiljske naslage u probnoj Sondi I na lokalitetu Spila nad Procjepom (otok Mljet). Više tisuća ostataka različitih morskih i kopnenih životinja preliminarno je anatomski i taksonomski određeno. Arheološki materijal ukazuje na korištenje špilje tijekom bakrenog, brončanog, antičkog i kasnosrednjovjekovnog razdoblja. Spila nad Procjepom izuzetno je važno prapovijesno nalazište na Mljetu, čija će daljnja istraživanja sigurno iznijeti nove spoznaje o nekadašnjoj fauni i paleookolišu, kao i brojnim aspektima i načinima života stanovnika otoka, osobito tijekom prapovijesnih razdoblja.

Povijest Zavoda za paleontologiju i geologiju kvartara idejno je započela na sastancima III Odjela Akademije 1948. godine, pokretanjem inicijative za organizaciju Instituta za istraživanje krasa. U Ljetopisu broj 56 (za godine 1949. – 1950.) spominje se osnivanje nove akademijine jedinice Komisije za istraživanje krša. Time je ostvarena zamisao Marijana Salopeka da se unutar Akademije osnuje institucija koja bi okupila stručnjake iz područja geologije i srodnih znanosti. Predsjednikom te Komisije imenovan je Marijan Salopek. Uz Komisiju za istraživanje krša, 1953. godine formalno je osnovan i Stručni savjet za istraživanje krša koji je konstituiran 12. siječnja 1955. godine pod pročelništvom Branimira Gušića. Geološko-paleontološka zbirka i laboratorij za krš kao preteča današnjeg Zavoda spominje se odvojeno od Komisije za istraživanje krša u Ljetopisu br. 62 (za godinu 1955.). Nezavisno od Komisije za istraživanje krša, kao preteča današnjeg Zavoda, u prosincu 1955. godine osnovana je Geološko-paleontološka zbirka i laboratorij za krš. U ožujku 1956. godine akademik Salopek izabran je za direktora, Mirko Malez za asistenta, a honorarna asistentica bila je Zlata Vuković. U lipnju 1974. godine Geološko-paleontološka zbirka i laboratorij za krš mijenja naziv u ZAVOD ZA PALEONTOLOGIJU I GEOLOGIJU KVARTARA. M. Malez imenovan je 1968. godine voditeljem Zavoda, kojim ostaje do umirovljenja i prerane smrti 1990. godine. Akademik Mirko Malez (1924. – 1990.), bio je jedan od vodećih europskih kvartargeologa, koji je kroz više desetljeća svog profesionalnog rada utemeljio interdisciplinarni pristup istraživanjima tipološki vrlo raznovrsnih kvartarnih nalazišta i naslaga u Hrvatskoj i okolnim prostorima. Malez je zabilježio, speleološki i geološki snimio, pokusno sondirao ili detaljno iskapao i istraživao više od 400 špiljskih objekata i jama u Hrvatskoj i regiji čime je utemeljio suvremenu speleologiju Hrvatske, uvrstivši pritom ovu istraživačku disciplinu u danas neophodne metode znanstvenih istraživanja kvartara. U svoja istraživanja Malez je uključivao brojne naše stručnjake, ali i znanstvenike iz cijelog svijeta. I danas se suvremena istraživanja osobito špilja i/ili njihovih već sakupljenih sadržaja, provode u suradnji s međunarodnim timovima, pojedincima i brojnim institucijama i često se nastavljaju i oslanjaju na i danas validne rezultate terenskog i znanstvenog rada Mirka Maleza. Svakako je neophodno navesti dugogodišnjeg suradnika Prestona T. Miraclea (University of Cambridge, UK) čija je suradnja s Malezom započela još tijekom njegova studija, i koji je temeljem Malezovih podataka proveo sustavna istraživanja više od 20 špilja Ćićarije i Učke, kao i suvremena zooarheološka istraživanja i interpretaciju fosilnog sadržaja iz Šandalje II sakupljanog dugogodišnjim (1962. – 1989.) Malezovim istraživanjima. Rezultati su nove i važne spoznaje o mikroregionalnim načinima korištenja špilja tijekom gornjeg pleistocena i holocena i obilježjima paleolitika, mezolitika i mezolitičko-neolitičke tranzicije u ovom dijelu Hrvatske. Prije nekoliko godina u organizaciji Arheološkog muzeja Istre nastavljena su iskopavanja Romualdove pećine u Limskom kanalu, koja je još 1962. godine započeo Mirko Malez. Brzim tehnološkim razvojem i primjenom novih metoda nastavljaju se istraživati i desetljećima iskopavani fosilni ostaci životinja i ljudi pohranjeni u Paleontološkim zbirkama značajnih špilja Hrvatskog zagorja (Vindija, Veternica, Velika pećina). Novim rezultatima postavljen je temelj za novu sintezu paleoekoloških promjena krajem pleistocena u ovom dijelu Hrvatske. Špilja Vindija osobito je zanimljiva zbog ostataka neandertalaca (Homo sapiens neanderthalensis) i njihovih evolucijskih sljedbenika – suvremenih ljudi (Homo sapiens sapiens). U rekonstrukcijama različitih zbivanja u paleobiotopima neposredne okolice špilje Vindije, od osobitog su značaja rezultati istraživanja nižih vertebrata i malih sisavaca. Uz preispitivanje i reinterpretaciju svih članova fosilnih faunskih kompleksa, dolazi se do novih spoznaja o paleoklimatskim oscilacijama i promjenama paleobiotopa tijekom taloženja naslaga u pojedinim vremenskim odsjecima gornjeg pleistocena, dok se suvremenim zooarheološkim i tafonomskim analizama utvrđuju načini prehrane paleolitičkih lovaca i načina njihovog djelovanja, prilagodbe i opstanka u promjenjivim paleookolišima gornjeg pleistocena. Svjetski priznata postignuća u istraživanjima genoma neandertalaca ostvarena su suradnjom sa Svanteom Pääbom (Max Planck Institut), koju je još prije desetak godina započela prerano preminula upraviteljica Zavoda Maja Paunović (1952. – 2003.). Istraživanjima DNK ulomaka skeletnih ostataka neandertalaca iz Vindije, utvrđeno je uspješno miješanje suvremenih ljudi i neandertalskih populacija, vjerojatno započeto još na Bliskom istoku, odnosno pri samom početku migracijskih procesa populacija suvremenih ljudi.

