Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9030040

Authors: Vasilica-Monica Groza Mariana Popovici Anca-Narcisa Neagu Luminiţa Bejenaru Ozana-Maria Ciorpac-Petraru

Syphilis, caused by the bacterium Treponema pallidum, has a complex evolutionary history, most likely being transferred from the Americas to Europe after the 15th century and subsequently spreading widely through sexual transmission. This work is one of the few studies on the skeletal evidence of probable treponematosis in archaeological populations discovered on the Romanian territory, providing data to better understand the disease history. Pathological lesions identified in three human skeletons of the 15th–19th centuries are described, and a diagnosis of treponematosis is performed. The three analyzed skeletons were discovered during the archaeological excavations in the necropolis of the Roman-Catholic Cathedral in Iasi City (Romania). The investigated skeletons belonged to individuals aged 30–40 years old (two females and one male). Somatoscopic, radiographic, tomographic, and microscopic examinations were used for the differential diagnosis. The results of multiple investigation methods support the diagnosis of probable treponematosis in all three skeletons, showing different stages of caries sicca in skull bones, cortical thickening, and new periosteal bone formation in postcranial bones.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9030039

Authors: Roberta Somma Sara Centorrino Alice Stefania Pavani Salvatore Giacobbe Raymart Keiser Manguerra Salvatore Zaccaro Giuseppe Zaffino Francesco Paolo La Monica

Small Mediterranean coastal lagoons are sensitive sedimentary environments where basin morphology, hydrodynamic processes, and inherited coastal structures interact to control sediment dispersal. This study investigates modern sedimentary patterns in Lake Porto Vecchio, a shallow coastal brackish pond within the Oliveri–Tindari lagoon system (NE Sicily, Italy), by integrating grain-size statistical and petrographic analyses, and morpho-bathymetric data. A total of 115 surface sediment samples were collected from the coastal pond’s shallow bottom, shoreline, adjacent beach, and shallow marine sector. Grain-size distributions were analyzed using mechanical sieving and laser diffraction, and textural parameters were calculated following Folk and Ward’s formula. Results reveal a well-defined spatial organization of siliciclastic sediments characterized by a grain-size gradient from gravelly coarse-grained sands along the shallow marginal platform to fine-grained sands and silts toward the deeper central basin. This pattern reflects a progressive decrease in hydrodynamic energy from the lagoon margins toward the basin depocenter. A partially lithified beachrock belt forms a shallow platform controlling sedimentation, trapping coarse sediments along the margins while promoting the accumulation of finer fractions in the inner basin. Grain-size discrimination diagrams further distinguish lagoonal sediments from adjacent marine deposits, highlighting the effectiveness of classical statistical approaches in reconstructing modern sedimentary processes. These results support a conceptual model in which inherited beachrock platforms act as key morphological control on sediment architecture in microtidal coastal lakes. Lake Porto Vecchio, therefore, represents a useful modern analog for interpreting similar lagoonal deposits preserved in the Quaternary sedimentary record.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9030038

Authors: Salvatore Gambino Giovanni Barreca Sebastiano Tarascio Simone Mineo Giovanna Pappalardo Francesco Paolo Cultrera Serafina Carbone Carmelo Monaco

In this paper, we provide new insight into the Quaternary tectonics of the Floridia Graben (southeastern Sicily) and develop 3D geologic and ground-flow models of its subsurface. The Floridia Graben is a structural depression bounded by NW–SE trending normal faults and represents the main water reservoir that supplies the city of Siracusa (southeastern Sicily) and its countryside. The knowledge of the subsurface geology and neo-tectonic evolution of the Floridia Graben, as well as the spatial distribution of groundwater volumes is crucial for the management and protection of water resources. Within the government project of the new Italian geological cartography (ISPRA-CARG, Sheet N. 646 Siracusa), field and well data (both publicly available and newly acquired) have been collected and reinterpreted. NW–SE and NE–SW buried tectonic–structural features, inferred in the sub-surface of the graben, are consistent with the orientations of Quaternary faults diffusely observed inside and outside the investigated area. The Quaternary tectonic activity of bounding and buried faults has had a strong influence on the control of the morpho-structural pattern and, consequently, the groundwater flow of the Floridia Graben. The study allowed for the redefinition of the timing of these structures as well as their tectonic–structural control on the graben’s architecture and related water flow. The study represents a valuable tool for the better prediction of the spatial distribution of geologic and hydrogeologic volumes, thus enhancing the efficiency in the management and protection of natural resources.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9030037

Authors: Angelica Fiorillo Silvia Irina Monterrosa Preziosi Sara Silvestrini Lisa Brotons Gruppo Speleologico Neretino Enza Elena Spinapolice Omry Barzilai Francesco Berna Adriana Moroni Matteo Romandini Gabriele Terlato Stefano Benazzi

Grotta-Riparo di Uluzzo C (Uluzzo Bay, Apulia, southern Italy) preserves a long and complex stratigraphic sequence spanning from the Middle Palaeolithic to the Bronze Age, offering a valuable context for investigating depositional dynamics and human–environment interactions during the Late Pleistocene. Although recent multidisciplinary research has substantially advanced knowledge of the Uluzzian occupations, the Mousterian faunal record of the site has remained largely unexplored from zooarchaeological and taphonomic perspectives. This study examines the faunal assemblages from the Mousterian layers (E, F, and G), integrating material from historical excavations with those recovered during recent fieldwork. Zooarchaeological, taphonomic, and Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) analyses are combined to reconstruct local environmental conditions, evaluate the relative contribution of human and non-human agents to bone accumulation, and assess patterns of site use and deposit formation. The faunal spectrum indicates an ecologically heterogeneous landscape, consistent with a Mediterranean refugial setting during the Late Pleistocene. Taphonomic evidence points to complex and cumulative formation processes resulting from repeated, short-term human occupations interspersed with carnivore activity and natural depositional processes. The Mousterian deposits are therefore best interpreted as brief palimpsests rather than the result of continuous or intensive occupation. Placed within a regional framework, the Uluzzo C assemblages contribute to broader discussions on site formation processes and environmental variability in southern Italy and provide an important comparative baseline for the Middle to Upper Palaeolithic period.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9030036

Authors: Zekai Hu Hui Dai Feng Lin Lupeng Yu Changsheng Wang Jianhui Jin Yingjun Lin Lin Ren Hui Xie Guiyu Zhou Ying Zhou Yongjun Huang Yong Ge Xinxin Zuo

Coastal regions played a key role in the emergence of Early Neolithic cultures. Fluctuating sea levels shaped prehistoric human migration, settlement patterns, and adaptation strategies. The lower reaches of the Min River in Fujian were a major centre of activity. During the Middle to Late Neolithic, marine communities such as the Keqiutou (6500–5500 cal. a BP) and Tanshishan (5500–4300 cal. a BP) cultures flourished. However, the scarcity of earlier remains has limited understanding of Early Neolithic life before 8000 cal. a BP. We dated stratigraphic layers at the newly excavated Niutoushan site using radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL). OSL results indicate the site’s Neolithic culture layer between 9.3 ± 0.7 ka and 8.1 ± 0.5 ka, with radiocarbon dates clustering around 8300–7000 cal. a BP. Based on the younger bounds of the dating results and kernel density estimation, the Neolithic remains at the site are dated to approximately 8000–7000 cal. a BP, identifying Niutoushan as one of the earliest Neolithic sites in the region. Combined with sea-level reconstructions, the findings suggest that the rapid Early Holocene sea-level rise drove human migration along China’s eastern coast before 8000 cal. a BP. The Niutoushan culture was influenced by Neolithic cultures from northern coastal regions and potentially by those located to its south across the exposed Taiwan Strait from the Last Glacial Maximum to the Early Holocene. This points to complex interactions among Early Neolithic cultures in both northern and southern coastal China, warranting further investigation for validation.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9030035

Authors: Mariana Popovici Sergiu Popovici Ozana-Maria Ciorpac-Petraru Luminiţa Bejenaru Jaroslav Peška Vasilica-Monica Groza

This study presents the first bioarcheological analysis of the Mnogovalikovaia culture (Middle Bronze Age) from the North Pontic region, evaluating six human skeletons (six adult males) discovered in tumuli at Novosiolovca, Burlăceni, and Ordășei (Republic of Moldova). Dental analysis reveals moderate-to-advanced occlusal wear, chipping on posterior teeth, and anterior teeth modifications indicating both dietary practices and extramasticatory activities. The characteristics of the dental morphology, including non-metric dental traits (i.e., degree of cusp expression, presence of supernumerary cusps, bilateral asymmetry and the occlusal surface shape of maxillary and mandibular second molars (M2) highlight population-specific features influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Traces of ochre on skeletons suggest specific funerary practices. The study fills a significant gap in the understanding of Mnogovalikovaia communities, providing important data on their biological and cultural characteristics, lifestyle, and funerary practices. These findings also represent a basis for future research on this population, requiring larger samples and biomolecular analysis.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020034

Authors: Haifeng Lu Jianjun Cui Hongyuan Zhang Hailong Chen Licheng Ma Haitao Yao

Major earthquakes often induce multi-structural rupture styles, which serve as a crucial basis for understanding stress partitioning and strain adjustment within tectonic systems, as well as for constructing regional deformation models. The 1927 M 8.0 Gulang earthquake in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau exemplifies this phenomenon. This rare event, characterized by a single mainshock triggering multiple structural ruptures, resulted in approximately 40,000 casualties and numerous missing persons. In this study, we integrate interpretations of satellite remote sensing imagery, field observations of surface ruptures, and analyses of regional tectonic–geomorphic deformations to reconstruct the coseismic processes of the Gulang earthquake. Our findings reveal that the coseismic surface ruptures exhibit distinct mechanical characteristics driven by complex stress fields. Survey and analysis results indicate that regional tectonic compression oriented from SSW–SW to NNE–NE triggered the mainshock rupture. This stress regime caused nearly E–W folding of strata north of the Huangcheng–Shuangta Fault (HSF), alongside sinistral strike-slip motion in the central-eastern section and thrusting at the eastern end of the Southern Wuwei Basin Fault (SWBF). Blocked by the rigid Alxa Block to the north, comprehensive evidence—including the Late Holocene gravelly clay folded strata formed by north-to-south compression in the Liutiao Lake area, the geomorphic deformation characterized by higher northern and lower southern terraces on both sides of the east–west-trending fault, and the clockwise rotational tectonic surfaces developed at the eastern end of the HSF zone in Shuixiakou—indicates that the coseismic tectonic movement and energy transfer within the meizoseismal area underwent a rapid clockwise rotation from NE to S. This strain rotation induced N–S tensional rupturing along the southern branch of the eastern HSF and nearly E–W thrusting along the NNW-trending Wuwei–Gulang Fault (WGF). Furthermore, this intense and rapid clockwise rotation generated a transient extensional environment characterized by rapid E–W to SE stretching, leading to the formation of a newly identified, NNE-trending, high-angle dextral strike-slip normal fault (hereafter referred to as the NNEF). This process also triggered localized activity at the junctions between the NNEF and the Lenglongling Fault (LLLF), and between the WGF and the nearly E–W-trending Gulang Fault (GLF). We conclude that the seismogenic structure of the 1927 Gulang mainshock comprises three primary components: (1) a fault–fold belt consisting of the SWBF and the nearly E–W fold system north of the HSF; (2) the southern branch of the eastern HSF; and (3) the WGF. The observed segmental activities of the GLF and LLLF are attributed to local strain adjustments. By identifying the newly formed NNEF and characterizing these segmental activations, this study provides new insights into the mechanisms of local strain adjustment within the tectonic systems of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020033

Authors: Antonio Rosas Antonio García-Tabernero José Antonio Alarcón Juan Francisco Pastor Tomás Torres-Medina Tim Schüler

The European Middle Pleistocene represents a critical spatiotemporal interval in human evolution, marked by increasing morphological variability and ongoing debate regarding the evolutionary processes leading to the emergence of Neandertals. In particular, it remains unclear whether this variability reflects the coexistence of multiple evolutionary lineages within Europe or structured variation within a single, evolving lineage. Within this context, the site of Bilzingsleben (Thuringia, Germany) provides a key contribution to discussions of European Middle Pleistocene population structure. This study presents a detailed morphological assessment of the Bilzingsleben E7 mandibular fragment, integrating qualitative anatomical observations with quantitative analyses of discrete characters. The Bilzingsleben mandible was examined directly and evaluated within a broad comparative framework including European Middle Pleistocene hominins, Neandertals, and selected African and Asian specimens. Multivariate analyses, including Principal Coordinates Analysis (PCoA) and neighbor-joining cluster analysis based on Gower distances, were used to explore patterns of morphological affinity. Qualitative analysis indicates that the Bilzingsleben mandible exhibits a mosaic combination of predominantly primitive features—such as multiple mental foramina, marked lateral relief of the corpus, and a weakly developed submandibular fossa—together with a limited number of incipiently derived traits, including posterior extension of the corpus and a downward orientation of the digastric fossae. Quantitative results consistently place Bilzingsleben within the morphological variability of European Middle Pleistocene hominins but outside the compact Neandertal cluster. In the PCoA, Bilzingsleben occupies an intermediate (PCo1) and peripheral position (PCo2), contrasting with more centrally positioned specimens such as Mauer. Taken together, these results support an interpretation of Bilzingsleben as part of a European Middle Pleistocene set of populations exhibiting mosaic morphology, rather than considering Bilzingsleben as evidence for a distinct evolutionary lineage. When integrated with evidence from other anatomical elements from Bilzingsleben, the mandibular morphology supports interpreting this population within the broader evolutionary context of the Neandertal lineage.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020032

Authors: Marta Borges Hugo Aluai Sampaio Ana M. S. Bettencourt

This study analyses the funerary practices in hypogea (rock-cut tombs) of the Middle Bronze Age in southern Portugal with the aim of deepening our understanding of Bronze Age funerary rituals in southwestern Iberia. A total of 57 hypogea from seven archaeological sites were examined. The study followed an interdisciplinary approach integrating data from biological anthropology and archaeology, articulating chronology, osteological analysis, funerary architecture, and material culture. The hypogea date to the first half of the 2nd millennium BCE, corresponding to the regional Middle Bronze Age. Of the 95 individuals analysed, 82% were adults; females represented 34% and males 21% of the total sample. The hypogea present several architectural typologies, with entrances oriented towards southeast (30%), northeast (23%), southwest (22%), and northwest (22%), possibly related to moments of the solar cycle. Burials were single (54%), double (17%), or multiple (11%), with 68% primary inhumations and 32% secondary inhumations, reflecting the re-use of funerary spaces. Grave goods, present in 57% of the cases, were more frequent and diversified among women, including ceramic vessels (79%) and metal awls (61%). Like male individuals, women were also associated with weapons, suggesting an elevated social status for both sexes.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020031

Authors: Sérgio P. Ávila Patrícia Madeira Mohamed Amine Doukani Ana Hipólito Gonçalo Castela Ávila Sandra Marques Romain Vullo Werner Schwarzhans

Fossils provide invaluable data for evolutionary studies in oceanic islands. The paleontological record of the Macaronesian archipelagos has been the target of many researchers for a long time, with a recent surge in interest in scientific research related to their paleontological heritage. In the Macaronesian Azores archipelago, the marine invertebrate fossil record from the warmest period of the Last Interglacial stage (also known as Marine Isotopic Stage 5e—MIS 5e) represents approximately 95.6% of the total species. In contrast, the MIS 5e marine vertebrate fossil record comprises only four reported species (2.2%), with marine algae accounting for the remaining 2.2% (four species). This study reports on—and adds to the paleobiodiversity of the MIS 5e deposits at Santa Maria Island (Azores Archipelago)—two marine mesopelagic lanternfishes, identified from their otoliths: Diaphus cf. holti Tåning, 1918, and Symbolophorus veranyi (Moreau, 1888). Finally, we offer a plausible explanation for the presence of mesopelagic fishes in the MIS 5e fossiliferous deposits of Santa Maria Island.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020030

