Lower Pleistocene

Modern Mediterranean, Black and the Caspian Sea have been repeatedly geocatastrophic events caused by abrupt climate change or global geological processes. Notable examples in this regard is the Mediterranean Messinian crisis on the border of the Miocene-Pliocene (5.7-5.2 million years ago), when formed evaporite-sulfur-bearing formation. At the same time formed the Azov Black Sea province of iron ore and Balhan Formation of the Caspian Sea which connected major oil and gas fields. The Black Sea crisis Appearances at about 8-9 thousand Years ago, geocatastrophic event as a result of melting glaciers Wurm glaciation. As a result, the water of the Mediterranean Sea salinity 38 ‰ flooded into the Black Sea lake and eventually formed clusters of giant deep sea organogenic mineral sediments (DSOMS).

- КиберЛенинка: https://cyberleninka.ru/article/n/paleogeographic-reconstructions-and-conditions-of-forming-non-traditional-resources-of-the-black-sea

The earliest human occupation of the Iherian Peninsula: a summary

This paper reviews those Iberian sires where a human activity has been proposed in rhe Lower Pleistocene. This critic review aliows establishing a chronology of the latest Lower Pleistocene for the earliest Iberian human groups. Barranco León 5 and Fuenrenueva 3 (Granada) and Gran Dolina (Sierra de Arapuerca, Burgos) records set the first hominids of me Iberian Peninsula berween normal subchron Gilsá (Mt. Cobb) (OIS 34) and just before the Brunhes/Matuyama limit (OIS 20), conventional Lower/Middle Pleistocene border

Este artículo revisa aquellos yacimientos peninsulares donde se ha propuesto la existencia de vestigios de actividad antrópica durante el Pleistoceno inferior. Esta revisión crítica permite realizar una propuesta de cronología para los primeros representantes del género Homo en territorio peninsular. Los datos de Barranco León 5 y Fuentenueva 3 (Granada) y Gran Dolina (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos) podrían situar estos grupos de homínidos entre el episodio de polaridad positiva Gilsá (OIS 34) y poco antes del tránsito paleomagnético Brunhes/Matuyama (OIS 20), límite convencional Pleistoceno inferior/ medio.

Present paper briefly reviews the mean archaeological record proposed as evidence of human presence during Lower Pleistocene in the Iberian Peninsula. A critical review questions the ancient chronologies assigned to surface lithic collections recorded in high fluvial terraces. Nowadays, archaeological data that most likely traces the Iberian earliest human occupation are those recorded in Barranco León 5, Fuentenueva 3 (Granada), Gran Dolina, and Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Paying attention to this archaeological and palaeontological record, some hominid groups inhabited some Iberian areas between the normal polarity episode Gilsá (OIS 34) and the paleomagnetic boundary Brunhes/Matuyama (OIS 20), Lower/Middle Pleistocene conventional limit. This chronological proposal for the earliest human occupation on the Iberian Peninsula introduces us in the broader view of the earliest human occupation of Eurasia, giving some reflections about this phenomena and the state of the art.

El presente trabajo pasa somera revista al registro arqueológico propuesto como evidencia de actividad antrópica en la Península Ibérica durante el Pleistoceno inferior. Una revisión crítica permite cuestionar las cronologías antiguas asignadas a concentraciones superficiales localizadas en terrazas fluviales altas, atendiendo a precisiones geomorfológicas y arqueológicas.
Hasta la fecha, los datos con un grado de fiabilidad mínima que podrían registrar el poblamiento peninsular más antiguo son los procedentes de Barranco León 5 y Fuentenueva 3 (Granada) y Gran Dolina y Sima del Elefante (Sierra de Atapuerca, Burgos). Atendiendo a los mismos, algunos grupos de homínidos ocuparon algunas zonas meridionales y centroseptentrionales de la Península Ibérica entre el episodio de polaridad positiva Gilsá (OIS 34) y poco antes del tránsito paleomagnético Brunhes/Matuyama (OIS 20), límite convencional Pleistoceno inferior/medio. Esta propuesta cronoestratigráfica es aprovechada para enmarcar el primer poblamiento peninsular en el contexto de Eurasia realizando una serie de reflexiones en torno a este proceso y el estado actual de su investigación.

In this paper, we discuss about when the first occupation of Europe took place. According to the present-day data, the South of Europe was occupied before the northern latitudes. The first evidences have an age of around 1.3-1.4 Ma. The lithic technology utilized by these humans is simple, and can be classified as Mode 1. This technology does not have handaxes, cleavers, and neither complex strategies of production. Probably the access to Europe during the Lower Pleistocene was accomplished through the Near East. An access through Gibraltar or Sicily is unlikely.

de Lombera-Hermida, A.; Rodríguez-Álvarez, X.P.; Peña, L.; Sala-Ramos, R;  Despriée, J.; Moncel, M-H.; Gourcimault, G.; Voinchet, P. and Falguères, C. 2016. The lithic assemblage from Pont-de-Lavaud (Indre, France) and the role of the bipolar-on-anvil technique in the Lower and Early Middle Pleistocene technology. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 41, pp: 159-184.