U radu su predstavljeni rezultati arheozoološke analize osteoodontoloških ostataka vertebrata sakupljenih prilikom zaštitnih istraživanja uz južni zid zgrade Arheološkog muzeja Istre u Puli.

The Balkans served as both a corridor and a cul-de-sac for different hominins and at different times. The region is thus of particular interest or studies of the dispersal of “modern humans” into Europe and their adaptations and hunting strategies compared to those of resident populations of Neanderthals. In this paper we compare faunal evidence from OIS 4 and 3 from continental Croatia (southwestern edge of Pannonian Basin - Vindija, Velika pećina, and Veternica Caves) to the coastal region (Istria and Dalmatia – Šandalja, Romualdova, Marlera, and Mujina Caves). There is very little evidence of occupation during OIS 4 in either region. OIS 3 has occupations associated with Middle Palaeolithic (Vindija, Velika Pećina, Romualdova, Mujina) and Early Upper Palaeolithic (Vindija, Velika Pećina, Šandalja) components, as well as palaeontological assemblages (Veternica, Marlera). Continental assemblages are dominated by the remains of cave bears ; coastal assemblages are more diverse and show a stronger hominin signature. In our comparisons we focus firstly on evidence of the roles of carnivores, hominins, and other agents in accumulating these assemblages. We then turn our attention to evidence of ungulate hunting and small game use by different hominins.