Authors: Shuang Yang Yuchen Xu Longjuan Cheng Dongliang Ning Dejun Wan Qingfeng Jiang

Arid Central Asia (ACA) is a major source of atmospheric dust in the Northern Hemisphere; however, the evolutionary models and driving mechanisms of Holocene aeolian activity in this region remain debated. Based on 13 reliable AMS 14C dates from the Sayram Lake SLM2009 sediment core, this study reconstructs the Holocene sequence in aeolian activity through end-member modeling analysis (EMMA). It evaluates its relationship with regional atmospheric circulation. Four end-members were identified from base to top: EM1, with a modal grain size of 7.58 μm, represents low-energy suspension deposition; EM2 (26.30 μm) reflects lacustrine hydrodynamic processes; while EM3 (52.48 μm) and EM4 (416.86 μm) serve as proxies for regional aeolian activity. The results indicate that aeolian activity was relatively strong during the early Holocene (reaching peaks at 11.7–11.2 and 9.2–8.1 cal ka BP), significantly intensified during the mid-Holocene (7.3–5.3 cal ka BP), and gradually weakened in the late Holocene (since 4.0 cal ka BP). Comparison of the aeolian record from Lake Sayram with Greenland ice cores, North Atlantic ice-rafted debris events, and the GISP2 K+ record indicates that variations in aeolian activity in arid Central Asia are closely linked to the Northern Hemisphere climate system. We propose that these variations were primarily modulated by large-scale atmospheric circulation, driven by the synergistic interaction between the Siberian High and the mid-latitude westerlies.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020029

Authors: Romeo Gheorghiță Aurel Mototolea Irina Sodoleanu Gheorghe Niculescu Zizi-Ileana Baltă Corina Ițcuș Margareta-Simina Stanc

The main objective of the present study is to reveal the palette of pigments and the other specific constituent materials as well as the techniques used by the Roman artists to create the mural paintings discovered in the ancient city of Tomis, the modern-day Constanţa, Romania’s largest seaport and a major tourist hub on the Black Sea. This paper is an archeometric study based on the physical, chemical and biological analyses of the archeological Roman mural painting fragments from the ancient city of Tomis dating from the 5th to 6th century A.D. and to our knowledge is among the very few research studies carried out so far on the ancient Roman wall painting discovered in Romania. The methods of scientific investigation employed directly on the archeological fragments, on samples taken from the fragments and on the cross-sections prepared from the samples were: optical microscopy (OM), digital microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Examination and analysis of the archeological mural fragments revealed that the painted fragments consist of ground support and successive layers of color displaying specific characteristics of the artistic technique, such as imitation of marble cladding or meticulous smoothing of the surface to achieve a glossy and compact finish. It was also found that fragments exhibit subtle variations in different colors, identified in general terms, showing seven color tones: cinnabar red, red-violet, red ochre, yellow ochre, white, gray-blue, gray-black and black. The physical–chemical and biological analyses carried out provide the diagnosis and theoretical basis for choosing an appropriate conservation methodology and the correct restoration treatment of the discovered mural painting, with a view to its museum display through exhibition and virtual reconstruction and scientific use by the setting up of a useful database for researchers or specialists in museums on Roman archeology and art.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020028

Authors: Mihaela Danu Diana Istrate Marcel Mîndrescu Florentina Șchiopu Alina Georgiana Cîșlariu Ciprian Claudiu Mânzu

Modern pollen rain studies provide essential calibration for interpreting fossil pollen records, particularly in montane environments. This study explores pollen–vegetation relationships along an altitudinal transect in the Rarău Massif (Eastern Carpathians, Romania). Eight moss cushion samples collected between 1215 and 1619 m a.s.l. were analysed palynologically and compared with eight paired vegetation surveys. Multivariate analyses, including hierarchical clustering, Mantel tests, NMDS, and Procrustes analysis, were applied to evaluate floristic and palynological similarity in relation to altitude. Pollen spectra are dominated by Picea, reflecting the prevalence of spruce forests characteristic of the montane belt, while Abies and Pinus occur in lower proportions, indicating a secondary role. Broad-leaved taxa such as Fagus, Betula, and Alnus complement the arboreal pollen signal, whereas thermophilous taxa Quercus and Tilia represent extra-local pollen input from lower altitudes. Herbaceous and shrub taxa are generally underrepresented in the pollen record relative to field observations. Pollen taxa associated with anthropogenic disturbance (Plantago, Rumex, Artemisia and Urtica) show a constant presence, which may suggest localized human influence likely linked to grazing and tourism. Statistical results show weak and non-significant correlations between pollen composition, vegetation structure, and altitude. Overall, modern pollen rain reflects the dominant vegetation structure of the studied montane belt but shows limited fidelity at the local floristic scale.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020027

Authors: Mirte Korpershoek Sally C. Reynolds Marcin Budka Philip Riris

The figures in the original publication are adaptations of rock art motifs, and the sources of the original photographs were cited in the description of each figure [...]

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020026

Authors: Xinrong Zhang Yan Gong Fanpeng Kong Jian Zhao Changli Ai Yandong Pei Jinbao He

Alluvial plains in the marginal zone of the monsoon system are sensitive to the climate–hydrology interaction. However, long term, high-resolution sedimentary records remain scarce in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China. This limited our understanding of the paleoclimate–paleohydrology coupling evolution over glacial–interglacial cycles. A 50.6 m continuous core was retrieved from the western Songnen Plain. The age–depth model and wavelet transform spectrum showed sedimentary continuity from ~885 ka B.P. (the late Early Pleistocene) to ~6 ka B.P. (the early Holocene), with no major hiatuses exceeding orbital resolution. Grain size analyses revealed 18 microfacies, which were synthesized into two major evolutionary cycles: a fan-delta front cycle (dominated by subaqueous mouth bars and distributary channels) and a fan-delta plain cycle (characterized by intertributary bays, floodplain lakes/swamps, and crevasse splays). The absence of pro-delta facies and the sediment succession record the oscillatory shrinkage of the Songnen paleolake. The pulsed enhancements of hydrodynamic energy, marked by grain size coarsening, coincide with major glacial–interglacial transitions (MIS 20/19, 18/17, 16/15, 14/13, 8/7, 6/5, 4/3, and 2/1), whereas fining grain sizes dominate warm interglacial periods (MIS 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1). These patterns are sensitive response of the alluvial plain to orbital-scale climate change. Cold–arid glacial background promoted vegetation loss and hydrological instability, and warm–humid interglacial background favored low-energy hydrological condition. This study demonstrates that the regional alluvial evolution was primarily controlled by global ice-volume fluctuations through variability of the East Asian summer monsoon. This study provides a reference for the muti-scale climate–hydrology coupling mechanism study in the northern marginal zone of EASM and highlights the importance of alluvial sediment succession in paleo-research.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020025

Authors: Ozana-Maria Ciorpac-Petraru Mihaela Danu Ana Drob Paul-Iulian Donciu Aurel-Daniel Stănică Luminița Bejenaru

Dental wear provides valuable evidence for reconstructing past human behaviour, including diet abrasiveness and non-masticatory activities such as the use of teeth as a “third hand”. This study investigates activity-induced dental modifications (AIDMs) in two adult human skeletons recovered from a 15th–19th-century necropolis at the St. Athanasius Church in Niculițel (Tulcea County, Romania). Dental remains and associated dental calculus were examined using low- and high-magnification optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Well-polished grooves with parallel striations were identified on the incisor crowns, consistent with repetitive extra-masticatory activities related to fibre drafting during spinning and textile production. Dental calculus analysis revealed the presence of plant and animal fibres, providing direct micro-contextual evidence for textile-related practices. These results offer new insights into the use of teeth as tools and contribute to the reconstruction of textile-related craft activities during the Ottoman and early modern periods in southeastern Europe.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020024

Authors: Louisa B. Daggers Mark G. Plew

Shell middens of Guyana’s northwestern coast are a tangible stratified archive of prehistoric occupation and land use during the Holocene, an era of increased human impacts on the landscape. This study integrates stable isotope and zooarchaeological evidence to understand prehistoric land use, shell midden function, and the complex relationship between archaic populations and their landscape. We synthesize recently excavated data and archival museum collection for seven sites dating between 7500 and 2000 BP including stable isotope results of 37 individuals. Zooarchaeological materials are pooled to provide long-term patterns of human predation during the Holocene while reducing site-specific noise. This we believe highlights patterns of prey selection and exploitation intensity. We conclude that climate fluctuations during the mid Holocene influenced fishing intensification and subsequently a shift in human predation, which affected small to medium-sized fauna, estuary productivity and changes in vegetation patterns including mangrove expansion. These changes were shaped by landscape manipulation and influenced by shoreline movement and population mobility and seasonal resource use. Altogether, these processes left enduring ecological legacies along the northwestern coast of Guyana.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020023

Authors: Mihaela Danu Luminița Bejenaru Vasile Diaconu Margareta Simina Stanc

This study presents new phytolith data that reconstruct the vegetation patterns and environmental context of medieval sites in northeastern Romania, integrated with previously published archaeozoological evidence. Sediment samples from cultural layers at Târgu Neamț–La Damian and Neamț Fortress were analysed following standard extraction protocols and classified according to the International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature (ICPN 2.0). The newly obtained phytolith assemblages are dominated by morphotypes from the Poaceae family, with diagnostic cereal forms, indicating intensive cereal use. The presence of arboreal and non-grass phytoliths further suggests a mosaic landscape combining grass-dominated open areas, pastures, and nearby woodland. When compared with existing faunal data, characterized by a predominance of domestic species such as cattle, sheep/goat, and pig, the results support the reconstruction of a diversified agro-pastoral economy adapted to local geomorphological and climatic conditions. The integration of new phytolith and existing archaeozoological data highlights the complementary role of plant microremains in reconstructing medieval environments, providing valuable insight into agro-pastoral resources, vegetation dynamics, and human–landscape interactions in the eastern Carpathian region. This approach enhances our understanding of the ecological basis of medieval Moldavian communities and contributes to the reconstruction of Late Holocene anthropogenic landscape dynamics within a Quaternary environmental framework.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020022

Authors: Ji Xianba Kaijie Zhang Qiang Peng Peihua Wang Yuzheng Wu Kejia Li Chongyi E

Alluvial–proluvial parent-material soils are widely distributed in the Qinghai Lake Basin; however, their timing of development and associated climatic background remain poorly constrained. In this study, two representative alluvial–proluvial fan-covered soil profiles (QRZQ and YXC) from the Qinghai Lake Basin were investigated. Quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was combined with analyses of grain-size composition and soil organic carbon (SOC) to constrain the timing of soil development and its climatic background. The results show that the studied soil profiles are mainly characterized by Ah–As–C and Ah–A–C horizon configurations, with soil development spanning from 15.7 to 1.0 ka. The underlying alluvial–proluvial parent material of the QRZQ profile formed during the Last deglaciation, whereas the oldest OSL ages in the YXC profile occur within a weakly developed A horizon, indicating that this profile had already transitioned from a depositional environment to a pedogenic environment during the Last deglaciation. This contrast reflects staged differences between depositional and pedogenic processes within alluvial–proluvial settings. The soils were formed through upbuilding pedogenesis, in which sediment accumulation and top-down pedogenic modification proceeded concurrently. Grain-size composition and SOC characteristics further indicate that the depositional environment of the YXC profile was relatively stable. Integrating the obtained chronological results with regional climatic changes suggests that climate variability in the Qinghai Lake Basin exerted a primary control on the transformation between sedimentary processes and soil development. In particular, the Late Holocene (0–4 ka), characterized by a generally cold–dry climate accompanied by pronounced humidity fluctuations, represents an important pedogenic stage for alluvial–proluvial parent-material soils in the Qinghai Lake Basin. This study provides a robust chronological framework for further investigating the mechanisms of soil development in alluvial–proluvial environments from a climatic perspective.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020021

Authors: Huali Cui Qing He Wei Liang Yuanling Li Qili Xie

Compound geological disaster chains pose major challenges for disaster prevention in mountainous regions due to their complex mechanisms and cascading impacts. This study investigates a landslide–debris flow–flash flood hazard chain that occurred on 21 July 2024 in the Xujia River catchment, Mianning County, Sichuan Province, China. This event is used as a representative case to improve the understanding of the formation and amplification mechanisms of breach-type debris flows through dynamic inversion constrained by sedimentary records. The objective is to reconstruct the evolution of the event and assess its downstream hazard extent. Post-disaster sedimentary and geomorphological records, including deposit distribution, channel aggradation, and flow traces, were systematically analyzed based on remote sensing interpretation, unmanned aerial vehicle surveys, and detailed field investigations. These sedimentary data were used as key constraints to estimate debris flow magnitude and mobility under different rainfall scenarios. A rainfall flood scenario-based estimation method was applied to quantify debris flow magnitude, and numerical simulations were conducted using the Rapid Mass Movement Simulation model to reproduce debris flow propagation and deposition processes. The results indicate that prolonged antecedent rainfall triggered slope failure in a tributary, leading to the accumulation of landslide-derived material and the formation of a temporary channel blockage. The subsequent breach of this blockage significantly amplified debris flow discharge, velocity, and sediment outflow, resulting in downstream hazard expansion. Simulation results constrained by sedimentary evidence show that peak discharge and solid material output under breach conditions were approximately three times higher than those of rainfall-driven scenarios under comparable rainfall frequencies. These findings demonstrate that sedimentary records provide critical constraints for the inversion of landslide debris flow disaster chain dynamics and highlight the effectiveness of post-disaster evidence based numerical assessment for hazard analysis and risk mitigation in debris flow-prone mountainous catchments.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020020

Authors: Antonio Sánchez-Marco Ricardo Sánchez-Sastre Carolina Castillo

A group of avian species, mostly small passerines, allows us to reconstruct the landscape and general climate of an area of Fuerteventura prior to the arrival of the first humans. Many of the bird species are typical of forest environments and the edges of bodies of water, conditions incompatible with the current hot and arid climate. The record of a high number of quail as well as small flying passerines surely implies the concurrence of two types of diurnal birds of prey, hunters on the ground and in flight, respectively. No trace of the abundant Puffinus holeae has been found, which evidently occupied a habitat very different from those in the north and interior of the island.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9020019

Authors: Roberta Somma Mohammadali Ghanadzadeh Yazdi Salvatore Giacobbe

Lake Faro (Cape Peloro coastal lagoon, NE Sicily, Italy) is a distinctive Mediterranean coastal lake characterized by the coexistence of a shallow platform and a steep-sided deep basin within a very limited area. This study provides a sedimentological and geological characterization of the present-day lake floor based on grain-size, petrographic, statistical, and GIS-based analyses, with the aim of clarifying the relationship between basin morphology and modern depositional processes. The lake floor is subdivided into two main bathymetric domains. The shallow platform (<10 m water depth) is dominated by modern coarse-grained, very poorly sorted sediments, including gravel and very coarse- to medium-grained sand, deposited under high-energy, low-confinement conditions comparable to beach and open-lagoon environments. In contrast, the deep basin (>10 m water depth) is characterized by modern finer, organic-rich sediments with extremely poor sorting, reflecting lower-energy and more confined depositional conditions. A key new finding is the identification of upper Holocene beachrocks beneath the modern unconsolidated sediments of the shallow platform, which likely exert a significant morpho-structural control on platform development. Overall, the results highlight the strong influence of bathymetry on sediment distribution in coastal lake systems and provide a reference framework for comparable Mediterranean lagoon environments.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010018

