22 research outputs found
Late Pleistocene-Holocene coastal adaptation in central Mediterranean: Snapshots from Grotta d’Oriente (NW Sicily)
No full textMarine faunal remains from Grotta d’Oriente (Favignana Island, NW Sicily) offer invaluable snapshots of human-coastal environment interaction in the central Mediterranean from the Late Pleistocene to the Middle Holocene. The long-term shellfish and fish records reflect human exploitation of coastal environments undergoing considerable reorganizations during the postglacial sea level rise and the progressive isolation of Favignana from mainland Sicily. We detected an intensification of marine resource exploitation between ∼9.6 ka and ∼7.8 ka BP, which corresponds with the isolation of Favignana Island and, later on, with the introduction of early agro-pastoral economy in this region. We suggest that a higher investment in marine resource exploitation by late foragers and early farmers in NW Sicily was also supported by an increase in marine productivity in the south Tyrrhenian Sea in the Middle Holocene
Brazilian Zooarch Database (ZooarchBR): database of the archaeological fauna of Brazil
No full text<p>The Brazilian Zooarch Database (ZooarchBR) is the first collaborative and open access zooarchaeological database in Brazil, where the user can not only view the available data, but also contribute by entering new/additional information to expand the faunal data recorded in Brazilian archaeological sites. The data will also be integrated into the <em>Sistema de Informação sobre a Biodiversidade Brasileira (SiBBr)</em> and Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).</p>
<p><strong>Reference (version 1):</strong> Fossile, T., Ferreira, J, Colonese, A.C. 2023. Brazilian Zooarch Database (ZooarchBR): a database of the archaeological fauna of Brazil, <em>Revista de Arqueologia da</em> <em>Sociedade de Arqueologia Brasileira </em>(ISSN 0102-0420 - Press Version; ISSN 1982-1999 - Online Version)<em>, v. 36 n. 3 (2023): </em>Special issue <em>Zooarqueologia Neotropical</em>, Editors C. Borges; P. Fernandéz; A. S. Muñoz; R. C. C. L. Souza, Neotropical Zooarchaeology Working Group of International Council for Archaeozoology (NZWG-ICAZ). DOI <a href="https://doi.org/10.24885/sab.v36i3.1088">https://doi.org/10.24885/sab.v36i3.1088</a>.</p>
<p><strong>(Português)</strong></p>
<p>O Brazilian Zooarch Database (ZooarchBR) é o primeiro banco de dados zooarqueológico colaborativo e de acesso aberto do Brasil onde o usuário pode visualizar os dados disponíveis e contribuir na inserção de novos dados para expansão da fauna registrada em sítios arqueológicos no país. Os dados também serão integrados ao Sistema de Informação sobre a Biodiversidade Brasileira (SiBBr) e ao Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF).</p>
<p><strong>Referência (versão 1): </strong>Fossile, T., Ferreira, J., Colonese, A.C. 2023. Brazilian Zooarch Database (ZooarchBR): banco de dados da fauna arqueológica do Brasil, Revista de Arqueologia da Sociedade de Arqueologia Brasileira (ISSN 0102-0420 - Versão Impressa; ISSN 1982-1999 - Versão Online),<em> v. 36 n. 3 (2023): </em>Dossiê Zooarqueologia Neotropical, Editores C. Borges; P. Fernandéz; A. S. Muñoz; R. C. C. L. Souza, <em>Neotropical Zooarchaeology Working Group of International Council for Archaeozoology (NZWG-ICAZ)</em>. DOI <a href="https://doi.org/10.24885/sab.v36i3.1088">https://doi.org/10.24885/sab.v36i3.1088</a>.</p>This work was funded by the ERC Consolidator project TRADITION, which has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union's Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme under Grant Agreement No 817911. This work contributes to the "ICTA-UAB María de Maeztu" Programme for Units of Excellence of the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (CEX2019-000940-M). This work was also funded by EarlyFoods (Evolution and impact of early food production systems), 2021 SGR 00527
Stable isotope composition of Late Glacial land snail shells from Grotto del Romito (Southern Italy): Palaeoclimatic implications
No full textStable isotope composition of living and fossil land snail shells was determined at Grotta del Romito (Southern Italy) with the aim to reconstruct environmental and climatic variation in the area during Late Upper Palaeolithic. The investigated succession comprised 15 different excavated layers spanning between ca 13,000 and 14,500 yr cal BP. The oxygen isotope composition of snail shells indicates a marked decrease at the layer D8 suggesting a climatic deterioration consistent with the GI 1d climatic event (Older Dryas). This climate deterioration may have been related to a substantial decrease of mean annual temperature with associated changes in the regional atmospheric circulation. However, the environmental conditions at the time of shell's growth in the other intervals sampled suggest condition comparable to the present day. The carbon isotope composition of fossil snail shells is in agreement with other records, which indicate a general increase of the δ13C values of organic matter during Pleniglacial to Late Glacial caused by substantially lower atmospheric CO2 concentration at that time
Stable isotope composition of <i>Helix ligata</i> (Muller, 1774) from Late Pleistocene-Holocene archaeological record from Grotta della Serratura (Southern Italy): Palaeoclimtic implications
No full textCarbon and oxygen isotope ratios were measured in fossil and recent shells of the land snail Helix ligata.