Špilje kao specifični zaštićeni sustavi ponajbolji su konzervatori i čuvari brojnih tragova promjena paleookoliša i modaliteta opstanka humanih populacija tijekom pleistocena i početkom holocena. Zahvaljujući vrsnom speleologu i geologu akademiku Mirku Malezu, suosnivaču i voditelju Zavoda za paleontologiju i geologiju kvartara Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, koji je zabilježio, speleološki i geološki snimio, pokusno sondirao ili detaljno iskapao i istraživao više od 400 špiljskih objekata i jama u Hrvatskoj i regiji (Herak i dr., 1992), desetljećima se interdisciplinarno analiziraju i ispituju osobitosti i svi sadržaji špiljskih naslaga, uz determiniranje i rekonstrukciju brojnih specifičnih dinamičkih čimbenika koji utječu na njihovu genezu i dijagenezu. Utvrđuje se periodičnost, intenzitet i načini iskorištavanja špilja od strane životinja i ljudi od paleolitika do brončanog doba (Herak i dr., 2005). Zadnja je dva desetljeća rad M. Maleza nastavljen kroz brojne međunarodne i interdisciplinarne projekte, uz naglasak na suradnju sa Sveučilištem u Cambridgeu pod vodstvom P. Miraclea, M. Paunović (1995.-2003.) i D. Brajković (od 2003. do danas). Svoj rad Miracle je započeo sistematskim pregledom, analizom i reinterpretacijom poglavito Malezovih literaturnih podataka (Miracle, 1991), da bi koristeći Malezov članak o pećinama Učke i Ćićarije iz 1960. godine kao izvornu bazu podataka, pokrenuo selektivna probna i sistematska proučavanja. Tijekom tog projekta (1995.-2005.) istraženo je više od 20 špilja, a značajnija sustavna iskopavanja učinjena su u Pupićinoj peći (Miracle, 1997 ; Miracle i Forenbaher, 2006), Veloj peći (iracle i Forenbaher, 2000 ; Radović i dr., 2008), abriju Šebrn (Miracle i dr-., 2000) i Nugljanskoj peći (Miracle i Forenbaher, 2000). Rezultati istraživanja su nove i važne spoznaje o mikroregionalnim načinima korištenja špilja tijekom gornjeg pleistocena i holocena. Od posebnog su značaja saznanja o prijelazu pleistocena u holocen, odnosno o obilježjima mezolitika i mezolitičko-neolitičke tranzicije u ovom dijelu Hrvatske. Na radove Maleza oslanjaju se i recentna zooarheološka i tafonomska istraživanja faunskih ostataka iz Romualdove pećine i Šandalje (Miracle 1996, 2007) u Istri. Miracle, Brajković i Mauch Lenardić također su slijedili Malezova istraživanja kroz različite paleontološke i zooarheološke analize životinjskih kostiju koje je Malez sakupio u brojnim špiljama s naglaskom na Vindiju, Veternicu i Veliku pećinu, što je rezultiralo novim sintezama u rekonstrukcijama paleoekoloških promjena tijekom gornjeg pleistocena na prostoru sjeverozapadne Hrvatske (Brajković i Miracle, 1995 ; MBrajković i Miracle, 1992, 2010 ; Miracle i dr., 2010). Vindija je u kontekstu preciznijih rekonstrukcija i regionalnih korelacija pleistocenskih paleookoliša i istraživanja opstanka paleolitičkih lovaca i njihovih kultura iznimno značajna. Rezultati ovakvih istraživanja omogućuju, uz kompleksne rekonstrukcije paleobiotopa, usporedbe i povezivanja regionalnih kulturoloških i ukupnih paleogeografskih i paleoekoloških evolucijskih procesa i tranzicija tijekom pleistocena i početkom holocena. Osobito su u vrhu svjetskog znanstvenog interesa paleontološki, paleoantropološki i arheološki sadržaji iz sedimentnih kompleksa G i E/F špilje Vindije, kroz koje se prati izmjena neandertalaca i modernih ljudi (Brajković i MIiracle, 2008 ; Janković i dr., 2006 ; Richards i dr., 2000).