Authors: Carlos E. Cordova Christopher J. H. Ames Kelsey C. Boyd Haidee R. Cadd Michael Bird Amer S. Alsouliman April Nowell James T. Pokines

Phytoliths, pollen, and spores in a stratigraphic sequence from the Shishan Wetland (Azraq Basin, Jordan) and supported by modern pollen and phytolith data provide information on vegetation, climatic trends, and the influence of fire through MIS 2 and MIS 1. Additionally, a pilot study introduces an innovative approach that uses shape and morphometric parameters of Bulliform phytoliths to assess hydro-climatic changes. The phytolith terrestrial–aquatic ratio, grass–pollen size, and the Artemisia–Amaranthaceae ratio (A:C) indicate that during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), the study area was a wetland surrounded by steppe, and that during the deglaciation period (c. 20–11 ka), the wetland vegetation remained almost unchanged but the surrounding area tended to aridity. The phytoliths’ terrestrial ratio, the presence of C4 grass phytoliths, and the low A:C is characterized by a reduced wetland and the establishment of a hot desert, like the present. The record at Shishan Marsh shows effective moisture trends concurrent with other records in the western southern Levant, but climatic events (Heinrich Stadial 1 and Younger Dryas) are not recorded because of the low time-resolution of the studied sequence. This study shows that combining pollen and phytoliths strengthens vegetation reconstruction by discerning local from regional floristic components and that Bulliform phytoliths are a potential tool to reconstruct hydro-climatic conditions.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010017

Authors: Steven Kuhn Dušan Mihailović Slobodan Marković Zoran M. Perić Sofija Dragosavac Marija Stojković Mirjana Roksandic

This paper presents archeological data and chronometric dates documenting human presence in Serbia, central Balkans, during MIS 2. We describe findings from excavations at three cave sites and dating results from two additional localities. The evidence suggests that people were present in the area during the second half of the glacial peak between 25 and 19ka calBp. The chronological placement of these sites is complementary to what is known from adjoining regions, indicating that people may have occupied this part of the Balkans when they were not present elsewhere. All three excavated sites appear to represent short-term occupations, with relatively narrow ranges of activities, raising the question of whether they are fully representative of the land use system of foragers during MIS 2.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010016

Authors: Salvatore Giammanco Vincenza Maiolino Andrea Ursino Marco Neri Luca Frasca Salvatore Roberto Maugeri Filippo Murè Paolo Principato

This work presents the results of an integrated monitoring of soil radon gas and seismic activity at Mt. Etna from August 2023 to May 2025, aimed at enhancing comprehension of magma migration and eruption dynamics. Radon data were collected using a permanent station with an alpha particle probe, aggregated hourly. The INGV-OE network monitored seismic activity at 100 Hz; volcanic tremor was analyzed using Root-Mean-Square (RMS) values from the Serra La Nave station. Earthquakes were located using the Hypoellipse algorithm and a 1D crustal velocity model. A robust correlation was found between radon and RMS anomalies, with the former preceding the latter with increasing probability over time (e.g., 30.1% within 1 day, 46.4% within 3 days). Correlations were also found between radon anomalies and Strombolian activity at the summit craters (e.g., 23.8% within 1 day for the Central Crater), suggesting a potential predictive role for radon. Conversely, correlations with paroxysmal events were weaker in the short term but increased over longer time windows. No clear correlation was found between radon anomalies and seismic strain release, likely due to differing temporal resolutions. These results support the idea that radon plays a role as a short-term precursor in volcanic unrest.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010015

Authors: Siniša Radović Jadranka Mauch Lenardić Dražen Japundžić Jadranka Sulić Šprem Vibor Novak

The discovery of hippopotamid remain from a cave near the village of Grebci, Bosnia and Herzegovina, represents the first confirmed record of Hippopotamus in this part of southeastern Europe. The specimen, a partially preserved right os coxae, is housed at the Dubrovnik Natural History Museum. Morphological and metric analyses identify it as Hippopotamus cf. amphibius, although its fragmentary state prevents a more precise taxonomic attribution, while lack of stratigraphic context prevents chronological assessment. Despite the uncertain stratigraphic context, taphonomic analysis reveals evidence of mineralization, surface abrasion, and post-depositional fracturing, consistent with long-term cave deposition. This find fills a long-standing paleogeographic gap in the distribution of the Pleistocene hippopotamids in southeastern Europe, as no remains have previously been documented from the region outside Greece. Its presence supports the hypothesis that the Balkan Peninsula functioned as a migratory corridor for hippopotamids dispersing from Africa into Europe. Further research integrating stratigraphic, geochronological, and comparative morphological data is needed to clarify its evolutionary and biogeographic significance.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010014

Authors: Kalangi Rodrigo Nicola Nannini Vittorio Facincani Matteo De Lorenzi Marco Peresani

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.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010013

Authors: Jakob Labahn Dominik Faust Thomas Kolb Anja Maria Schleicher Christina Günter Carsten Marburg Christopher-Bastian Roettig

By its availability and deposition dust is a key indicator for past climate variability. Due to the location in the main North African dust corridor, the Canary Islands preserve dust deposits in different geoarchives—for instance in valleys dammed by Quaternary volcanism. These basins act as sediment traps for aeolian, volcanic, and slope-derived material, forming alternating pale, carbonate-enriched (PCLs) and reddish, clay-enriched layers (RCLs). However, the extent to which these sequences retain primary dust signals remains uncertain. We examine the interpretability of locally called vega sediments by disentangling input pathways, post-depositional processes, and geomorphological controls. Two sections on Lanzarote (Teguise, Femés) and the section Vallebrón (Fuerteventura) were investigated using grain-size analysis, XRF and XRD measurements, and IRSL dating. The sequences reveal two dust components: high-intensity dust fall events forming PCLs, and persistent finer dust input preserved in RCLs through kaolinite. Many PCLs originated as loess-like deposits subsequently modified by carbonate redistribution, while clay mineral transformations complicate provenance interpretation. Archive clarity varies with geomorphology, from less distinctly layered, patchy carbonate-enriched succession at Vallebrón to continuous cyclic sequences in Teguise. Overall, these basins preserve both episodic dust events and continuous fine-grained input, offering a valuable framework for reconstructing Late Quaternary dust dynamics.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010012

Authors: Paolo Viaggi

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.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010011

Authors: Ying Guo Yu Sun Song Zhou Xiaoying Han Tian He

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.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010010

Authors: Zoran M. Perić Milica G. Bosnić Rastko S. Marković Slobodan B. Marković

This commentary re-evaluates the study by Makó et al. which reconstructs dust accumulation rates from loess–paleosol sequences in the Carpathian Basin. Several methodological and factual issues substantially limit the reliability of their interpretations. The study reports linear sedimentation rates (mm a−1) as mass accumulation rates (MARs) without accounting for bulk density, rendering their values non-comparable with established MAR datasets. It also overlooks a documented systematic bias between 14C and luminescence-derived MARs which are shown to differ by a factor of nearly three in Perić et al., a directly relevant synthesis that is not cited. Furthermore, the conflation of distinct sites (Surduk and Veliki Surduk) and the incorrect attribution of the Surduk section’s location indicate errors in basic site metadata. Together, these issues suggest that the reported “high accumulation axis” may reflect methodological artefacts rather than genuine environmental gradients. Improved methodological transparency and consistency are essential for robust regional reconstructions.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010009

Authors: Roberta Somma Mohammadali Ghanadzadeh Yazdi Majed Abyat Raymart Keiser Manguerra Salvatore Zaccaro Antonella Cinzia Marra Salvatore Giacobbe

Coastal lakes are highly vulnerable transitional systems in which sedimentological processes and benthic ecological conditions jointly control contaminant accumulation and preservation, particularly in densely urbanized settings. A robust understanding of the physical and ecological characteristics of bottom sediments is therefore essential for the correct interpretation of contaminant distributions, including those of potentially toxic metals. In this study, an integrated sedimentological–ecological approach was applied to Lake Ganzirri, a Mediterranean shallow coastal lake located in northeastern Sicily (Italy), where recent investigations have identified localized heavy metal anomalies in surface sediments. Sediment texture, petrographic and mineralogical composition, malacofaunal assemblages, and lake-floor morpho-bathymetry were systematically analysed using grain-size statistics, faunistic determinations, GIS-based spatial mapping, and bivariate and multivariate statistical methods. The modern lake bottom is dominated by bioclastic quartzo-lithic sands with low fine-grained fractions and variable but locally high contents of calcareous skeletal remains, mainly derived from molluscs. Sediments are texturally heterogeneous, consisting predominantly of coarse-grained sands with lenses of very coarse sand, along with gravel and subordinate medium-grained sands. Both sedimentological features and malacofaunal death assemblages indicate deposition under open-lagoon conditions characterized by brackish waters and relatively high hydrodynamic energy. Spatial comparison between sedimentological–ecological parameters and previously published heavy metal distributions reveals no significant correlations with metal hotspots. The generally low metal concentrations, mostly below regulatory threshold values, are interpreted as being favoured by the high permeability and mobility of coarse sediments and by energetic hydrodynamic conditions limiting fine-particle accumulation. Overall, the integration of sedimentological and ecological data provides a robust framework for interpreting contaminant patterns and offers valuable insights for the environmental assessment and management of vulnerable coastal lake systems, as well as for the understanding of modern lagoonal sedimentary processes.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010008

Authors: Deeksha Santosh K. Shah Nivedita Mehrotra Munendra Singh

A Dendrochronological study of teak (Tectona grandis) was conducted at two sites in northern Chhattisgarh, central India, and resulted in the development of two tree-ring width chronologies. We examined the relationships between tree-ring chronologies and gridded monthly and daily climate variables (mean temperature, total precipitation and drought indices) as well as monthly soil moisture. We performed spatial correlations using monthly climate data and used the nearest climate grid point for daily climate correlations. Both chronologies showed negative correlations with temperature and positive correlations with soil moisture, rainfall, and drought indices. These relationships highlight the dominant role of soil moisture availability in influencing teak growth in the monsoon-dominated climate of Chhattisgarh. Based on this relationship, we reconstructed average soil moisture from February to October, extending the gridded soil moisture record by 62 years (1920–1981 CE). This reconstruction represents the first tree-ring-based long-term soil moisture record from central India. Our findings provide a comprehensive hydroclimatic perspective for a region lacking historical tree-ring data and demonstrate the potential of teak as a proxy for investigating long-term soil moisture variability. Further research using older samples from this species will enhance understanding of past climate variability and hydroclimatic changes in central India.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010007

Authors: Ioannis Liritzis

The chronology of the Petralona hominid remains a key issue in European Middle Pleistocene paleoanthropology. The recent study by Falguères et al., which reports new U-series ages of approximately 300 ka for travertines associated with the Petralona cranium, provides an important opportunity to reassess this long-standing debate. This commentary critically evaluates the strengths and limitations of that contribution, with particular attention to the treatment of analytical precision, geological uncertainties, and stratigraphic constraints inherent to speleothem dating. While the new data represent a valuable analytical advance and independently support a Middle Pleistocene age, the reported narrow error margins warrant cautious interpretation. When broader sources of uncertainty are considered, the results are best viewed as a confirmation rather than a fundamental revision of the established chronological framework. Overall, this commentary situates the findings of the new study within their broader methodological and historical context and underscores their significance for refining, but not redefining, the age and evolutionary placement of the Petralona hominid.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010006

Authors: Xuan Shi Guangliang Hou Fubo Wang Hongyu Li

Automated pollen identification has become an increasingly important tool for palaeoecological research; however, its application to fossil pollen assemblages remains challenging due to complex backgrounds, morphological variability, and taxonomic similarity among pollen types. In this study, we propose Pollen-YOLO, a deep learning-based object detection framework designed for automated pollen identification from microscopic images, and evaluate its performance using the TPPOL23 dataset. The model integrates a tailored backbone architecture with attention-based feature enhancement and class-specific data augmentation strategies to address the characteristics of fossil pollen images. Experimental results indicate that Pollen-YOLO achieves stable and competitive detection performance for most pollen taxa under the tested conditions, particularly for dominant taxa with distinctive morphological features. Model behavior is further examined through ablation experiments and Grad-CAM-based interpretability analysis, which provide insights into feature learning and classification mechanisms. The applicability of the framework is explored using a fossil pollen sequence from the Shaqu profile on the Tibetan Plateau. Automated results show a high level of agreement with manual identification in capturing major stratigraphic trends and vegetation succession patterns, while discrepancies persist for morphologically similar or low-abundance taxa. Overall, this study suggests that object detection-based deep learning approaches have the potential to support fossil pollen analysis and palaeoecological reconstruction. Rather than replacing expert identification, Pollen-YOLO is intended as a complementary, high-throughput tool that may assist large-scale pollen analysis under appropriate quality control when combined with expert verification.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010005

Authors: Guadalupe Monge María Isabel Carretero Francisco Ruíz

This article reviews key data in the context of the Strait of Gibraltar from the Iberian perspective: a region of significant importance that boasts the highest concentration of rock art sites containing prehistoric paintings and engravings spanning the full spectrum of human rock art, from its inception to the recent historic period. This area is of exceptional value for investigating the replacement of hunter–gatherer–fisher groups by tribal community societies over time, as well as the transition from Neanderthals to Homo sapiens on both sides of the Strait. Current understanding of this resource is analysed and the main threats to it are addressed alongside possible solutions.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010004

Authors: Oussama Jabrane Ilias Obda Driss El Azzab Pedro Martínez-Pagán Mohammed Jalal Tazi Mimoun Chourak

The detection of underground cavities and dissolution features is a critical component in assessing geohazards within karst terrains, particularly where natural processes interact with long-term human occupation. This study investigates two contrasting sites in the Sefrou region of northern Morocco: Binna, a rural travertine-dolomite system shaped by Quaternary karstification, and the urban Old Medina of Bhalil, where traditional cave dwellings are carved into carbonate formations. A combined geophysical and geological approach was applied to characterize subsurface heterogeneities and assess the extent of near-surface void development. Vertical electrical soundings (VES) at Binna site delineated high-resistivity anomalies consistent with air-filled cavities, dissolution conduits, and brecciated limestone horizons, all indicative of an active karst system. In the Bhalil old Medina site, ground-penetrating radar (GPR) with low-frequency antennas revealed strong reflection contrasts and localized signal attenuation zones corresponding to shallow natural cavities and potential anthropogenic excavations beneath densely constructed areas. Geological observations, including lithostratigraphic logging and structural cross-sections, provided additional constraints on cavity geometry, depth, and spatial distribution. The integrated results highlight a high degree of subsurface karstification across both sites and underscore the associated geotechnical risks for infrastructure, cultural heritage, and land-use stability. This work demonstrates the value of combining electrical and radar methods with geological analysis for mapping hazardous subsurface voids in cavity-prone Quaternary landscapes, offering essential insights for risk mitigation and sustainable urban and rural planning.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010003

Authors: Margareta-Simina Stanc Petre-Ionuț Colțeanu Mihaela Danu Eliza-Ioana Crețu Mariana Popovici Patrizia-Nancy Bejenaru Luminița Bejenaru

