Quaternary

This study presents a zooarchaeological and taphonomic analysis of the previously unstudied component of the Mousterian faunal assemblage from Unit A9 at Grotta di Fumane (northeastern Italy), offering refined insights into Neanderthal subsistence behaviour during Marine Isotope Stage 3. Building on the previously published analysis of the principal portion of the assemblage, the new data reaffirm a subsistence strategy focused on selective transport and intensive on-site processing of high-utility carcass components. The ungulate assemblage—dominated by Cervus elaphus and Capreolus capreolus, with additional contributions from Rupicapra rupicapra and Capra ibex—is characterised by the dominance of hindlimb elements, moderate cranial representation, and a pronounced scarcity of axial remains. These patterns indicate that carcass reduction commenced at kill sites, where low-yield trunk segments were removed, while high-nutritional-value limb portions were preferentially transported to the cave for secondary processing. Taphonomic indicators, including abundant cut marks, percussion notches, and extensive bone fragmentation, demonstrate systematic defleshing, marrow extraction, and possible grease rendering within the cave, activities that were spatially associated with combustion features. Occasional cranial transport suggests targeted acquisition of high-fat tissues such as brains and tongue, behaviour consistent with cold-climate optimisation strategies documented in both ethnographic and experimental contexts. Collectively, the evidence indicates that Unit A9 served as a residential locus embedded within a logistically organised mobility system, where carcass processing, resource exploitation, and lithic activities were closely integrated. These findings reinforce the broader picture of late Neanderthals as adaptable and behaviourally sophisticated foragers capable of strategic planning and efficient exploitation of ungulate prey within the dynamic environments of northern Italy.

Variance-driven decomposition based on the singular spectrum analysis of the European Project for Ice Coring in Antarctica (EPICA) δD, CO₂, and CH₄ records allowed a novel quantitative structural interpretation of all glacial/interglacial cycles and glacial terminations of the last 800 kyr. This bottom-up approach used the response components of EPICA stacked records to reconstruct the envelope of the thermal response through a physical interference model. The aim was to improve understanding of the intensity, amplitude, and asymmetry features of 73 marine isotope stages/substages (MISs) and seven glacial terminations. The Antarctic stack record can be described by a variance-weighted superposition of ten thermal waves of different origins (mid-term oscillation, orbitals, and suborbitals) that stochastically interfere at a given time according to their relative differences in frequency, amplitude, and polarity. Interglacial/glacial stages resulted from constructive interference and bipolar amplification of warming/cooling responses, respectively. The low-intensity MISs (including 90% of substages) and the unbiased-dated terminations fell in the low-interference regions, where dominant destructive patterns minimize the thermal envelope. The positive skewness of the EPICA stack resulted from constructive interference with a strong bias in the warming direction, especially after the Mid-Brunhes Event. Duration analysis of short eccentricity hemicycles exhibited an intrinsic unexpectedly prolonged mean cooling in the nominal solution (5.8 kyr) and its EPICA response as well (8.6 kyr), along with an interference-induced asymmetry (21.1 kyr). The overall effect has led to the saw-tooth shape of glacial cycles, which was strongly induced by interference.

China has made significant progress in paleontological heritage conservation. However, research and conservation efforts have predominantly focused on exquisitely preserved, movable specimens of high scientific value, leading to the relative neglect of in situ paleontological geosites which are critical for understanding fossil distribution patterns. To address this gap, this study employs a GIS approach to conduct a multifaceted spatial analysis of paleontological geosites in the BTH region as a representative case study. Our results reveal a pronounced spatiotemporal imbalance in the distribution of these geosites. Furthermore, their spatial configuration exhibits significant correlations with key physiographic factors—including elevation, stratigraphic distribution, and slope—as well as socioeconomic indicators such as population density, GDP density, and fiscal self-reliance ratio. This uneven distribution creates substantial conservation challenges, resulting in fragmented governance, a mismatch between local conservation capacities and needs, and potential biases in protection priorities toward specific regions or geological periods. In the BTH region, the distribution patterns of paleontological geosites are jointly shaped by physiographic, socioeconomic, and anthropogenic process factors. Elucidating the relationships between these drivers and the spatial distribution of geosites constitutes a critical foundation for advancing their scientific conservation and sustainable management. Drawing on broader interdisciplinary insights, currently peripheral paleontological heritage can be further transformed into strategic and sustainable resources.