A fossil cave system at Marlera in southern Istria was opened and partially devastated by quarry working ; preliminary, interdisciplinary investigations of the exposed sediment profiles have already been reported (MAUCH LENARDIĆ, 2005, BRAJKOVIĆ et al., 2005). Based on those results the systematic research of the fossil cave Marlera I, dating to MIS 2/3, was started. The upper part of the sedimentary body has been investigated and described to a relative depth of -320 cm beneath the surface ; the lower part of the sedimentary body has not yet been investigated in detail. The general sedimentary characteristics and taphonomic features of the fossil material indicate accumulation in a relatively accessible subsurface environment, which had to be, at least occasionally, in contact with the surface. Thin layers of coloured clays were located in the central (horizontally and vertically) part of the sedimentary body. They are vertically continuously distributed, while horizontally they have a limited extent. This indicates a persistent and slow water flow. The limited import of material, as well as redeposited Ostracoda shells from nearby Paleogene sediments, several pebbles, iron concretions, and fragments of calcite crystals and flowstone found scattered in the loose, loess-like sediment (10YR6/6), show some fluctuations in sedimentation. Stratigraphic relations are hard to determine because of the large amount of angular and subangular fragments of limestone debris and blocks of weathered limestone bedrock scattered in the sediment. In bedrock niches from the western part of the cave wall, a dark, relatively younger sediment (7.5YR3/2) with an almost humus habitus has been found. Small shards of Neolithic ceramics, Neolithic lithic artifacts, and fish bones, were found exclusively in this dark sediment ; remains of birds and other small vertebrates were less frequent in the dark sediment compared to the rest of the sedimentary body. The morphology of the whole cave system, the locations of communication points between the cave and the surface, the ways of in which fossils accumulated, and relations between Pleistocene and Holocene sediments need still to be determined. In accordance with the characteristics of the deposits, the fossil remains are mechanically and chemically very damaged. Anatomic-taxonomic determination and taphonomic research have been carried out on the fossil remains of large and small vertebrates from the sedimentary complex in the horizontal surface of 11 m2 and a vertical range from -320 (top part), to the excavated depth of -510 cm. Over six thousand (NISP = 6804) fossil remains (bones and teeth) of small vertebrates have been found in Marlera I sediments only during the excavations in 2009. 90.14 % of these finds have been anatomically and taxonomically determined. Most of the fossil remains, excepting teeth, are fragmented. The majority of determined finds are from rodents, including Muridae (less abundant) and Arvicolidae (more numerous) from the taxa Arvicola terrestris, Microtus arvalis, M. ex gr. arvalis/agrestis, M. ex. gr. subterraneus/multiplex, and M. sp. Eulipotyphla (= Insectivora) are represented by 139 finds (mainly Talpa sp., but also Crocidura), and they are the second most abundant group of small animals. Less abundant are skeletal fragments of fish (Pisces), amphibians (anuras, ?Bufo sp.), reptiles (?Lacerta sp.), and bats (Chiroptera). The remains of common/field voles (Microtus ex gr. arvalis/agrestis) are the most abundant arvicolid findings. The determined remains of microvertebrates confirm the previous conclusions (BRAJKOVIĆ et al., 2005, MAUCH LENARDIĆ, 2005, 2007) that during the Late Pleistocene in the vicinity of Marlera I site there prevailed open, grassy habitats of temperate climate. We have analysed thousands of bones and teeth of large mammals (NISP = 3205) and over a hundred bird bones (NISP = 120) from the trial probe and systematic excavations. Results of our analyses of this greatly enlarged large mammal assemblage radiometrically dated to 41 ky BP, confirm the earlier determined mammal faunal association, while the avifaunal association was updated with the following taxa: Falco vespertinus, Limosa limosa, Corvus corone / frugilegus, Carduelis carduelis, Picus cf. canus and family Alaudidae. The supplemented avifaunal assemblage now includes members of the following orders: Anseriformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Charadriiformes, Passeriformes and Coraciiformes. These finds confirm the prevalence of species of temperate and humid climate, while the species of steppe and rocky environment were represented only by a few species. Fragments of digested bones and teeth of ugulates, foxes and birds, as well as various gnawing marks, indicate presence of carnivores. Vulpes vulpes and Panthera spelaea dominate in the assemblage and are the major factor in the accumulation of fossil material. Both taxa are represented by all age categories, from infantile/juvenile to adult and old, suggesting that they denned in the cave. The remains of Canis lupus and Felis silvestris are sporadic throughout the sequence. Of the ungulate remains, the most abundant are those of Dama dama represented by all age categories, followed by numerous infantile individuals of Bos primigenius, and juvenile to old individuals of Cervus elaphus. Only a few remains of roe deer, pig (Sus scrofa) and hare (Lepus europaeus) are scattered in all horizons. Equus caballus is represented by limb parts of adult individuals. The mode of import into the sediment of adult auroch and red deer skeletons with skulls and horns/antler, is quite intriguing. Humanly-modified lithic artifacts are distributed throughout the Pleistocene complex and attest to the presence of Palaeolithic hunters, while cut marks on bones and especially on the bone of a crane (Grus grus) indicate diversity of diet. Cut marks on the medial side of cave lion metapodials are particularly interesting. Systematic research of Marlera is being continued to address the different and complex questions that have appeared.