The Lower Danube region represents a long-standing zone of interaction between indigenous communities, mobile pastoral populations, and Mediterranean colonial networks. During the Late Iron Age, such contexts have frequently been interpreted through culture-historical frameworks that emphasise socio-economic differentiation among coexisting populations. This study examines whether communities traditionally described in culturally or economically differentiated terms can instead be understood as functionally diverse social entities responding to shared environmental conditions. Three Late Iron Age (4th–3rd centuries BC) settlements from Central Dobruja (Romania), Medgidia Hellenistic 1, 2, and 3, were investigated using an integrated bioarchaeological approach combining archaeozoological and phytolith analyses. The sites are situated along a major communication corridor linking the Danube with the western Black Sea coast, colonised by the Greeks at that time. Faunal assemblages are dominated by domestic mammals, particularly cattle, caprine, and horses, indicating a pastoral economy structured around livestock management, secondary product exploitation, and varying degrees of mobility. Phytolith assemblages reveal a strong cereal signal alongside evidence for grassland exploitation, woody resource use, and wetland vegetation, reflecting mixed agro-pastoral practices embedded within a heterogeneous landscape. Taken together, the results suggest that Getae and Scythian-associated populations did not represent temporally or hierarchically differentiated socio-economic stages, but rather coexisting communities characterised by complementary subsistence practices, shaped by mobility, seasonality, and regional connectivity. This study highlights the value of bioarchaeological evidence for refining interpretations of cultural interaction and adaptive strategies in Late Iron Age Europe.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010002

Authors: Gary Morgan H. Gregory McDonald Nicholas J. Czaplewski

Vampire bats likely first appeared in South America in the early Miocene (~20 Ma) and evolved to feed upon the blood of native South American mammals of medium to large body size, in particular, xenarthrans–ground sloths, armadillos, pampatheres, and glyptodonts, and native ungulates–notoungulates and litopterns. Following the formation of the Panamanian Isthmus (~5 Ma), vampire bats immigrated into North America as participants in the Great American Biotic Interchange, following their preferred prey species, probably xenarthrans. The earliest records of vampire bats are the extinct species Desmodus archaeodaptes from three early Pleistocene faunas in Florida. The large extinct vampire D. stocki occurs in 18 late Pleistocene faunas in the southern US and Mexico. The giant extinct vampire D. draculae is known from eight late Pleistocene faunas from Mexico and Belize south to Brazil and Argentina. The late Pleistocene extinction of D. draculae and D. stocki coincided with the extinction of their primary source of blood, the mammalian megafauna. The common vampire bat D. rotundus survived and now occurs throughout tropical America because it had a broader prey base, feeding on the blood of a variety of medium- to large-sized mammals, and currently preying preferentially on non-native domestic livestock.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat9010001

Authors: Zeyang Zhu Jing Wu Luo Wang Guoqiang Chu Jiaqi Liu

Seasonal temperature reconstructions provide a critical approach for reconciling discrepancies between paleoclimate model simulations and proxy records. However, cold-season temperature variations remain poorly constrained due to the scarcity of robust cold-season temperature proxies. This study provides critical insights into lake ice-covered season temperature dynamics in Northeast China, a region where cold-season climate variability has remained poorly constrained in paleoclimate reconstructions. We collected total organic carbon sequences from seven closed lakes in Northeast China over the last 10,000 years to evaluate the lake ice cover duration as a proxy for lake ice-covered season temperature during the early–middle Holocene. Our results show that the lake ice cover duration decreased from ~8 ka BP, reaching a minimum at around 4 ka BP. This pattern is linked to ice-covered season temperature changes, with warmer ice-covered seasons leading to shorter ice cover durations and increased lake productivity, which were driven by orbital forcing (seasonal insolation changes) and greenhouse gas concentrations. Orbital forcing played a dominant role in winter warming between 8 and 4 ka BP, while greenhouse gas also contributed, but to a lesser extent.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040075

Authors: Salomé Vercelot Pierre Antoine Maïlys Richard Emmanuel Vartanian Sylvie Coutard David Hérisson

The Hermies-Ruyaulcourt site (Pas-de-Calais), investigated within the “Canal Seine-Nord Europe” project, provides an exceptional record of pedosedimentary dynamics throughout the last interglacial-glacial cycle (Eemian–Weichselian). Eight stratigraphic trenches, correlated along 350 m, reveal several pedosedimentary units strongly influenced by local topography. This study combines sedimentological and micromorphological analyses with optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. For OSL ages, a correction of the water content calculation protocol was developed, accounting for long-term moisture variations during burial. Nine OSL ages from humic horizons of the Early Glacial (MIS 5d-5a) and colluvial deposits of the Lower Pleniglacial (MIS 4) represent the first robust chronological dataset for these periods in northern France. Their internal consistency and agreement with existing thermoluminescence ages on burnt flints support their reliability. Moreover, geomorphological analysis highlights intense erosional phases which are interpreted as rapid permafrost destabilisation events linked to the melting of large ice-wedge networks around 60–55 ka and 30 ka (thermokarst erosion gullies). These investigations thus enable the chronology of the loess–palaeosols and the link with associated climatic events to be refined. This leads to a spatio-temporal model describing the evolution of Last Glacial environments in Western Europe, providing a robust reference for studying the Neanderthal occupation of the area.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040074

Authors: Panagiotis Karsiotis Thomas Hasiotis Ivan Theophilos Petsimeris Evangelia Manoutsoglou Olympos Andreadis

This study provides a comprehensive investigation of the sedimentary and tectonic evolution of Kalloni Gulf, a land-locked island embayment in the Northeast Aegean Sea. Information from a high-resolution seismic dataset was used to investigate the Late Quaternary seismic stratigraphy and internal structure of this shallow embayment. Four main seismic units were observed, bound by three key reflectors corresponding to main unconformities. The seismic units are related to periods of sea-level highstand and marine transgression, as well as to lowstand and marine regressions, dating back to the MIS 6 period. The chronostratigraphic framework of the observed units was based on previous work in the wider area and on global sea-level curves. In addition, information was gained regarding the hydrographic network of Kalloni Gulf, before the Holocene gulf flooding as well as during the Late Quaternary. The study also managed to identify faults and fault zones, which are distributed mainly along the southern and eastern margins of the gulf affecting both the gulf entrance physiography and the paleo-terrain of the eastern margin. With regard to specific structural features the fault zones are considered as strike-slip zones with an almost NNE-SSW orientation. These might be the submarine extension of the Aghia Paraskevi dextral strike-slip fault found onshore that dissects Lesvos, which is considered one of the main geohazards for the island. The results of the study are relevant not only for the reconstruction of the regional Quaternary geology, but also for broader research on Late Pleistocene-Holocene environmental change and tectonic-geodynamic processes in the wider northern Aegean Sea region.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040073

Authors: Zlatozar Boev

A first attempt has been made to systematically present the achievements of several archaeozoological fields in Bulgaria: archaeomalacology, archaeoichthyology, archaeoherpetology, archaeornithology, and archaeomammalogy. The main results and some of the more significant studies in each of these fields are presented. In summary, archaeozoological studies began in the first decade of the 20th century. A list of established authors of archaeozoological publications in Bulgaria has been compiled. Of the identified species, four species of birds and six species of mammals have disappeared from the modern fauna of the country. Two species have completely disappeared globally.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040072

Authors: Ana S. Saraiva Mathilda L. Coutinho Joaquina Soares Carlos Tavares da Silva João C. Caninas João Pedro Veiga

The archaeological site of Charneca do Fratel, in Vila Velha de Ródão, Portugal, is a fortification that is radiocarbon-dated from the third millennium BCE. The archaeological fieldwork in 1987 revealed the first Chalcolithic settlement on the northern Portuguese bank of the Tagus River. Its architectonic concept is similar to that observed in southern Portugal, proving new insights into the study of the process of Chalcolithisation of western Iberia. Its location close to the Tagus River, in the vicinity of fertile soils, fishing and hunting areas, and sources of raw materials that are probably used to produce stone tools and pottery, indicates a self-sustained society in the frame of an accentuated tendency for sedentarisation. In the present work, 20 samples were submitted to an archaeometric approach to shed light on the technological aspects of Chalcolithic ceramic production techniques on the northern bank of the Tagus River. The obtained results indicate two chemically distinguishable ceramic groups within Fratel’s findings, with a high variation in paste colourations, ranging from dark greyish and bright red. Mineralogical analysis indicates that firing occurred at temperatures between 700 °C and 850 °C. The results point to a local production, with ceramic manufacturing procedures that are analogous to other Chalcolithic settlements.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040071

Authors: Edgar Figueira Alberto Gomes Jorge Costa

Low-altitude palaeoglaciation in Atlantic mountain regions provides important insights into past climatic conditions and moisture dynamics during the Last Glacial Cycle. This study presents the first quantitative reconstruction of palaeoglaciers in Serra da Cabreira (northwest Portugal), a mid-altitude granite massif located along the Atlantic fringe of the Iberian Peninsula. Detailed geomorphological mapping (1:14,000) and field surveys identified 48 glacial and periglacial landforms, enabling reconstruction of two small valley glaciers in the Gaviões and Azevedas valleys using GlaRe numerical modelling. The spatial distribution of palaeoglacial landforms shows a pronounced west–east asymmetry: periglacial features prevail on wind-exposed west-facing slopes, whereas glacial erosion and depositional landforms characterise the more protected east-facing valleys. The reconstructed glaciers covered 0.24–0.98 km2, with maximum ice thicknesses of 72–89 m. Equilibrium-line altitudes were estimated using AABR, AAR, and MELM methods, yielding consistent palaeo-ELA values of ~1020–1080 m. These results indicate temperature depressions of ~6–10 °C and enhanced winter precipitation associated with humid, Atlantic-dominated conditions. Comparison with regional ELA datasets situates Cabreira within a clear Atlantic–continentality gradient across northwest Iberia, aligning with other low-altitude maritime palaeoglaciers in the northwest Iberian mountains. The findings highlight the strong influence of the orographic barrier position, moisture availability, valley hypsometry, and structural controls in sustaining small, climatically sensitive glaciers at low elevations. Serra da Cabreira thus provides a key reference for understanding Last Glacial Cycle palaeoclimatic variability along the Western Iberian margin.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040070

Authors: Jiemei Zhong Ping Lai Wei Liao Zhongping Lai Christopher J. Bae Wei Wang Jef Vandenberghe

Aeolian deposits are globally recognized as sensitive recorders of Quaternary climate and environmental change, exemplified by the continuous loess sequences of the Chinese Loess Plateau in northern China, which document paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental evolution since the Miocene. However, such deposits have rarely been confirmed in low-latitude inland regions of southern China. Here we present systematic evidence of aeolian deposition in a low-latitude environment, namely at the Xinlipoding (XLPD) Paleolithic site, situated between the Bose and Bubing Basins in Guangxi, southern China. Using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), geochemical, and grain-size analyses, we investigate 100 cm thick yellow-brown sandy loam exposed on the hillside of the Bubing Basin. OSL dating constrains its accumulation between 25.3 ± 1.5 ka and 2.7 ± 0.1 ka, spanning the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) to the late Holocene. Geochemical signatures indicate that the sediments were primarily derived from a nearby terrace in the Bose and Bubing Basins. Grain-size end-member modeling further reveals a mixed alluvial-aeolian origin, comprising both windblown and reworked loess. These findings demonstrate that aeolian dust deposition persisted even in the humid subtropical low-latitude regions of China, recording continuous dust input across glacial–interglacial cycles. The XLPD section thus provides a valuable framework for reconstructing late quaternary environmental change and extends the spatial reach of global aeolian deposition into previously underrecognized regions. Importantly, it also offers a crucial paleoenvironmental context for human occupation in the Bubing Basin from the LGM through the late Holocene.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040069

Authors: Johannes Albert Frank Sirocko

Severe floods such as in the Ahr valley in July 2021 are one of the leading causes of fatalities from natural disaster. Riverine and lacustrine floods are caused by a sudden flux of water masses from heavy rainfall or snowmelts. These surface water runoff events significantly enhance erosion of detrital material in the catchment, which is then deposited in natural sinks such as lakes. We reconstructed flood phases from Eifel maar lakes over the last 60,000 years and compared flood behavior with regional riverine flood data covering the past 1000 years. Multi-centennial flood cycles persisted throughout the Holocene with durations of flood-poor periods significantly decreasing around 3700 years ago due to human activity in the Eifel region. Holocene flood frequency peaked in the 13th and 14th centuries during the medieval agricultural revolution. Late Pleistocene flood phases occurred during the Younger Dryas and Heinrich stadials and represent surface runoff events in cold and dry climates. As flood behavior is strongly affected not only by increased water supply but also by soil stability and erosion processes in the catchment area, flood phases reflect shifts in the prevailing climate conditions and vegetation cover, either through natural steppe formation or human impact.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040068

Authors: Véra Eisenmann Christina I. Barrón-Ortiz Marisol Montellano-Ballesteros

Horses were widely distributed in North America during the Pleistocene epoch and their fossil remains are common in sedimentary deposits of this age. Despite their rich fossil record, the systematics and taxonomy of North American Pleistocene horses remain unresolved. We evaluated a large sample of cranial and postcranial horse fossils of Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean North American Land Mammal Age. In this study, we present Part 1 of our evaluation, which centers on caballine horses, Equus (Equus). We present data (measurements and photographs) and analyses (Simpson’s ratio diagrams, scatter diagrams, and anatomical comparisons) that reveal morphological variation in North American caballine horses. These analyses serve as the basis for recognizing different morphospecies: E. (E.) scotti, E. (E.) alaskae, E. (E.) lambei (the latter two possibly representing “ecological variants” of a single species), E. (E.) niobrarensis, E. (E.) pacificus, and E. (E.) complicatus. How these morphospecies (or chronospecies or ecological variants) were phylogenetically related remains to be evaluated. Equus (E.) hatcheri may be considered as a morphological variant or chronological variant of E. (E.) niobrarensis. Equus holmesi is considered a junior synonym of E. (E.) scotti, while E. bautistensis may be regarded as a junior synonym of E. (E.) pacificus. Equus laurentius is a junior synonym of E. (E.) caballus, a synonymy proposed previously in other studies. We are uncertain about the nature of E. midlandensis. In addition, we identify morphometric and anatomical features that distinguish between Equus (Equus), North American Equus (Amerhippus), and Equus (Hesperohippus) mexicanus. This study aims to advance our understanding of the taxonomy of North American Pleistocene horses, providing a thoroughly documented catalogue as a basis for further studies.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040067

Authors: Penka Maglova Alexey Stoev Ognyan Ognyanov Mina Spasova

This report presents the advantages of using drone-photographic scanning technology as a method for creating 3D documentation and 3D databases of rock-cut monuments with astronomical elements. Through this modern technology, together with specialized equipment and software, we have the advantage of obtaining a digital 3D model of the terrain and the existing archeological sites there. A procedure for digitizing the physical space of rock-cut monuments using integrated technology, in accordance with the standard for such sites, is shown. The data is stored in distributed databases. The digital space provides an opportunity to connect the monument with the celestial sphere, the main movements of the luminaries (Sun, Moon, and bright planets), and specialized astronomical software. Using the 3D modeling method, two Bulgarian rock-cut monuments were studied: the Belintash rock sanctuary near the village of Mostovo in the municipality of Asenovgrad and the cromlech near the village of Dolni Glavanak in the municipality of Madzharovo. It can be seen that the modeling of real archaeoastronomical concepts and the connections between the morphological elements of the monuments and the notable objects in the sky have been proven with a high degree of reliability. For example, rock outcrops and pillars are associated with sunrises and sunsets during the solstices and equinoxes.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040066