The lithic assemblage of the Pont-de-Lavaud site (Indre, France) shows a technical choice within the
Lower Pleistocene European Mode 1 sites, which is defined by the widespread use of the bipolar-onanvil
knapping technique. Although it is traditionally considered an expedient percussion method, in this
lithic assemblage a selective technical behavior regarding the reduction methods and raw material is
identified. In this respect, different knapping methods are applied in accordance with a combination of
the percussion axis and the recurrence of the reduction series. These features are also observed in the
archaeological record from other Lower and Middle Pleistocene sites, which are discussed in the text.
The role of this knapping technique in the hominin technology is, in our opinion, greater than previously
believed. Its implementation cannot be considered as proof of opportunistic or expedient activities. The
bipolar-on-anvil technique is applied in different contexts, on different raw materials and as a technical
choice or gesture in the reduction sequences. Because of its low technical requirements, it can be considered
as a successful technological strategy for overcoming raw material constraints for producing some
specific types of pieces. Its ubiquitous presence, both from a diachronic and geographical point of view, is
proof of its considerable technical versatility and, hence, of Mode 1 hominin technological flexibility and
capabilities.

The deposits of the shelf belong to the Holocene, the upper and the lower Pleistocene and they are described here in detail. The Holocene deposits are distributed all over the area. Their thickness is variable. The sand and the aleuritic fraction consists of carbonate grains, quartz, ferrosulphates, garnet, zirconium, epidote, magnetite, ilmenite and others. The main minerals in the clayey fractions are hydromica, montmorilonite, chlorite and kaolinite. The Upper Pliocene deposits are coarse grained terrigenous-shelly. They are established at a depth of 60-70 to 1000m and are relatively thin. The lower Pliocene deposits are situated in the periphery zone of the shelf at a depth of 80-100m. They are also fairly thin and are represented by a coarse terrigenous-shelly and clayey facies. -from Abstracts of Bulgarian Scientific Literature.

Kidnaping Europe... one time and another

European Early Palaeolithic's record of Europe shows, at least, three human occupation episodes. The oldest one is only recorded in the Iberian Peninsula. The sites are scarce and dated between 1,5 and 1,25 Ma BP. The lithic assemblages are very similar to those recorded in Dmanisi (Georgia) circa 1,8 Ma BP and may represent the same hominid dispersal event. This is related to the faunal changes detected in Caucasus, Middle East and European ecosystems by the Plio-Pleistocene conventional limit.

This event involved the diffusion of African taxa in those regions. A second human occupation of Europe episode, restricted into the Mediterranean area, it is recorded by a slightly more abundant number of archaeological sites. They are dated between late Early Pleistocene and Matuyama/Brunhes limit, berween OIS 25-OIS 24 and OIS 19-OIS 18 transition. Paleoantropological and archaeological record points to an Asian origin of this hominid dispersal, related with the Galerian faunal event. After a new archaeological record hiatus, there are new evidences of anthropic activity in Europe since OIS 16-OIS 15. At this time the European geographic range populated by hominids increases, reaching as northern latitudes as South Great Britain and North Germany during the warm isotopic stages. In general terms, locations representing this third phase involved the introduction in Europe of new technologies and behavioural trends, as a better knowledge of the environment. While the previous human occupation events don't seem to be successful, paleoanthropological and archaeological data recorded from circa 550 Ka BP points to demographic continuity, linking with the earliest manifestations of the technologies and human populations characteristic of the European Middle Paleolithic.