kritički osvrt na brojne nepravilnosti vezane uz pleistocenska nalazišta s naglaskom na špilju Vindiju

A complete mitochondrial (mt) genome sequence was reconstructed from a 38,000 year-old Neandertal individual with 8341 mtDNA sequences identified among 4.8 Gb of DNA generated from approximately 0.3 g of bone. Analysis of the assembled sequence unequivocally establishes that the Neandertal mtDNA falls outside the variation of extant human mtDNAs, and allows an estimate of the divergence date between the two mtDNA lineages of 660,000 +/- 140,000 years. Of the 13 proteins encoded in the mtDNA, subunit 2 of cytochrome c oxidase of the mitochondrial electron transport chain has experienced the largest number of amino acid substitutions in human ancestors since the separation from Neandertals. There is evidence that purifying selection in the Neandertal mtDNA was reduced compared with other primate lineages, suggesting that the effective population size of Neandertals was small.

U poglavlju su analizirani ostaci faune sakupljeni u iskopavanjima antičkog lokaliteta Loron.

Obzirom na geološku građu, u vapnencima i dolomitima jadranskog priobalja i otoka učestala je pojava fosilnih špilja, kaverni i pukotina, koje mogu biti zapunjene raznim kvartarnim sedimentima. Jedan takav sediment su i koštane breče, u kojima se, uklopljene u matriks, nalaze fragmentirane kosti i zubi različitih pleistocenskih životinja. Nedavno su iz novog uzorka koštane breče s lokaliteta kod mjesta Mala Rava izvađeni različiti ostaci malih sisavaca (mikromamalija) i manji ulomci kostiju i zuba nekih članova porodice jelena (Cervidae). Određeno je nekoliko izoliranih zuba mikromamalija koji pripadaju sljedećim vrstama i grupi vrsta: Clethrionomys glareolus (riđa voluharica), Microtus ex gr. arvalis/agrestis (poljska/livadna voluharica), Arvicola terrestis (vodeni voluhar). Neki su zubi određeni samo na generičkom nivou kao na primjer Microtus sp. Determinirani su i zubi kukcojeda (Insectivora) i miševa (Muridae). Ostali fosilni ostaci određeni su na višem taksonomskom nivou (Rodentia indet. i Micromammalia indet.). Prema morfologiji izoliranih zuba arvikolida (rodovi Microtus i Arvicola), utvrđena je gornjopleistocenska starost nalaza. Nekoliko ulomaka kostiju i zuba ostaci su većih cervida (Cervus/Dama), dok je vrlo oštećenom dijelu zgloba nadlaktične kosti (humerus) određena pripadnost srni (Capreolus capreolus). Većem cervidu (Cervus/Dama) pripisan je i jedan ulomak gornje čeljusti sa zubima (dP3-M1) izdvojen iz do sada paleontološki neobrađenih uzoraka koštane breče s otoka Rave, koji se dugi niz godina čuvaju u Zavodu za paleontologiju i geologiju kvartara. Determinirani taksoni ukazuju da su tijekom gornjeg pleistocena na području današnjeg otoka Rave i susjednih prostora prevladavale otvorene šume i travnata područja umjerene klimatske zone. Malobrojna fauna ne omogućava detaljniju rekonstrukciju paleookoliša i paleoklimatskih promjena tijekom gornjeg pleistocena.

Vindija Cave contains important Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic lithic and faunal assemblages associated with remains of Neandertals that span the period from ca. 45 – 25 ka. The association in level G1 of Neandertal remains (directly radiocarbon dated to ca. 29 ka) and Early Upper Palaeolithic artifacts (e.g. bone points, lithic bifacial point, and other Aurignacian-type lithics) is particularly significant for different models of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition, and the artifact and hominin assemblages have been studied in detail in recent years. In this paper we present the first results of new zooarchaeological analyses of Vindija. We focus on the ungulate remains from the F and G Complexes at Vindija, and discuss the significance of our results for palaeoecological reconstructions, taphonomy, and hominin subsistence practices.