Authors: E. Ershova S. Kuzmina S. Sycheva I. Zyuganova E. Izumova A. Zharov V. Yu. Kuznetsov F. Maksimov S. Kolesnikov N. Lavrenov E. Ponomarenko

A multiproxy study of a new Pleistocene locality at Ivantzevo, Moscow Region, was conducted to reconstruct paleoenvironments from the Middle Pleistocene to the Last Pleniglacial. Lacustrine deposits and peat accumulated in a wetland within a fluvioglacial depression formed during the Dnieper–Moscow glaciation. Silts and clays were deposited during MIS 7 and the Moscow (Saale) Glaciation (MIS 6), while peat accumulation began in the Mikulino (Eemian) (MIS 5e). The wetland persisted for approximately fifty millennia, until the Middle Valdai (Weichselian). Interglacial peat deposits contain well-preserved pollen and macrofossils, and the recovered fossil insect assemblage is unique for European Russia. Chronology was established using multiple OSL and 230Th/U dates, combined with pollen-based correlations to type sections north and west of the region. The reconstructed ecosystem dynamics are divided into eleven stages. The transition from the last interglacial to the second stadial of the Valdai involved seven phases: (1) expansion of boreal spruce forest, (2) spread of thermophilic broad-leaved forests with hazel, (3) development of open forest–steppe ecosystems with groves of deciduous trees, (4) re-establishment of forest cover with birch and, later, mixed pine, spruce, and birch forests, (5) emergence of cold steppe combined with shrub-dominated tundra, (6) return of boreal spruce forest, and (7) abrupt replacement of forest by cold steppe and shrub tundra. Climatic reconstructions indicate that these ecosystem dynamics closely corresponded to changes in precipitation and aridity.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040065

Authors: Adrian Marciszak Alfie Bower

New postcranial material of Panthera gombaszoegensis, a large pantherine felid, is analyzed from the English site of Corton (early Middle Pleistocene, possibly 0.7–0.6 mya) and the Polish site of Rogóżka Cave (0.45–0.35 mya). Both records are attributable to Panthera gombaszoegensis gombaszoegensis. This robust chronosubspecies is characteristic of the late Early and Middle Pleistocene, ca. last 1.5 mya. Both findings contribute valuable data on the knowledge of the species. The most likely factors that contributed to the extinction of P. gombaszoegensis were intraspecific competition with African newcomers, such as P. s. fossilis and C. crocuta, combined with climatic fluctuations and shifts in prey availability.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040064

Authors: Keith A. Brugger Anthony Feldman Leif S. Anderson Brad Sion

Reconstruction of seven paleoglaciers in the southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains of Colorado formed the basis of temperature-index modeling to estimate the magnitude of temperature change during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). The model is used to determine temperatures and precipitation that would maintain steady-state mass balance of the glaciers at their maximum LGM extents. If precipitation was similar to that today, modeling suggests that LGM mean annual temperatures were between ~8.9 and 10 °C cooler, with associated uncertainties of ±1 °C. Modest increases in precipitation (i.e., 100 mm yr−1) that are indicated by some climate modeling do not appreciably lower the magnitudes of temperature depression required for steady-state mass balances. While these new estimates of temperature depression in the Colorado Rocky Mountains align with some that were similarly derived, they are significantly greater (cooler) than others. However, they are consistent with regional-scale climate models as well as high-resolution downscaling of global LGM climate for the Sangre de Cristo.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040063

Authors: Karen Arreola Romero Avto Goguitchaichvili Vadim Kravchinsky Gloria Torres Verónica Ortega Jorge Archer Rubén Cejudo Francisco Bautista Alejandra García Pimentel Rafael García Ruiz Juan Morales

Teotihuacan, one of the most significant urban and ceremonial centers of ancient Mesoamerica, was abruptly abandoned in the mid-1st millennium AD. The cause and timing of its collapse—commonly placed between 600 and 650 AD—remain major questions in Mesoamerican archaeology. In this study, we present a new archaeomagnetic investigation of six burned structures distributed along the Street of the Dead, including sites at the Square of the Moon, the Room of Columns, the Northwest Complex of the San Juan River, the Superimposed Buildings, and the West Plaza. Magnetic analyses revealed pseudo-single-domain magnetite as the main remanence carrier and produced well-grouped paleodirections (site-mean declinations ranging from 341.1° to 1.7°, α95 ≤ 3.6°) and reliable absolute paleointensities (ranging from 39.4 ± 3.4 μT to 52.5 ± 5.4 μT), obtained using the Thellier-type double-heating method. Archaeomagnetic dating using both global geomagnetic models (SHAWQ.2k) and regional secular variation curves suggests that the last heating events at these sites occurred between ~400 and 500 AD—well before the traditionally cited Metepec phase (550–650 AD) and the so-called “Great Fire.” These findings challenge the prevailing chronological framework and provide compelling evidence that major episodes of destruction and depopulation may have begun earlier than previously recognized.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040062

Authors: Zhikun Ma Siyu Yang Bingxin Shao Francesca Monteith Linlin Zhai

Over the past decade, the rapid development of geospatial tools has significantly expanded the scope of archaeobotanical research, enabling unprecedented insights into ancient plant domestication, agricultural practices, and human-environment interactions. Within the Chinese context, where rich archaeobotanical records intersect with complex socio-ecological histories, GIS-driven approaches have revealed nuanced patterns of crop dispersal, settlement dynamics, and landscape modification. However, despite these advances, current applications remain largely exploratory, constrained by fragmented datasets and underutilized spatial-statistical methods. This paper argues that a more robust integration of large-scale archaeobotanical datasets with advanced ArcGIS functionalities—such as kernel density estimation, least-cost path analysis, and predictive modelling—is essential to address persistent gaps in the field. By synthesizing case studies from key Chinese Neolithic and Bronze Age sites, we demonstrate how spatial analytics can elucidate (1) spatiotemporal trends in plant use, (2) anthropogenic impacts on vegetation, and (3) the feedback loops between subsistence strategies and landscape evolution. Furthermore, we highlight the challenges of data standardization, scale dependency, and interdisciplinary collaboration in archaeobotanical ArcGIS. Ultimately, this study underscores the imperative for methodological harmonization and computational innovation to unravel the intricate relationships between ancient societies, agroecological systems, and long-term environmental change.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040061

Authors: Xiaodong Wang Xiaoyun Xu Long Fei Xiaohui Liu Lijie Yang

Exploring the impact of dry–wet change on the Manchu rise has important implications for revealing the impact of climate change on ethnic dynamics. In this study, we used tree rings of Carya cathayensis and historical data to study this dynamic in Northeast Asia using function fitting and step-by-step elimination analysis. The results show a mean reconstructed scPDSI4–10 of 0.822 from 1583 to 1644, which is 0.287 higher than the mean from 1548 to 2022 (0.535), and during 25 slightly wet years. This indicates that dry–wet change provided a favorable natural environment for the Manchu rise, under which the group’s area continued to expand and change shape in complex ways, and the population increased rapidly in the control region. However, in some years, the closer the scPDSI4–10 was to the multi-year mean (0.774) of the deviation from the mean (0.535) of the scPDSI4–10, the faster the control region expanded and the more the population increased. These results provide a reference for understanding the relationship between ethnic groups’ dynamics and climate change.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040060

Authors: Margareta Simina Stanc Daniel Ioan Malaxa Ioan Alexandru Bărbat Antoniu Tudor Marc Mariana Popovici Luminița Bejenaru Mihaela Danu

This work proposes to contribute through an interdisciplinary perspective to the evaluation of paleoeconomic and paleoenvironmental changes during Middle Holocene in Southwestern Transylvania. The study integrates archaeozoological data with phytolith analysis to reconstruct subsistence and vegetation dynamics from the Early Neolithic to the Late Bronze Age at Șoimuș-Teleghi (Hunedoara County, Romania). Animal remains are described in terms of their frequency (i.e., number of identified specimens and minimum number of individuals), taphonomic changes, and livestock management (i.e., animal selection by age and sex). Archaeozoological samples are dominated by skeletal remains from domestic mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep/goat, and pig), whose importance varies depending on the cultural level; the skeletal remains of wild mammals are less frequent, mainly belonging to species with large size (e.g., red deer, wild boar, roe deer, aurochs). This study tests whether animal exploitation strategies shifted from ruminant-dominated economies in the Neolithic to greater pig reliance in the Bronze Age, using the Shannon–Weaver diversity index and correspondence analysis. Phytolith analysis of eleven sediment samples from various cultural layers reveals the dominance of Pooideae-type grasses, with both vegetative plant parts and cereal inflorescences as resources. Bioarchaeological data presented in this study reveal a diachronic shift in subsistence practices, reflecting cultural and environmental transformations.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040059

Authors: Fabrizio Marra Carlo Rosa Fabio Florindo

In the present work, we investigate the post-glacial aggradation of three tributary valleys draining the left hydrographic basin of the Tiber River in central Rome: the Murcia, Caffarella, and Grottaperfetta valleys. We describe the Upper Pleistocene–Holocene stratigraphic record of the alluvial successions occurring in the Caffarella Valley through the core data collected in a dedicatedly performed 35 m deep borehole. We provide seven 14C age constraints to the sediment aggradation which allow us to make a comparison with the Grottaperfetta and Murcia valleys, for which we present previously unpublished borehole data, and with the Tiber River Valley investigated in the previous literature. In particular, we highlight the effects of a mid-Holocene (5200–3800 yr BP) erosional phase, partially overlapping with the global 4.2 ka cooling/drying event, and we discuss the possible occurrence of a sea level fluctuation linked with this paleoclimatic event which has not been detected so far by other sedimentary records. Finally, we provide evidence for the widespread occurrence of a 6th century BCE (2550–2450 yr BP) overflooding phase that was previously observed only in the eastern portion of the Tiber River Valley in central Rome, which we suggest may be originated by concurrent intensive deforestation activity in central Italy.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040058

Authors: Stephanie L. Heath Thomas V. Lowell

The relationship between climate and independent glacier masses is now understood, but what is not understood is how ice sheets respond during times of rapid climate change. At its maximum extent the southern Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) was sourced from two domes that terminated in multiple lobes across central North America. The extent and timing of the eastern lobes, which were sourced from the Labrador Dome are relatively well constrained. Although the extent of the lobes sourced from the western Keewatin Dome is better understood, there is little chronologic data on them. Twenty-six radiocarbon ages recovered from within the drift of the James Lobe from South Dakota are used to reconstruct the timing of late-glacial fluctuations of the James Lobe. Lithologic logs from 21 South Dakota counties were analyzed and provide stratigraphic context for the radiocarbon ages. Analysis of the stratigraphy reveals two distinct glacial till units with a distinct, widespread layer of silt between them. The silt is interpreted here as evidence for interstadial conditions between two separate advances of the James Lobe. Radiocarbon ages of organics from this silt layer and from within the uppermost oxidized till indicate that interstadial conditions persisted from ~15.8 to 13.7 ka, followed by an advance of the James Lobe of at least 230 km to its maximum position at the Missouri River. Comparison to other locations in Wisconsin, northern lower Michigan, and western New York reveals a similar period of interstadial conditions followed by ice margin advance. We correlate this advance across ~1000 km and suggest that the simplest explanation is reduced summer ablation caused by widespread climatic cooling.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040057

Authors: Vuk Uskoković

Antarctica, largely free from geopolitical borders, serves as a critical site for scientific research, environmental monitoring and climate studies. The continent’s ice cap holds over 60% of the Earth’s freshwater and provides a stable climatological record spanning 800,000 years. In this study, the relationship between changes in atmospheric CO2 levels over the past century and the microstructural characteristics of Antarctic ice was investigated. While it is well-documented that CO2 fluctuations have driven the periodic expansion and retreat of ice sheets, no research to this day has explored how variations in CO2 concentrations influence the physical integrity of ice at the microscopic scale. To address this, grain size, anisotropy, irregularity, and solidity of surface and near-surface ice samples collected over the past 70 years were analyzed. These microstructural features were compared against historical atmospheric greenhouse gas data from multiple Antarctic research stations, including records from the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Japanese Antarctic Research Expedition, and the NOAA Global Monitoring Laboratory. Results reveal a correlation between rising CO2 levels and changes in ice microstructure, particularly an increase in the grain size as well as the reduction in the grain aspect ratio and in the morphological solidity. The study remains limited by significant sources of variability, including differences in sampling depths, geographical locations, seasonal effects, and inconsistencies in analytical tools and methodologies reported across the literature. Despite these limitations, this proof-of-concept study elicits the need for continued meta-analyses of existing climate datasets. Such efforts could provide deeper insights into the role of greenhouse gas concentrations in defining the microstructural stability of Antarctic ice, which is critical for predicting ice sheet integrity and its contribution to sea level rise.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040056

Authors: Teddy Craciunescu Octavian G. Duliu Ion Tiseanu Stefan A. Szobotka

Micro-computed tomography (μCT) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) were used to investigate a Polymetallic Nodule (PN) from the North-Western Pacific abyssal plain to gather more information concerning the environmental changes that could be reflected by the PN’s internal structure. Despite its small size, for example, an ovoid measured 48 × 38 mm, the μCT revealed the presence of four concentric layers with varying thicknesses and opacities to X-rays, all developed around a fragment of a tooth, most likely belonging to a Lamniformes shark. The same micro-tomograph, functioning as an XRF spectrometer, allowed for the determination of the mass fractions of Mn and Fe in the first two external layers. To estimate the PN age, a model that considers PN growth rate proportional to the ratio of Mn to the square of Fe mass fractions was used, and, by extrapolating it to the entire PN, its age was estimated at 1.56 ± 0.22 Ma, i.e., Early Pleistocene. Therefore, the correlated use of μCT and FRX, two noninvasive methods, allowed to highlight a shark tooth fragment as being the PN nucleus as well as determine its absolute age.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040055

Authors: László Makó Péter Cseh Júlia Hupuczi

The Carpathian Basin holds exceptional significance for Quaternary research, particularly in loess studies. In this study, we attempted to create age-depth models based on age data from scientific journals to investigate accumulation rates. We examined eleven open profile sections for loess and paleosol, including seven in Hungary, two in Croatia, and two in Serbia. We demonstrated that radiocarbon age data are much more useful and reliable than OSL/IRSL data for this type of investigation. The results indicate that the Pécel, Dunaszekcső, Madaras and Katymár sections exhibit accumulation rates an order of magnitude higher than the other sections, exceeding one millimeter per year. These findings suggest that, owing to the basin’s geographic position, these areas were consistently exposed to dust deposition, irrespective of changes in climate or wind direction. A secondary accumulation maximum was also detected along the Katymár–Surduk axis, indicating an additional phase of intensified sediment deposition within this transect. The absence of a young sediment maximum in the Máza section is interpreted as resulting from a shift in prevailing wind direction, which caused the incoming dust to be intercepted by the Mecsek Mountains.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040054