Fossil shells were recovered from the archaeological excavations of Grotta della Serratura and recent
specimens collected adjacent to the cave. The record is discontinuous and spans from ca 14 to 7 ka cal BP.
The oxygen isotope composition of the fossil shells suggests they were grown from environmental waters
(e.g. precipitation) isotopically similar to the present during the recorded part of the Late Glacial. A notable
exception is represented by a layer at ca 13.4 ka cal BP, with shells characterised by 18O-enriched values,
suggesting drier conditions, with rainfall perhaps reduced by 25% compared to the present day. This layer
could correspond in part with the GI-1b event of the Greenland ice-core records. The onset of the Holocene
was marked by a decrease of δ18O, suggesting an increase in humidity. Significantly lower δ18O values occur
at ca 7.4 ka cal BP, in agreement with other stable isotope records, which suggests enhanced rainfall over the
Mediterranean region at that time
Oxygen and carbon isotopic composition of modern terrestrial gastropod shells from Lipari Island, Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily)
No full textOxygen (δ18Os) and stable carbon (δ13Cs) isotopic compositions of modern terrestrial gastropod shells from
Lipari Island, in the Aeolian Archipelago (Sicily), have been analysed and compared with local meteoric water
δ18O (δ18Op) and vegetation δ13C (δ13Cv) respectively. Results reveal that the δ18Os–δ18Op relationship over
the study area differs from those obtained on continental Europe and Italian shells, implying that even at the
scale of the Mediterranean basin different relationships may co-exist. These differences have been interpreted
as the increasing influence of Mediterranean vapour water on Tyrrhenian coasts at relatively low altitude
(up to ~600 m asl), which compensates for the effect of the δ18Op, and possibly of temperature, on shell δ18O.
The steady-state flux balance model (FBM), in agreement with previous studies, suggests that snails are active
prevalently at night. Shell carbon isotope ratios reflect the δ13Cv, as predicted by the metabolic model and
represent a valuable tool for identifying C3 plants with very distinct isotopic signatures
Holocene snail shell isotopic record of millennial-scale hydrological conditions in western Mediterranean: data from Bauma del Serrat del Pont (NE Iberian Peninsula)
No full textLand snail shells are a common component in Mediterranean Holocene archaeological deposits, providing
the opportunity to explore their potential as source of information concerning human behaviour and
palaeoclimatic conditions. Many well-preserved shells of the caenogastropod Pomatias elegans were recovered
along the Holocene succession of Baumadel Serrat del Pont (BSP), in the Iberian Peninsula. Their oxygen
(d18Os) and carbon (d13Cs) isotopic compositions were analysed and compared with that of modern shells of
the samespecies collected intwo distinct areasnear the archaeological site.Modernshells fromSiteA(shady)
and B (sunny) show distinctly different oxygen isotopic ratios possibly due to the effect of microenvironmental
conditions (e.g. temperature and relative humidity). Carbon isotopes, by contrast, reveal
similar values. Isotope mass balance suggests a prevalent contribution of vegetation (w70%), integrated with
foreign carbonates (w30%) to d13Cs of modern snails. Earlyelate Holocene shells (w9e2.5 cal ka BP) have
lower d18Os compared with modern counterparts, which is consistent with prevailing wetter conditions
compared with present day. The d13Cs reveals distinct hydrological regimes, wet and dry conditions, from
early to late Holocene respectively. In general, shell isotopic records from western and central
Mediterranean regions suggest wetter conditions during the middle Holocene, with a possible reduction
in humidity from w4 cal ka BP. The d18Os indicates a possible latitudinal difference in hydrological balance
between Mediterranean and Atlantic Europe as inferred by previous studies of regional palaeoclimatic
records. Carbon isotopes, by contrast, do not provide a clear climatic picture, probably due to the effect of
distinct vegetation structure and composition. Comparisons with other environmental archives reinforce
the concept of regional shell oxygen isotopic response to millennial-scale changes in hydrological condition
over the western and central Mediterranean during the late Quaternary
The loess deposits of Buca Dei Corvi section (Central Italy): Revisited
No full textLoess deposits have been described in the past for the upper section of Buca Dei Corvi succession (Central Italy). In this paper the depositswere re-analysed to clarify the depositional environment and to attempt a paleoclimate reconstruction. Two radiocarbon dates on pedogenic carbonate constrain the ages to the Late Glacial, and are consistent with previous OSL dating of the top of the succession. The non-marine mollusc assemblage shows typical character of cold and dry climatic conditions, testified by strong oligotypical composition. Mineralogy and geochemistry of the sediments indicate the abundant presence of exotic quartz mineral which can be explained only by wind transport. Probably,wind transportwas also responsible of deposition of carbonatewhich then dissolved and re-precipitated producing pedogenic concretions. Stable isotopes (13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios) of the concretions are consistent with a climate drier than present conditions, with an environment characterized by sparse vegetation