In Hrvatsko zagorje, northwestern region of Croatia, several Paleolithic cave localities are situated. Among them Vindija, Velika pećina and Veternica are well known as typical cave-bear localities and present a fairly complete succession of Upper Pleistocene fossiliferous layers. Recent detailed paleontological researches of ungulates from these caves has changed the elements of faunal complexes of all stratigraphic units and hence the knowledge about paleoecological characteristics of this region. Revision of the ungulate assemblages suggests that during OIS 2-5 the region was dominated by open forests, although rare findings of chamois/ibex in all stages suggests a continuous presence of broken ground. Recent investigations of the micromammal fauna from Vindija cave complement these results and indicate that open habitats with forest cover developed to a lesser degree than today prevailed near Vindija during the Upper Pleistocene. The list of recent fauna of this region contains more or less the same micromammal taxa as during the Upper Pleistocene, although some are missing (for example Microtus oeconomus ; last appearance radiocarbon dated on 18.5 kya BP). In Velika pećina and Veternica, previously determined cold indicative taxa such as Lepus timidus, Ochotona sp., Alopex lagopus and Gulo gulo have been removed from what now appears to be a forest faunal association with Lepus europaeus, Canis sp., Vulpes vulpes and Meles meles, indicating a more temperate climate zone during OIS 2-4 than previously thought. Recent investigations of faunal complexes of the above mentioned localities confirm the existence of more favourable and temperate biotopes with less extreme climatic oscilations than was previously considered. Forests with clearings define this region south from the Alpine ice sheet on the margin of the Pannonian steppe ; it was a refugium for numerous species during unfavourable climatic conditions in neighbouring areas. With climatic amelioration these taxa spread their ranges to the north.

Učka mountain (1401 m a.s.l.) stands out between the interior of the Istrian peninsula and both its North-Eastern continental hinterland and the Adriatic coast, and at least since the Roman period this clearly defined frontier served as an administrative border. Recent work by the Pupićina Cave Project (1995– 2002), has extended our understanding of the human use of this mountain back into the Late Glacial period. This paper presents a case study of Vela Cave, a deeply stratified rockshelter site, located in the immediate vicinity of Pupićina Cave, the main focus of the project (Miracle and Forenbaher 2005, 2006). Vela Cave was periodically visited ever since the Late Pleistocene, occupation becoming more intensive in more recent prehistoric periods. The recovered evidence suggests that Vela Cave was a “ satellite site” of Pupićina, and that it was used by Neolithic and Bronze Age herders primarily as a pen for keeping herds of sheep and goats. This case study provides one window onto the changing human use of mountain landscapes in the Northern Adriatic region.

Prijedlog fizičke zaštite geološkog, paleontološkog i arheološkog nalazišta špilje Vindije- osnova za tehničko rješenje.

U okviru realizacije elaborata provedena su geološka i paleontološka istraživanja kvartara na prostoru Parka prirode "Biokovo", kojima su obuhvaćene špilje: Drinova II, Baba i Jujnovića špilja, uz rekognosciranje fosilnog materijala i rezultata preliminarnih istraživanja špilje Baba, koja je prije dvadesetak godina proveo Mirko Malez. Sastav i distribucija ukupne faunske zajednice potvrđuje promjene klime i biotopa tijekom gornjeg pleistocena u vremenu najmanje 10.000 godina prije sadašnjosti. U holocenu sve do subrecentnog vremena, uz manje klimatske oscilacije, ali više uslijed antropogenog utjecaja, i dalje se mijenjao biljni pokrov, a time i životni prostor brojnih vrsta koje su nekada nastanjivale Biokovo.

Vindija Cave contains important Middle and Early Upper Palaeolithic lithic and faunal assemblages associated with remains of Neandertals that span the period from ca. 45 – 25 ka. The association in level G1 of Neandertal remains (directly radiocarbon dated to ca. 29 ka) and Early Upper Palaeolithic artifacts (e.g. bone points, lithic bifacial point, and other Aurignacian-type lithics) is particularly significant for different models of the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic transition, and the artifact and hominin assemblages have been studied in detail in recent years. In this paper we present the first results of new zooarchaeological analyses of Vindija. We focus on the ungulate remains from the F and G Layer at Vindija, and discuss the significance of our results for palaeoecological reconstructions, taphonomy, and hominin subsistence practices.