Authors: Balázs Bradák Masayuki Hyodo Erzsébet Horváth

Detailed paleomagnetic and rock magnetic investigations of the Paks loess (Hungary) were conducted to determine the stratigraphic position of the Matuyama–Brunhes Transition (MBT) and to attempt to reveal the sign of any possible influences of geomagnetic field change on the climate during the geomagnetic polarity reversal. Progressive thermal and alternating field demagnetizations of samples showed that the reverse polarity field begins to fluctuate in a stratigraphic position of the well-developed, so-called Paks Double 2 (PD2) paleosol (formed in Marine Isotope Stage 19, MIS19), and continues up to the middle-to-upper part of the overlying paleosol-to-loess transition layer (MIS19 to 18). Considering the relative paleointensity variation from Paks, this is consistent with various global records. Along with the weakening of the geomagnetic field, changes in environmental proxies were also recognized. Magnetic proxies indicate cooling during the MIS19 interglacial period. Theoretically, it may be connected to the weakening of the geomagnetic field. Still, there are alternatives to be considered, which may form the same features thought to be the result of the Umbrella effect.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040053

Authors: Sergio Moreno Mohamed Amine Doukani Ana Hipólito Patrícia Madeira Sergio Pérez Pérez Laura S. Dalmau Gonçalo Castela Ávila Luís Silva Gustavo M. Martins Esther Martín-González Markes E. Johnson Sérgio P. Ávila

During the last two decades, the Macaronesian archipelagos have been the focus of multiple studies targeting the abundant and diversified fossil record from late Neogene and Quaternary deposits. This record of past biota, ecosystems and climates is crucial for understanding the impact of glacial–interglacial cycles on Atlantic littoral marine organisms. Coupled with ongoing studies on the factors responsible for global climate change and associated sea-level variations, they contributed decisively towards the development of the modern marine island biogeography theory. Our current knowledge of the evolutionary and biogeographic history of the past and extant, shallow-water marine organisms from the Macaronesian geographic region relies on detailed analysis of many individual fossiliferous outcrops by means of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. Here, we focus on the fossil record of a newly studied MIS 5e outcrop at Pedra-que-pica (PQP), on Santa Maria Island (Azores Archipelago, Portugal). This multidisciplinary work integrates geology, paleontology and biology, providing the first detailed description of the sedimentary facies and stratigraphic framework of the PQP MIS 5e sequence that, coupled with the documentation of the biodiversity and ecological composition of PQP molluscan assemblages, allows us to produce a paleoecological reconstruction and to compare PQP with other last interglacial outcrops from Santa Maria Island. Our results increase the number of the Azorean MIS 5e marine molluscs to 140 taxa (116 Gastropoda and 24 Bivalvia). Ervilia castanea (Montagu, 1803) is the most abundant bivalve, while Bittium nanum (Mayer, 1864) and Melarhaphe neritoides (Linnaeus, 1758) are the most abundant gastropod species. In addition, this work emphasizes the crucial importance of complementing quantitative collecting with qualitative surveys of the fossiliferous outcrops, because nearly 42% of the bivalve species and 28% of the gastropod taxa would be missed if only quantitative samples were used. Derivation of Hill numbers and rarefaction curves both indicate that the sampling effort should be increased at PQP. Thus, although Santa Maria Island is recognized by the scientific community as one of the best-studied islands regarding the last interglacial fossil record, this study emphasizes the need to continue with similar efforts in less known outcrops on the island.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8040052

Authors: Cajus G. Diedrich

A gypsum karst sinkhole at Westeregeln (north-central Germany) was filled during the Late Pleistocene, first by fluvial flooding, then by solifluctation, and finally with wind-transported loess. Pleistocene mollusks and bones of snakes, birds, micro- and macromammals, and hyena coprolites were accumulated, often mixed in gravel or sand layers with Middle Paleolithic artifacts, whereas ice wedges reach deep into the sinkhole. The high amount of small flint debris prove on-site tool production by using 99% local Saalian transported brownish-to-dark Upper Cretaceous flint, which could have been collected from the Bode River gravels near-site. Only a single quartzite and one jasper flake prove other local gravel sources or importation. A large bifacial flaked knife of layer 4 dates to the early/middle Weichselian/Wuermian (MIS 5-4), similar to two triangular handaxes in the MTA tradition and an absolutely dated woolly rhinoceros bone (50,310 + 1580/−1320 BP). A cold period of Late Pleistocene glacial mammoth steppe megafauna is represented, but the material is mostly strongly fragmented and smashed by humans. Neanderthal camp use on the gypsum hill is indicated also by small charcoal pieces, burned bone fragments, and fire-dehydrated flint fragments. Crocuta crocuta spelaea (Goldfuss) hyenas are well known from Westeregeln, with an open-air commuting den site, which was marked with feces.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030051

Authors: Kim Korpes Tajana Trbojević Vukičević Martina Đuras Magdalena Kolenc Aneta Piplica

Animal husbandry played a central role in the economy of medieval Croatia, yet little comparative archaeozoological research was performed on noble and monastic sites. The aim of the present paper is to compare the proportions and use of cattle, sheep, and goats at noble and monastic sites dating from the 13th to 16th centuries. Out of 25,739 animal remains, 8923 were identified, with cattle (N = 2819) and small ruminants (N = 1791) among the most frequent species. Statistical analysis revealed a significant difference in species distribution between some monastic and noble sites. Cattle were the dominant species at two monasteries and three castles, while small ruminants were the most frequent species at one monastic and one noble site. Age profiles suggested a greater use of subadult and adult animals across all sites, suggesting breeding for secondary products. Estimated height at the withers was 108.5 cm for cattle, 60 cm for sheep, and 65.6 cm for goats. Logarithmic bone width analysis showed no statistically significant differences in animal size between site types, though some noble sites had larger individuals. The results point to both shared and distinct animal husbandry practices between the two site categories and contribute to our understanding of medieval dietary and economic patterns in continental Croatia.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030050

Authors: M. Carmen Lozano-Francisco M. Dolores Simón-Vallejo José A. Vera-Lozano José L. Vera-Peláez Miguel Cortés-Sánchez

The interest of human groups in fossil collecting from the Middle Pleistocene onwards has recently been highlighted. Among the taxa identified at several archaeological sites, a particular group of molluscs stands out: the scaphopods. This paper provides an exhaustive review of scaphopod (Mollusca, Scaphopoda) fossils recovered from archaeological sites in southern Iberia, particularly two sites: Cueva del Hoyo de la Mina and El Tesoro, both in the province of Málaga (southern Spain). The importance of using fossils of this mollusc from the Magdalenian to the Neolithic period has been confirmed at these sites. While the Iberian Peninsula is home to a rich diversity of scaphopod species, with 24 species belonging to nine genera during the Neogene period alone, our analysis reveals that only two species, Paradentalium inaequale and Paradentalium sexangulum, were chosen for symbolic purposes. Additionally, we provide a synthesis of the presence of these species and this group in other Iberian sites. A total of 258 scaphopods were found at eight Iberian archaeological sites ranging from the Solutrean to the Bronze Age. We also discuss some of their cultural connotations. The fossil scaphopod species have been reviewed and compared with palaeontological collections from southern Iberia.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030049

Authors: Matt Law Jennifer R. Jones

This paper examines the exploitation of marine molluscs in the Western Isles of Scotland, from the Bronze Age to Norse periods (2500 BCE–1266 CE). Through analysis of shell assemblages from thirteen archaeological sites, we investigate changing shellfish exploitation practices across time and space. We consider whether these variations reflect cultural preferences, local availability and environments, or evidence of unsustainable harvesting practices. The research examines not only dietary contributions but also explores potential non-food uses of shells, as well as providing insights into coastal environment exploitation. While limpets (Patella spp.) remained consistently important throughout much of prehistory, there was a notable shift toward periwinkles (Littorina littorea), beginning in the Late Iron Age and continuing into the Norse period. This transition appears to reflect a combination of cultural preferences and local ecological availability rather than simple resource depletion. The study highlights the value of standardised methodological approaches to shell analysis and the importance of considering individual and community agency in the interpretation of zooarchaeological assemblages.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030048

Authors: Matías J. Peralta A. Itatí Olivares Brenda S. Ferrero Ernesto Brunetto Diego H. Verzi

We report the first occurrence of an arboreal spiny rat of the tribe Echimyini in the Early Holocene of southern South America. The specimen, a lower deciduous premolar, was recovered from fluvial deposits exposed along the right bank of Doll Creek, in northeastern Argentina. Morphological comparisons indicate strong affinities with the extant Amazonian genus Lonchothrix, although the fossil exhibits distinct traits such as thicker enamel and a transverse, short posterior mesofossettid. The available evidence of strong climatic niche conservatism in Echimyini supports its interpretation as an indicator of the transient presence of humid, Amazonian-like forests in the region around 10,000 years ago. Sedimentological and stratigraphic evidence correlates this warming phase with an Early Holocene transgression in the Paraná Delta. The absence of aff. Lonchothrix in the recent fauna may be the result of a post-optimum extinction event triggered by a drier phase during the Middle Holocene. This discovery provides novel evidence for a short-lived biogeographic connection between Amazonia and the southern cone during a climatic window of expansion for tropical biotas. It also highlights the role of the fossil record of Echimyidae as a sensitive proxy for reconstructing paleoenvironmental changes in temperate South America.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030047

Authors: Dennis V. Kent Luca Lanci Dorothy M. Peteet

Published cosmogenic 10Be exposure ages from the terminal moraine of the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS) in northeastern North America have been interpreted to date the start of the retreat of the LIS at the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) about 25 thousand years ago (ka). In contrast, published 14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates for terrestrial plant macrofossils in LIS basal deglacial clay deposits range back to only ~16 calibrated (cal) ka, more consistent with the timing of glacio-eustatic rise and associated meltwater discharge to the North Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico associated with LGM deglaciation. We apply statistical models of geomagnetic secular variation, including dipole moment, to the latitudinal scaling of cosmic ray flux to see how well the age discrepancy can be addressed. A preferred new scaling, which is essentially time-invariant over the relevant LGM age range, shifts the exposure ages only a few thousand years younger. The age discrepancy may thus stem more from potential local biases toward higher 10Be concentrations (older apparent ages) at the terminal moraine sites, such as much higher 10Be production rates at the LIS front, and especially from inheritance. Such biases can be tested by obtaining primary 10Be calibration sites in the LGM time frame, and by more comprehensive sampling strategies for glaciated terrain to discern inheritance.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030046

Authors: Leonardo Della Salda Amedeo Cuomo Franco Antonucci Silvano Agostini Maria Adelaide Rossi

A remarkably well-preserved skeleton of a male Mammuthus meridionalis, approximately 60 years old, from the Early Pleistocene that is housed at the Castle of L’Aquila (Italy) exhibits a fractured left tusk with severe bone erosion of the alveolus and premaxillary bone, as well as marked spinal deformities. The cranial region underwent ultrasonographic, radiological, and histological examinations, while morphological and biomechanical analyses were conducted on the vertebral column. Microscopic analysis revealed intra vitam lesions, including woven bone fibers indicative of early bone remodeling and lamellar bone with expanded and remodeled Haversian systems. These findings are consistent with osteomyelitis and bone sequestration, likely resulting from chronic pulpitis following the tusk fracture, possibly due to an accident or interspecific combat. The vertebral column shows cervical scoliosis, compensatory curves, fusion between the first cervical vertebrae, and asymmetric articular facets, suggesting postural adaptations. Evidence of altered molar wear and masticatory function also support long-term survival post-trauma. Additionally, lesions compatible with spondyloarthropathy, an inflammatory spinal condition not previously documented in Mammuthus meridionalis, were identified. These findings provide new insights into the pathology and adaptive responses of extinct proboscideans, demonstrating the critical role of (paleo)histological methods in reconstructing trauma, disease, and aspects of life history in fossil vertebrates.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030045

Authors: Antonio Rosas Antonio Garcia-Tabernero Darío Fidalgo Juan Ignacio Morales Palmira Saladié Maximiliano Fero Meñe Cayetano Ebana Ebana

Since 2014, the Paleoanthropology Group of the National Museum of Natural Sciences (CSIC), in collaboration with Equatoguinean researchers, has been conducting archeo-paleontological fieldwork in Equatorial Guinea, continuing a longstanding Spanish naturalist tradition in this region of West Central Africa. These multidisciplinary investigations, framed within an archeo-paleo-anthropological approach, aim primarily to identify early human occupation in the Central African rainforests. To date, robust evidence of Pleistocene human presence has been documented, particularly through lithic assemblages. Although the scarcity and fragmentation of well-dated sites in Central Africa complicate chronological placement, technological traits observed in the lithic industries recorded in Equatorial Guinea show clear affinities with the African Middle Stone Age (MSA). Complementary taphonomic analyses of faunal remains have been undertaken to better understand bone preservation and fossilization processes under tropical rainforest conditions, thereby contributing to the interpretation of archeological contexts. In parallel, ongoing primatological research within the project—focused on extant primates in their natural habitats—seeks to provide ethological models relevant to the study of hominin locomotor evolution. Notably, the project has led to the ecogeographic characterization of the Engong chimpanzee group in Monte Alén National Park, one of the country’s most pristine protected areas.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030044

Authors: Susan Hayes Gerrit D. van den Bergh Indra Sutisna Halmi Insani Unggul P. Wibowo Ruly Setiawan Iwan Kurniawan Samuel T. Turvey

Excavations undertaken at Mata Menge, the securely dated Middle Pleistocene open site on the Indonesian island of Flores, have resulted in the recovery of over 670 well-preserved fossil murine molars from two distinct stratigraphic intervals. This research is the first systematic metric and morphological analysis of this material, with the results indicating the predominance of a single murine species, though the finds from the lower interval (0.7 million years ago) are for the most part significantly smaller than those recovered from the ~70,000-year-younger upper interval. Comparison of our findings with the analyses of the Flores endemic recent and fossil giant rats undertaken by Hooijer in 1957 and Musser in 1981 indicates the Mata Menge large murine maxillary molars, and, in particular, those from the lower interval are very similar to the limited Middle Pleistocene material Musser designated to be Hooijeromys nusatenggara. However, the associated Mata Menge mandibular molars are most similar to, though smaller than, the mid-Holocene Papagomys theodorverhoeveni. In addition to providing a detailed reference for future studies of large fossil murines excavated from Wallacea, our findings indicate Musser’s reassignment of Hooijer’s maxillary holotype of P. verhoeveni to P. armandvillei would benefit from re-examination.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030043

Authors: Jan van der Made Ignacio A. Lazagabaster Paula García-Medrano Isabel Cáceres

During the Pleistocene, the successive ice ages prompted the southward expansion of the “Mammoth Steppe” ecosystem, a prevalent habitat that supported species adapted to cold environments such as the mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, and reindeer. Previously, the earliest evidence for such cold-adapted species in the Iberian Peninsula dated back to Marine Isotope Stage 6 (MIS 6, ~191–123 ka). This paper reports the discovery of a reindeer (Rangifer) tooth from Unit GIII of the Galería site at the Atapuerca-Trinchera site complex, dated to MIS 8 (~300–243 ka). This find is significant as it represents not only the oldest evidence of glacial fauna in the Iberian Peninsula but also the southernmost occurrence of reindeer in Europe of this age. The presence of Rangifer at this latitude (42°21′ N) during MIS 8 suggests that the glacial conditions affected the Iberian fauna earlier and with greater intensity than previously understood. Over the subsequent climatic cycles, cold-adapted species spread further south, reaching Madrid (40°20′) during the penultimate glacial period and the province of Granada (37°01′) during the last glacial maximum. The coexistence of human fossils and lithic artefacts within Units GII and GIII at Galería indicates that early humans also inhabited these glacial environments at Atapuerca. This study elaborates on the morphological and archaeological significance of the reindeer fossil, emphasizing its role in understanding the biogeographical patterns of glacial fauna and the adaptability of Middle Pleistocene human populations.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030042