Early-middle Holocene land snail shell stable isotope record from Grotta di Latronico 3 (southern Italy)
No full textThis paper compares stable isotope (δ<sup>18</sup>O and δ<sup>13</sup>C) records of early–middle Holocene land snail shells from the archaeological deposits of Grotta di Latronico 3 (LTR3; southern Italy) with modern shell isotopic data. No substantial interspecific variability was observed in shell δ<sup>18</sup>O (δ<sup>18</sup>Os) of modern specimens (Pomatias elegans, Cornu aspersum, Eobania vermiculata, Helix ligata and Marmorana fuscolabiata). In contrast, interspecific shell δ<sup>13</sup>C (δ<sup>13</sup>Cs) variability was significant, probably due to different feeding behaviour among species. The δ<sup>18</sup>Os values of living land snails suggest that species hibernate for a long period during colder months, so that the signal of <sup>18</sup>O-depleted winter rainfall in their δ<sup>18</sup>Os is lost. This suggests that δ<sup>18</sup>Os and δ<sup>13</sup>Cs values of Pomatias elegans from this archaeological succession provide valuable clues for seasonal (spring–autumn) climatic conditions during the early–middle Holocene. The δ<sup>18</sup>Os values of fossil specimens are significantly lower than in modern shells and in agreement with other palaeoclimatic records, suggesting a substantial increase of precipitation and/or persistent changes in air mass source trajectories over this region between ca. 8.8 cal ka BP and 6.2–6.7 ka ago. The δ<sup>13</sup>Cs trend suggests a transition from a slightly <sup>13</sup>C-enriched to a <sup>13</sup>C-depleted diet between early and middle Holocene compared to present conditions. We postulate that this δ<sup>13</sup>Cs trend might reflect changes in the C3 vegetation community, potentially combined with other environmental factors such as regional moisture increase and the progressive decrease of atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration
Stable isotope composition of Late Pleistocene-Holocene <i>Eobania vermiculata</i> (Muller, 1774) (Pulmonata, Stylommatophora) shells from the Central Mediterranean basin: data from Grotta d'Oriente (Favignana, Sicily)
No full text<p>This paper presents stable isotopic results (oxygen and carbon) from both modern and Late Pleistocene-Holocene shells of the land snail <i>Eobania vermiculata</i> (Müller, 1774) from Favignana Island (Sicily). It aims to contribute to the understanding of climate and vegetation history of this region during formation of Upper Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Meso-Neolithic deposits of Grotta d’Oriente (ORT). Results from both an evaporative model (FBM) and an empirical regional isotopic model (i.e. linear relation between oxygen isotopic composition of shells (δ<sup>18</sup>Os) and those of local precipitation (δ<sup>18</sup>Op)) indicate that the δ<sup>18</sup>Os values of modern specimens are mainly controlled by local temperature, relative humidity and δ<sup>18</sup>Op at the time of snail activity. Data also suggest that the modern snails are nocturnally active almost all-year round in the study area. The carbon isotopic compositions of shells (δ<sup>13</sup>Cs) of the same specimens indicate a diet prevalently (or exclusively) composed of C3 vegetation.</p>
<p>The δ<sup>18</sup>Os values of Late Pleistocene specimens suggest that climate conditions at ∼14.2 ka cal BP were similar to the present day, in agreement with additional δ<sup>18</sup>Os records from southern Italy. By contrast, early-middle Holocene shells are notably 18O-depleted and suggest wetter conditions, possibly combined with a decrease in isotopic composition of precipitation source, compared to the present day. When compared with regional palaeoclimatic records a large-scale isotopic response to millennial-scale changes in atmospheric and hydrological conditions (e.g. enhanced rainfall) in the central-eastern Mediterranean is observed during the early-middle Holocene. The δ<sup>13</sup>Cs of Late Pleistocene and Holocene specimens are consistently higher than those of modern ones. For the Late Pleistocene, this could be reasonably explained in terms of water-stressed vegetation. On the other hand, this seems to be less valid for Holocene counterparts when the climate was wetter. Probably δ<sup>13</sup>Cs values result from the combination of distinct competing factors, involving atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> concentration, seasonal water budget, vegetation type-cover and other carbon sources. Results reveal coherent relationships between regional δ<sup>18</sup>Os and δ<sup>13</sup>Cs, demonstrating that Late Pleistocene-Holocene land snail shell remains from archaeological sites may provide useful snapshots of past seasonal climate conditions.</p>