Pleistocene mammal fauna and flora from the localities Pećina na Brehu (northern Istria) and Marlera I and II (southern Istria) have been presented. After faunal and floral assemblages, the climatic conditions were in the southern part of Istria (Marlera) favorable. In northern Istria the faunal complexes of Pećina na Brehu show very little differences in the taxonomic composition from Marlera. For example, the arvicolids from Marlera site indicate that the eastern Adriatic coast was refugium for these and other animals during the Upper Pleistocene glaciation.

Seven Pleistocene sites of study in progress are discussed in the paper. Sites Kršine, Portić, Karigador and Veli Munat are open sections of Pleistocene sediments, Marlera I and Marlera II are fossil caverns, and Gradina is a cave, primarily an archaeological site as well as Karigador. Problem of stratigraphic correlation of open sediment succesions with cave sediments is discussed, and some new possibilities of correlation are evidenced.

Vindija cave in Croatia has yielded the youngest securely dated Neandertal skeletal remains in Central/Eastern Europe. In addition, these remains have been found in association with archaeological material exhibiting Upper Paleolithic elements. Due to its geographic location and date, the Vindija remains are particularly crucial for the understanding of initial modern human peopling of Europe and the nature of the Neandertal demise. The significance of archaeological finds and hominin fossils from this site is discussed in the light of new finds at Vindija and recent developments in the fields of paleoanthropology and prehistoric archaeology. Further, the impact of revised chronology for several crucial specimens and sites throughout Europe, and including Vindija, is discussed. We argue that the association of an early Upper Paleolithic industry and late Neandertals at Vindija is not likely to be a result of artificial mixing of specimens from different strata, but rather that these artifacts are reasonably considered to be products of the Vindija Neandertals. Although similar archaeological samples in Europe have traditionally been regarded as Aurignacian and automatically assigned to anatomically modern humans, we believe many of earliest Upper Paleolithic assemblages are in fact derived from local Mousterian, and the question of which population is responsible for the production of these assemblages remains unclear. The only clear association of hominin remains and the Initial Upper Paleolithic thus far has been Neandertals with the Châtelperronian. Further, Aurignacian can no longer be considered a single Pan-European industrial complex, but rather represents a number of local early Upper Paleolithic industries. In this light the association of Neandertals and Early Upper Paleolithic is not surprising. Unfortunately the relatively short time frame of the populational overlap between late Neandertals and early moderns, possible differential site use, and taphonomic factors, (erosion etc.) will make such in situ evidence unlikely to be preserved. Therefore, the Vindija G1 layer is a rare and important find. Anthropological analyses demonstrate that the late Neandertals at Vindija exhibit a more modern pattern of morphology compared to most other European Neandertals. We believe that both the anatomical and archaeological characteristics of Vindija are best explained by the Assimilation model of modern human origins.

Predstavljena su događanja i znanstveno-stručna predavanja koja su se odvijala u sklopu jednodnevnog znanstvenog skupa održanog u Zagrebu povodom obilježavanja 50. obljetnice Zavoda za paleontologiju i geologiju kvartara Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti.

Provedenim terenskim istraživanjima sakupljeni su brojni skeletni ostaci različitih životinja. Preliminarnom paleontološkom obradom na nivou mogućih odredbi vrsta i rodova životinja, utvrđeno je prisustvo elemenata raznodobnih faunskih asocijacija. Rezultati preliminarnih sedimentoloških analiza sedimenata uzorkovanih u Jami Vrtare male pokazali su da u njima postoje čestice indikativne za različite procese koji utječu na akumulaciju sedimenata.

Ukratko je prikazan 50-godišnji rad i djelovanje Zavoda za paleontologiju i geologiju kvartara Hrvatske akademije znanosti i umjetnosti, od njegovog osnutka do danas.

U kamenolomu Marlera u južnoj Istri otkrivene su dvije pukotine zapunjene izrazito fosilifernim, karakterističnim pleistocenskim sedimentima. Od faune su preliminarno određeni pripadnici sljedećih skupina: Pisces, Aves, Insectivora, Chiroptera, Rodentia, Carnivora i Ungulata. Radiometrijskim datiranjem fosilnih ostataka dobiven je rezultat od 41.600+/-1.300/1.100 godina prije sadašnjosti. Morfometrijski su detaljnije determinirani zubi voluharica (Arvicolidae, Rodentia). Prisutnost čovjeka na ovim prostorima potvrđuje više nalaza rožnjaka, nedvojbeno modificiranih ljudskom rukom.