Authors: Myrsini Gkouma Panagiotis Karkanas Olga Koukousioura George Syrides Areti Chalkioti Evangelos Tsakalos Maria Ntinou Nikos Efstratiou

Recent archaeological discoveries across the Aegean, Cyprus, and western Anatolia have renewed interest in pre-Neolithic seafaring and early island colonization. However, the environmental contexts that support such early coastal occupations remain poorly understood, largely due to the submergence of Pleistocene shorelines following post-glacial sea-level rise. This study addresses this gap through an integrated geoarchaeological investigation of the pre-Neolithic site of Ouriakos on Lemnos Island, northeastern Aegean (Greece), dated to the mid-11th millennium BCE. By reconstructing both the terrestrial and submerged paleolandscapes of the site, we examine ecological conditions, resource availability, and sedimentary processes that shaped human activity and site preservation. Employing a multiscale methodological approach—combining bathymetric survey, geomorphological mapping, soil micromorphology, geochemical analysis, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating—we present a comprehensive framework for identifying and interpreting early coastal settlements. Stratigraphic evidence reveals phases of fluvial, aeolian, and colluvial deposition associated with an alternating coastline. The core findings reveal that Ouriakos was established during a phase of environmental stability marked by paleosol development, indicating sustained human presence. By bridging terrestrial and marine data, this research contributes significantly to the understanding of human coastal mobility during the Pleistocene–Holocene transition.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030041

Authors: Hongwen Zhang Haiwei Song Xiangxi Lv Wenlong Pang Wenjun Pang Xin Li Yingxue Li Jiliang Shao

In this study, 14 palynological samples and nine AMS 14C dating samples were collected from two representative black soil profiles in the Xingkai Lake Plain to examine climate changes and their impacts on environmental evolution since the Holocene. The systematic identification, analysis, and research of palynological data reveal that the black soil profiles in the Xingkai Lake Plain can be categorized into the following three distinct palynological assemblage zones: the lower zone (11.7–7.5 ka BP) is characterized by Pinus-Laevgatomonoleti-Amaranthaceae-Artemisia, having a cold, dry climate; the middle zone (7.5–2.5 ka BP) features Quercus-Juglans-Polygonum-Cyperaceae, with a warm and humid climate; and the upper zone (2.5 ka BP to present) consists of Pinus-Quercus-Betula, indicating a cold and dry climate. Furthermore, field lithostratigraphic observations of the two black soil profiles suggest that late Pleistocene loessial clay serves as the parent material in this region. Quaternary geology, section lithology, palynology, and AMS 14C dating results indicate that a significant portion of black soil in the Xingkai Lake Plain was primarily formed during the Great Warm Period following the middle Holocene. These insights not only enhance our understanding of Holocene climate dynamics in Northeast China but also provide a substantial scientific foundation for further studies on related topics.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030040

Authors: Maria S. Obrezkova Lidiya N. Vasilenko Ira B. Tsoy Xuefa Shi Limin Hu Yaroslav V. Kuzmin Aleksandr N. Kolesnik Alexandr V. Alatortsev Anna A. Mariash Evgeniy A. Lopatnikov Irina A. Yurtseva Darya S. Khmel Anatolii S. Astakhov

The paper presents the results of a microfossil study of Holocene sediments in the Yana River flow zone in the southeastern part of the Laptev Sea. A rich diatom flora (242 species and intraspecific taxa, of which 177 species are freshwater) was revealed; additionally, five species of marine tintinnids (planktonic ciliates) and 15 species of freshwater testate amoebae (testacean) were discovered for the first time in the sea sediments. Three assemblages of microfossils reflecting the phases of environmental changes during the Holocene transgression are distinguished in the studied sediments of core LV83-32. Assemblage 1 was formed under terrestrial conditions (assemblage of diatoms Eunotia-Pinnularia and testacean Difflugia-Cylindrifflugia-Centropyxis), assemblage 2 in the zone of mixing of sea and fresh waters (assemblages of diatoms Cyclotella striata-Aulacoseira, Thalassiosira hyperborea-Chaetoceros and T. hyperborea-Aulacoseira, testacean Cyclopyxis kahli, tintinnids Tintinnopsis fimbriata), and assemblage 3 reflects modern conditions in the inner shelf of the Laptev Sea under the strong influence of river runoff (assemblage of diatoms T. hyperborea-Aulacoseira-M. arctica and tintinnids Tintinnopsis ventricosoides). Changes in the natural environment in the coastal part of the Laptev Sea shelf during the Holocene, established by microfossil assemblages, are confirmed by geochemical data.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030039

Authors: César Méndez Flavia Morello Omar Reyes Manuel San Román Amalia Nuevo-Delaunay Charles R. Stern

Obsidian was a key toolstone for the development of maritime lifeways in the western archipelago of southernmost South America. This area is a fragmented landscape where the major north–south movement of people along the Pacific was only possible by navigation because it is constrained by major biogeographic barriers. Two obsidian sources have been recorded, each one located on the extremes of the archipelago, and each has played a key role in the canoe-adapted societies that used them. As indicated by repeated inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses, obsidian from Chaitén Volcano to the north was distributed between 38°26′ S and 45°20′ S, and obsidian from Seno Otway to the south was distributed between 50° and 55° S, although it mainly occurred in sites close to the Strait of Magellan and within constrained time periods. This study explores the distribution of these two types of obsidians, their chronology, their frequencies in the archaeological record, the main artifact classes that are represented, and the technological processes in which they were involved. This examination indicates common aspects in the selection of high-quality toolstones for highly mobile maritime groups and discusses the different historical trajectories of two obsidians that appear decoupled across the Holocene.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030038

Authors: Laura del Valle Guillem X. Pons Joan J. Fornós

Late Pleistocene coastal deposits on the southeastern coast of Formentera (Es Ram–Es Estufadors) provide a high-resolution record of sea-level and climatic fluctuations associated with Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5. Three distinct beach levels (Sef-1, Sef-2, Sef-3) were identified, corresponding to substages MIS 5e, 5c, and possibly 5a, based on sedimentological features, fossil assemblages, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating. The oldest beach level (Sef-1) is attributed to MIS 5e (ca. 128–116 ka) and is characterised by the widespread presence of thermophilic Senegalese fauna—including Thetystrombus latus, Conus ermineus, and Linatella caudata—which mark the onset of this interglacial phase and are associated with two peaks in relative sea-level highstand. A subsequent cooling event during MIS 5d is recorded by the development of thin palaeosols and the disappearance of these warm-water taxa. The second beach level (Sef-2) reflects renewed sea-level rise and warmer conditions during MIS 5c, with abundant macrofauna and red algae. The transition to MIS 5b (~97 ka) is marked by a significant sea-level drop (down to –60 m), cooler climate, and enhanced colluvial sedimentation linked to increased runoff and erosion. In total, 54 macrofaunal species were identified—16 from Sef-1 and 46 from Sef-2—highlighting ecological shifts across substages. These results improve our understanding of coastal response to sea-level oscillations and paleoenvironmental dynamics in the western Mediterranean during the Late Pleistocene.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030037

Authors: László Makó Péter Cseh Balázs Nagy Pál Sümegi Dávid Molnár

The Pécel loess–paleosol profile is a 25.72-metre-high well-preserved sequence in the northern part of Hungary. It was sampled every 4 cm for the purpose of sedimentological analysis and every 12 cm for the purpose of mollusc investigation, which are relatively high resolutions in loess investigation. Twenty samples were radiocarbon-dated from the L1 layer (top 8 m of the sequence). Subsequently, an age–depth model was constructed, from which an accumulation rate was calculated. Based on these radiocarbon and previous magnetic susceptibility data, the Pécel’s L1 layer is correlated with the Chinese Loess Plateau’s L1 layer and the MIS 2–4 stages. The malacological examinations show that the temperature was basically warm during the development, and there was open vegetation except on the S2, S1 and L1S1 paleosol layers, where significant forest expansion was shown. With the magnetic susceptibility and the malacological data, it is possible to track the changes in the conditions through the Chinese Loess Plateau’s timeline.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030036

Authors: Zlatozar Boev

For the first time, the numerous scattered data on birds (wild and domestic) have been collected based on their medieval bone remains discovered on the modern territory of the Republic of Bulgaria. The collected information is about a total of 37 medieval settlements from the time of the First and Second Bulgarian Empires. Among the settlements studied are both the two medieval Bulgarian capitals (Pliska and Veliki Preslav), as well as other cities, smaller settlements, military fortresses, monasteries, and inhabited caves. The data refer to a total of 48 species of wild birds and 6 forms of domestic birds of 11 avian orders: Accipitriformes, Anseriformes, Ciconiiformes, Columbiformes, Falconiformes, Galliformes, Gruiformes, Otidiformes, Passeriformes, Pelecaniformes, and Strigiformes. The established composition of wild birds amounts to over one tenth (to 11.5%) of the modern avifauna in the country. Five of the established species (10.4%) have disappeared from the modern nesting avifauna of the country—the bearded vulture, the great bustard, the little bustard, the gray crane, and the saker falcon (the latter two species have reappeared as nesters in the past few years). First Bulgarian Empire (681–1018): Investigated settlements—22. Period covered—five centuries (7th to 11th c.). Found in total: at least 44 species/forms of birds, of which 39 species of wild birds and 5 forms of poultry. Second Bulgarian Empire (1185–1396): Investigated settlements—15. Period covered—3 centuries (12th to 14th c.). Found in total: at least 39 species/forms of birds, of which 33 species of wild birds and 6 forms of poultry. The groups of raptors, water, woodland, openland, synanthropic and domestic birds were analyzed separately. The conclusion was made that during the two periods of the Middle Ages, birds had an important role in the material and spiritual life of the population of the Bulgarian lands. Birds were mainly used for food (domestic birds), although some were objects of hunting. No traces of processing were found on the bones. Birds were subjects of works of applied and monumental art. Their images decorated jewelry, tableware, walls of buildings and other structures.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030035

Authors: Blanca Jiménez-García Gabriel Cifuentes-Alcobendas Enrique Baquedano Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo

The longstanding debate over early hominin subsistence strategies, particularly the hunting-versus-scavenging hypothesis, as well as discussions regarding the functionality of Oldowan sites, has been primarily centered on the archeological and paleoanthropological record of Olduvai Gorge. Historically, FLK Zinj has been at the core of these debates, serving as a principal empirical reference due to the prevailing assumption that most other Bed I sites at Olduvai represented non-anthropogenic accumulations However, recent discoveries have significantly reshaped this perspective. Newly identified early sites, including PTK, DS, and AGS, situated within the paleolandscape and thin stratigraphic context of FLK Zinj, provide crucial new anthropogenic datasets. These sites offer additional dimensions to the study of early hominin behavior, facilitating a more nuanced reconstruction of their adaptive strategies in this paleoenvironment. Furthermore, methodological advancements in recent years—including controlled experimental and actualistic studies, sophisticated statistical modeling, and the integration of machine learning algorithms—have greatly enhanced the analytical frameworks available for investigating early hominin behavior. These innovations have refined the ability to formulate and test hypotheses within a rigorous scientific paradigm, significantly improving the resolution of archeological and taphonomic interpretations. This study presents an in-depth taphonomic analysis of the faunal assemblage from level 22A at DS, a Bed I site at Olduvai Gorge dated to approximately 1.84 Ma. The assemblage exhibits exceptional preservation, enabling detailed assessments of skeletal part representation, fragmentation patterns, and surface modifications. By combining traditional taphonomic methodologies with state-of-the-art AI-driven bone surface modification (BSM) analyses, this research contributes novel insights into the interactions between early hominins and carnivores, elucidating the complex ecological dynamics of an Early Pleistocene African paleolandscape.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030034

Authors: Mark G. Plew Pei-Lin Yu

Debates about prehistoric Amazonian subsistence, social organization, and landscape use have ranged from ethnographically based characterizations of relatively mobile foragers to archaeological evidence that suggests sedentary agriculturalists. Recently, great antiquity of settled agriculture and complex social organization has been asserted for portions of the northern Amazon. However, the role of theory and inferences drawn from habitat diversity have receded in these debates. This paper synthesizes the current literature regarding long-term evolutionary changes in Amazon Basin societies with an archaeological case study from mound-building sites of Guyana and ethnoarchaeological data from Venezuelan forager–gardeners to develop a hypothesis regarding the critical role of habitat, aquatic resources, and seasonality in the transition from intensified foraging to cultivation.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8030033

Authors: Frank Arthur Anhelina Zapolska Didier M. Roche Huan Li Hans Renssen

The Eemian interglacial (~130–116 ka) is a period characterized by a significantly warmer climate than the pre-industrial era, providing a valuable opportunity to study natural climate variability and its implications for the future. We studied the Eemian climate in Europe by applying an interactive downscaling to our Earth system model (iLOVECLIM) to increase its horizontal atmospheric resolution from 5.56° to 0.25° latitude-longitude. A transient simulation was conducted for both the standard version of the model and with an interactive downscaling applied for the Eemian (127–116 ka). Our simulations suggest that the magnitude of temperature and precipitation varied across different regions of Europe, with some areas experiencing more pronounced warming and precipitation changes than others. The latitudinal pattern in our simulation during the Eemian shows that the warming in Europe was stronger at high latitudes than at mid-latitudes. Relative to the pre-industrial climate, our downscaling scheme simulates at 127 ka higher temperatures between 3–4 °C in the northern part of Europe and higher precipitation values between 150–300 mm/yr. Our results indicate that, in comparison to the standard model, the downscaled simulations offer spatial variability that is more in line with proxy-based reconstructions and other climate models.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020032

Authors: Maria Rita Palombo Biagio Giaccio Lorenzo Monaco Roberta Martino Marina Amanatidou Luca Pandolfi

Here we provide a brief reply to the comment by Fabrizio Marra on “The Lost MIS 11c Mammalian Fauna from Via dell’Impero (Rome, Italy)”. The comment deals with our omission of the citation of a paper reporting 40Ar/39Ar dating that, according to Marra, would have been fundamental for our study. However, while recognizing that the omission of this article was a pity, we herein demonstrate that this did not affect in any way the results of our study, and that Marra’s comment contains contradictory affirmations and relies on a merely speculative hypothesis.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020031

Authors: Fabrizio Marra

Palombo et al. provide a paleontological study of the large mammal remains recovered in the historical center of Rome and attempt to provide age constraints through a geochemical study on the pumice fragments adhering to the faunal remains.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020030

Authors: Henry Hooghiemstra

Melissopalynology, the study of honey, is a flourishing area within palynological research [...]

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020029

Authors: Cornelis Kasse Oeki Verhage

The development of fluvial systems over long time scales is a complex interplay of tectonic, climatic, and lithological factors. The initiation and location of fluvial channels in the landscape is less well understood. Recently exposed surfaces provide opportunities to determine factors controlling fluvial channel initiation. During the Würm Last Glacial Maximum (c. 20 ka), the Ain valley in eastern France transformed into a large proglacial lake. Following deglaciation, new drainage channels initiated on the drained lake floor. Extensive morphological and sedimentological mapping and lithogenetic interpretation of the valley fill enable to determine the forcing factors of fluvial channel initiation. The location of the postglacial channels is determined by the initial topography of the lake floor and lithological variability of the sediments. Tributary channels of the Ain preferentially initiated in depressions of gently sloping former delta bottomsets, which prograded from different directions. In addition, the location of channels is determined by the presence of low-permeability, glacio-lacustrine deposits, that favored overland flow and erosion, compared to the highly permeable terrace deposits on the former lake floor. The differences in erodibility of the fine-grained and coarse-grained deposits resulted in relief inversion.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020028

Authors: Olga Druzhinina Ivan Skhodnov Kasper van den Berghe Ksenia Filippova

This paper is a contribution to the ongoing debate on the nature and drivers of the abrupt environmental shift at the onset of the Younger Dryas. The goal of this study is to identify key parameters that characterize the Allerød–Younger Dryas boundary, 12.9–12.8 ka in sedimentary sections, and are representative of broader paleobasin dynamics in the eastern Baltic region. Two new Late Glacial sediment archives, the Kulikovo and Sambian, provide data on this time interval. Geochronological and lithological (grain size and loss on ignition) analyses of the sequences indicate a change in sedimentation during 12.9–12.8 ka, which is manifested by a peak of terrigenous, coarser-grained material and an accompanying peak of organic matter in sediments. A review of the published data shows that this lithological situation is also characteristic of other paleobasins in the eastern Baltic region and beyond for layers dated to the onset of the Younger Dryas. This probably indicates an environmental event that caused a short-term increased input and deposition of organic matter, accompanied by a surge in erosional processes. The environmental shift triggered by the event is also recorded in a remarkable drop in pollen concentration and species diversity in the overlying layer. The sediment horizon in Late Glacial (Allerød–Younger Dryas) sequences corresponding to these parameters can be considered an important and reliable geochronological marker of the 12.9–12.8 ka interval. The organic-rich layer in the Kulikovo section, as well as other similar layers in the Baltic, can be considered a “black mat” phenomenon related to the onset of the Younger Dryas.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020027

Authors: Doris Esenarro Jimena Ccalla Guisela Yabar Cecilia Uribe Mario Reyes Mirko De los Santos Geoffrey Salas Javier Condori

The objective of this research is to conduct a spatial analysis of the functional Andean worldview of the Ankasmarka Archaeological Site, located in Calca, Peru. The preservation of cultural heritage in Latin America faces significant challenges that threaten the integrity of key sites such as Ankasmarka. Despite its historical relevance, this site lacks available open access information and data, collected in accessible reports, which hinders the attraction of attention and funding necessary for its conservation. Furthermore, urbanization and uncontrolled tourism negatively impact both cultural traditions and the connection of local communities with their past. The methodology employed is based on a systematic review of primary information, supplemented by excavation reports and official sources. Specialized software such as AutoCAD Architecture and Revit were used to carry out the topographic and architectural survey of the site, enabling the precise and rigorous interpretation of the data. This article focuses on the spatial and functional description of the site, with the aim of paving the way for future research in specific areas such as formal and structural analysis, as well as social and political dynamics. The results reveal a complex organizational structure at Ankasmarka, with enclosures designated for various functions, particularly storage and agricultural activities. The site is divided into three sectors: Sector A, which includes housing, storage areas, and tombs; and Sector B and C, with the highest concentration of housing and agricultural zones with storage areas, respectively. The findings underscore the interrelationship between agriculture, funerary practices, and architecture, highlighting the importance of Ankasmarka in the lives of its ancient inhabitants and the need for continued future research.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020026

Authors: Jan van der Made

For many years, the temporal distribution of pigs in the Pleistocene of Europe drew little attention. This changed when, what became known as, the “suid gap” hypo-thesis was published. Subsequent publications added elements to this hypothesis, while others questioned the hypothesis and even the existence of a “suid gap”. In its most complete form the hypothesis consists of a chain of arguments: (1) pigs are r-selected (a life history trait), (2) therefore fossils of their deciduous teeth are particularly abundant, (3) because being r-selected, pigs are abundant, (4) sites without pig fossils are sure indicators of their absence, (5) at 1.8 Ma, humans dispersed into Europe driving Sus strozzii to extinction in all the continent by competitive displacement, but not in the Middle East, (6) around 1.2 Ma pigs appeared again in Europe, either Sus strozzii, coming from the Middle East, or another species. The proposed link between human and pig ecology increased the interest of this hypothesis. Recently parts of this hypothesis were questioned and a polemic arose. It is the aim of this paper to review the literature and arguments used in favour and against this “suid gap” hypothesis. The hypothesis is rejected, but the life history traits of pigs may prove to be of interest for comparison with humans.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020025

Authors: Daniela Álvarez Carlos Alberto Torres-Guerrero Jaume Boixadera Carles Balasch José Manuel Plata Rafael Rodríguez Ochoa José Ramón Olarieta Rosa M. Poch

Loess–palaeosol sequences (LPSs) are continuous records of palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic conditions during the Quaternary. This study includes 17 LPS located in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula, irregularly distributed, associated with different river basins: the Ebro Basin, the Mora Basin, and the Ter sub-basin. The soils developed on these loess deposits present a loam–sandy texture, coarser than the typical loess, ochre in colour, with variable thickness (1–12 m), calcareous composition (20–45% CaCO3 eq.), very low or null organic matter (OM), and basic pH. These deposits have been classified as desert LPS, whose pedogenesis is mainly associated with the redistribution of calcium carbonate and, in some cases, gypsum. Several methodologies have been applied to determine their mineralogical, physical, and chemical characteristics and date them by luminescence techniques. In addition, some relevant pedofeatures (porosity, CaCO3, gypsum, etc.) have been characterised in detail. The aims of the present study have been to know the pedogenic development of the LPS by defining the main soil-forming factors that have affected them in order to associate these factors with the characteristic palaeoclimatic and palaeoenvironmental conditions reported in this area over time and to improve the understanding of soil evolution.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020024

Authors: Hasan Basri Kartal Mehmet Emin Şalgamcıoğlu Asiye Nisa Kartal

The architectural artefacts, materials, and techniques used for constructing shelters may share some common properties derived from the architectural culture that has evolved within the human species. This article examines the material features and settlement organisations employed in the nest-building activities of early human species and the shelter forms of indigenous peoples residing in sub-Saharan Africa. It questions whether early modern human notions of architectural heritage, which lack substantiation, might have influenced nest construction, typological differentiation, material utilisation, and the transmission of practices to subsequent generations and habitats. The focus is on home-based spatial organisation and the construction of structures. We recognise the need to clarify some fundamental misunderstandings regarding the nature of cultural and archaeological taxonomies, as well as the misuse of analogical reasoning when comparing contemporary hunter–gatherer populations with certain hominin groups. The paper aims to explore whether the early ‘Homo architecture’ in Africa bears any resemblance to that of modern Africans. The central inquiry of this study is whether indigenous architectural artefacts, materials, and techniques have been passed down throughout the evolution of architectural culture. The discussion suggests that the architectural products found in the settlement remains of early Homo species may exhibit characteristics similar to the huts of the indigenous people, who live as hunter–gatherers in sub-Saharan Africa. Discussing the architectural activities of different human species proves fruitful, as early architectural understanding and principles can be adapted to contemporary placemaking scenarios, urban design approaches, and housing models. We believe that, with further evidence, this foundational idea has the potential to be developed further.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020023

Authors: Mohammad Firoze Quamar Upasana Swaroop Banerji

Climate change is most clearly reflected in vegetation, as it forms an integral and fundamental component of ecosystems that is sensitive to and governed by climatic changes [...]

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020022

Authors: Shigehiko Shiyake

Fossilized body parts of two cold-adapted ground beetle species, Elaphrus lapponicus and Diacheila polita, were identified from a deposit dated to the Late Glacial period in Hokkaido, Japan. The paleoenvironmental reconstruction presented here has been based on modern temperature ranges and environmental conditions, along with paleobotanical evidence from the site. Late Glacial temperatures were at least 6 degrees °C lower than modern temperatures in summer, and the area around the site was mostly covered with forest tundra, which exists only in areas further north than Hokkaido.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020021

Authors: Xiaoqu Zheng Fan Yang Mingli Sun Qinyu Chen

Preserved macro-botanical and charcoal remains collected from the Zhumucun site have revealed the paleodiet and agricultural production of a small settlement during the Liangzhu period. Further, they have also helped to reconstruct the landscape and social organization that occurred therein. The plant remains assemblage shows that rice was the main crop at this site; however, the appearance of the millets may also indicate the spread and communication between southern and northern China. An analysis of the discarded spikelets confirmed that rice was locally produced and processed. A study of charcoal helped restore the vegetation landscape in the settlement and provided valuable insights for reconstructing the functional zoning and agricultural production at the site. Following an analysis of the plant distribution and utilization patterns at the site, it became clear that the Zhumucun site functioned as a small agricultural settlement. Compared to other settlements from the Liangzhu period, the Zhumucun site likely supported a smaller population. The site could be divided into smaller groups, including facilities in residential areas, processing areas, tomb areas, and farming areas. Agricultural production at the Zhumucun site appears to have been highly coordinated, with activities carried out in a unified manner and primarily by local households. This efficient system of resource management likely reflects a well-organized labor structure, where food surpluses may have been redistributed to support other higher-level settlements.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020020

Authors: Marina Protopopova Polina Nelyubina Vasiliy Pavlichenko

Anemone altaica Fisch. ex C. A. Mey., a component of the tertiary boreo-nemoral vegetation complex, exhibits a disjunct distribution from European Russia to Central China. The Khamar-Daban Ridge, extending along Lake Baikal’s southern coast, has served as a refugium preserving mesophilic forest remnants in South Siberia since the Pleistocene. This study aimed to elucidate the phylogenetic relationships and historical biogeography of A. altaica within the Khamar-Daban refugium using plastid DNA markers (trnL + trnL-trnF). Phylogenetic and mismatch distribution analysis revealed polyphyly (more specifically diphyly) among A. altaica lineages, suggesting past hybridization events with related species followed by backcrossing. Estimation of isolation by distance effect, spatial autocorrelation analysis, PCoA, and AMOVA indicated a clear spatial genetic structure for A. altaica on the Khamar-Daban Ridge. The most reliable geographical model suggests that during periods of Pleistocene cooling, A. altaica persisted in at least six microrefugia within the ridge. Populations associated with these microrefugia formed western, central, and eastern genetic supergroups with limited gene flow among them. Gene flow likely occurred more easily during glaciations or early interglacials when the subalpine zone shifted closer to Lake Baikal due to the depression of the snow boundary, allowing adjacent populations to intermingle along the glacial edges and terminal moraines in mountain forest belt.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020019

Authors: Christos Tsakalidis George E. Konidaris Evangelia Tsoukala Dimitris S. Kostopoulos

Dental wear analyses of extinct animals offer key insights into their dietary preferences and in turn contribute substantially to palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, leading to more accurate interpretations about past ecosystems. This study employs dental mesowear analysis on Pliocene and Pleistocene elephants and mammoths from several localities in Northern Greece (Ptolemais Basin, Mygdonia Basin, Drama Basin, and the Neapolis-Grevena Basin), aiming to classify them into three main dietary categories (browsers, mixed-feeders, grazers) and investigate potential niche partitioning. The method relies on documenting the wear pattern of molar surfaces through angle measurements on the enamel ridges, which reflect the average annual diet of the examined taxon and in turn the annual ecological conditions of the studied area. Prior to the palaeodietary study and in order to ensure the taxonomic attribution of the examined specimens, a taxonomic review was conducted which confirmed the presence of the mammoths Mammuthus rumanus, Mammuthus meridionalis (southern mammoth), and Mammuthus trogontherii (steppe mammoth), and the European straight-tusked elephant Palaeoloxodon antiquus. Dental mesowear results indicate a grazing diet for M. (cf.) rumanus, a mainly browsing diet for M. meridionalis but mixed-feeding to grazing for the subspecies Mammuthus meridionalis vestinus, a grazing one for M. trogontherii, and a wide diet spectrum for P. antiquus, including browsing, mixed-feeding and grazing, depending on the locality. This study expands our knowledge on the palaeoecology of Greek proboscideans and further highlights the importance of mesowear analysis on proboscidean teeth for palaeodietary and palaeoenviromental inferences.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020018

Authors: Anna Maria Mercuri Assunta Florenzano Eleonora Clò Gabriel Servera-Vives

Palynology deals with several topics closely linked to sustainability [...]

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8020017

Authors: Anjum Farooqui Salman Khan

A comprehensive database of paleo vegetation from Kundala Lake, Kerala, was used for a palynological study in a 120 cm sedimentary profile from Kundala Lake (1700 mamsl), Palni Hills, to understand the climate and vegetation equilibrium during the last four millennia. On the basis of pollen assemblage and cluster analysis, a relatively high percentage of evergreen vegetation between 4.3 and 3.4 ka (phase I) was inferred to represent the relicts of middle Holocene vegetation during a warmer climate. Subsequently, in the periods of 3.4–2.3 ka (phase II) and 2.3–0.87 ka (phase III), herbs/shrubs dominated. A relative increase in the percentage of arboreals along with herbaceous taxa was again observed from 0.87 to 0.12 ka (phase IV). Later, in phase V (from 1820 AD to present), few new plant taxa were recorded. On the basis of the ‘coexistence approach’, the Mean Annual Temperature (MAT) was inferred to be 22 °C, 15 °C, 15 °C, 20 °C and 22 °C during phases I to V, respectively. The Mean Annual Precipitation (MAP)was 2660 ± 3700 mm from ~4.3 to 0.12 ka; however, it decreased to ~1750 mm between 3.4 and 2.3 ka. However, pollen evidence reveals short-term cooler spells during the 16/17th century AD, which is in concordance with the globally recorded cooler and arid climate that began sometime from ~5.0 to 4.0 ka. A thematic digital elevation map of vegetation reconstructed for the years 2005 and 2018 shows a reduction in evergreen plants and water bodies in the vicinity of Kundala Lake, which was correlated with the results of palynological studies and Indian meteorological data for the last ~100 years in the region.

Quaternary doi: 10.3390/quat8010016

Authors: Julie Luyt Yonatan Sahle Deano Stynder

The timing, cause, and magnitude of mammalian extinctions during the African Middle Pleistocene remain largely unresolved. The demise of Elephas/Palaeoloxodon recki, a lineage that had a great geographic and temporal span, represents a particularly enigmatic case of megafaunal extinction. Previous studies of Early Pleistocene fossil material have proposed that this lineage was a strict C4-grazer, with its dietary specialization causing its extinction during a period of climatic instability that coincided with the Late Acheulean. Others have associated its disappearance with overhunting by hominins during the same period. We contribute to this debate by analyzing carbon and oxygen isotope data from the tooth enamel of late Early and Middle Pleistocene Palaeoloxodon specimens from various localities in the Afar Rift. To contextualize the isotopic data of Palaeoloxodon within its broader ecosystem, we also provide data from non-elephant species. Carbon isotope values indicate that while C4 plants dominated diets, varying amounts of C3 vegetation were also consumed throughout this period. Oxygen isotope values reflect an initial focus on stable water sources that were later broadened to include transient sources. Serially sampled teeth of P. cf. recki recki from Late Acheulean contexts in the Megenta research area show no significant seasonal shifts in δ13C or δ18O values, even during a period of heightened climatic instability regionally. Taken together, our results suggest that Palaeoloxodon was capable of flexibility in diet and drinking habits which belies its morphological specializations. Our results do not support the idea that an inability to adapt to climatic instability caused the extinction of P. recki recki during the Late Acheulean. There is also currently no solid evidence that hominin hunting activities were the cause. However, we cannot discount the potential cumulative impact of climatic-induced environmental pressures and advancements in hominin hunting technologies during the early Middle Stone Age on the eventual extinction of the Palaeoloxodon lineage during the Middle–Late Pleistocene interface.