Određeni su i anatomsko-taksonomski analizirani i revidirani ostaci skupine ungulata iz tri najznačajnija hrvatska nalazišta, špilja Veternice, Velike pećine i Vindije.Utvrđene su pleistocenske faunske asocijacije ungulata i utjecaj čovjeka na formiranje fosilnih zajednica (tafodema). Rekonstruirane su promjene klime i okoliša u blizini nalazišta. Promijenjene su vertikalne distribucije pojedinih taksona. Sedimenti špilja Veternice i Velike pećine nataloženi su u istodobnim periodima tijekom gornjeg pleistocena, odnosno u stadijima OIS 2, 3, 4, do vjerojatno stadija OIS 5e i mogu se korelirati sa sedimentima središnjeg dijela kompleksa naslaga u Vindiji. Tafodeme ungulata starijih naslaga drugačijih su karakteristika. Osnovni faktor akumulacije materijala u Veternici i Vindiji bio je čovjek. Ungulati su bili glavni izvor hrane paleolitskih ljudskih zajednica a istražena svojstva materijala nadopunjuju paleoantropološka istraživanja.

Tijekom terenskih istraživanja srednjovjekovne utvrde Paka u razdoblju 2002.-2004. god., sakupljeni su životinjski ostaci. Arheozoološkom analizom je utvrđena dominacija ostataka domaćih životinja (svinja, govedo, ovca/koza), dok su nalazi divljih životinja sporadični. Svega je nekoliko ostataka ptica. Način i tipovi oštećenja materijala, određuju ove ostatke kao prehrambeni otpad.

Within the French-Slovenian Proteus research program no. 97011, several fossil-bearing fillings of cavities initially formed as different caves have been discovered (1997 and 1999 field trips). Some of them have also been found in Croatia. The aim of the project was to find new localities in the area and with biochronological dating of the localities date the evolution of the karst, specially the large unroofed caves. In Slovenia, two quarries that of Črni Kal in the SW, and that of Velika Pirešica in the central part of the country have been particularly productive.Two other isolated sited have also been discovered, in the road cut near Sežana and the other at Snežna Jama, a high altitude cave. In the case of the sites recognised in Croatia, the work was done in Istria Peninsula in cooperation with the late Maja Paunović from the Zagreb Institute of Quaternary Paleontology and Geology. In 2003 two new localities were found Dol Bestažovca near Sežana in Slovenia and locality Modrič on the coast of the Adriatic Sea in Croatia. In both cases these are unroofed caves filled with sediments, being now exposed to the surface because of the lowering of the karst surface. Here are presented some photographs of the sites, some of them have disappeared since, and faunal lists of small mammals are given. The faunas have all a Pleistocene age.

In contrast to numerous Neolithic sites on Croatian islands, the sediments in the cave Vela spilja on the island of Korčula (Dalmatia) represent a more or less undisturbed stratigraphic/cultural sequence from the Upper Palaeolithic to the Bronze-Age and the Roman period (Čečuk & Radić 2001). Preliminary results of the analysis of faunal remains and radiocarbon dates of materials (charcoal and bones)originating from Epigravettian, Mesolithic and Early Neolithic levels of the cave profile will be presented. . These levels of the sediment also contain information about the hunters-gatherers responses to environmental changes caused by climate and sea level oscillations from the Last Glacial to the Atlantic period. This is well documented by faunal remains which indicate different subsistence pattern in different periods: hunting of deer or horses in Epigravettian, fishing in Mesolithic and first appearance of domestic animals in Early Neolithic. Therefore, considering obtained and proxy data it became obvious that, at different periods of Late Pleistocene and Early Holocene, the Dalmatian islands were inhabited with human populations which migrated synchronous to the climatic and sea level changes and exploited all natural resources in different areas of former Adriatic plain.

Katalog izložbe predstavlja arheološke nalaze i preliminarnu determinaciju paleontoloških ostataka s lokaliteta Pećina na Gradini kod Premanture u južnoj Istri.

Relationship between science and public is an everyday issue. It took years to find a path of science towards public and we stil do not have a real recipe of how to establish a constant fruitful relationship between these two parties which could stand for world-wide.