El registro inferopaleolítico de Europa permite establecer un mínimo de tres fases de poblamiento del subcontinente. Las evidencias seguras de actividad antrópica más antigua, localizadas todas ellas en la Península Ibérica, son escasas y se datan entre 1,5 y 1,25 Ma BP. No existen datos que indiquen su continuidad. Las similitudes de estos conjuntos líticos con las colecciones documentadas circa 1,8 Ma BP en Dmanisi (Georgia) invitan a considerar la posibilidad de que todos estos yacimientos manifiesten una dispersión de homínidos con origen en África oriental. La misma parece estar relacionada con las transformaciones de faunas apreciadas en el Cáucaso, Próximo Oriente y Europa en torno al límite Plio-Pleistoceno convencional, episodio que implicó la difusión de especies africanas en estos ecosistemas. Una segunda fase de poblamiento del continente, restringido al área mediterránea, está representada por una nómina de yacimientos algo más nutrida. La misma parece no prolongarse más allá de la transición Pleistoceno inferior/ Pleistoceno medio, datándose entre OIS 25-OIS 24 y la transición OIS 19-OIS 18. Los datos paleoantropológicos y arqueológicos de estos yacimientos parecen señalar un origen asiático para estas poblaciones, cuya penetración en Europa coincide con el episodio de reemplazo faunístico Galeriense, que implicó la difusión de taxa asiáticos en los ecosistemas europeos. Tras un aparente hiato del registro europeo, a partir de la transición OIS 16-OIS 15, se cuenta con evidencia de actividad antrópica más abundante. El rango geográfico ocupado por grupos de homínidos se amplió hasta alcanzar áreas tan septentrionales como el sur de Gran Bretaña y el norte de Alemania durante las fases isotópicas pares. En términos generales, los yacimientos correspondientes a esta tercera fase manifiestan la aparición en Europa de nuevas tecnologías y pautas de comportamiento, así como un mejor conocimiento del medio por parte de sus protagonistas.

Mientras los ensayos de colonización anteriores no parecen tener éxito, los datos paleoantropológicos y arqueológicos del registro documentado desde circa 550 Ka BP en adelante indican claramente signos de continuidad de este poblamiento, enlazando con las primeras manifestaciones de las tecnologías y los tipos humanos característicos del Paleolítico medio.

El trabajo aborda una revisión del registro europeo correspondiente al Paleolítico inferior europeo hasta el estadio isotópico 8, a fin de determinar cuándo y como se produjo el proceso de primer poblamiento del continente, así como las rutas de dispersión hacia el continente; su relación con el primer poblamiento de Asia, en el que debe contextualizarse el de Europa, y la especie humanas implicadas en el proceso. Una vez diagnosticada la validez de los diferentes yacimientos considerados, el registro inferopaleolítico de Europa permite establecer un mínimo de tres fases de poblamiento del subcontinente. La evidencias seguras de actividad antrópica más antigua, localizadas todas ellas en la Península Ibérica, son escasas y se datan entre 1,5 y 1,25 ma. BP. No existen datos que indiquen su continuidad. Las similitudes de estos conjuntos líticos con las colecciones documentadas circa 1,8 ma. BP en Dmanisi (Georgia) invitan a considerar la posibilidad de que todos estos yacimientos manifiestan una dispersión de homínidos con origen en África oriental. La mixta parece estar relacionada con las transformaciones de faunas apreciadas en el Cáucaso, Próximo Oriente y Europa en tramo al límite Plio-Pleistoceno convencional, episodio que implicó la difusión de especies africanas en estos ecosistemas. Una segunda fase de poblacimiento del continente, restringido al área mediterráneas, está representada por una nómina de yacimientos algo más nutrida. La misma parece no prolongarse más allá de la transición Pleistoceno inferior/Pleistoceno, datándose entre las trasiciones OIS 25/OIS 24 y OIS 19/OIS 18. Los datos paleoantropológicos y arqueológicos y paleontológicos de estos yacimientos parecen señalar un origen asiático para estas poblaciones, cuya penetración en Europa coincide con el episodio de reemplazo faunístico Galeriense, que implicó la difusión de taxa asiáticos en los ecosistemas europeos.

de Lombera-Hermida, A.; Rodríguez-Álvarez, X.P.; Peña, L.; Sala-Ramos, R; Despriée, J.; Moncel, M-H.; Gourcimault, G.; Voinchet, P. and Falguères, C. 2016. The lithic assemblage from Pont-de-Lavaud (Indre, France) and the role of the bipolar-on-anvil technique in the Lower and Early Middle Pleistocene technology. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology, 41, pp: 159-184. The lithic assemblage of the Pont-de-Lavaud site (Indre, France) shows a technical choice within the Lower Pleistocene European Mode 1 sites, which is defined by the widespread use of the bipolar-onanvil knapping technique. Although it is traditionally considered an expedient percussion method, in this lithic assemblage a selective technical behavior regarding the reduction methods and raw material is identified. In this respect, different knapping methods are applied in accordance with a combination of the percussion axis and the recurrence of the reduction series. These features are also observed in the archaeologic...

El canibalisme ha estat practicat per nombrosos grups humans pertanyents a diferents cultures i civi-litzacions. Molts mites, llegendes i històries es refe-reixen a accions de canibalisme i abasten un marc geogràfic i temporal molt extens. No obstant, la seva acceptació per part de la ...

Help us to put the 1 million years old fossil skull of an elephant on show to the public, in the Paleontological Museum of Montevarchi (AR). Only 7 days remaining to reach the goal...

In the autumn of 2016, two hunters notice a pair of elephant tusks surfacing from the earth, in the area of Tasso in Terranuova Bracciolini (AR)
They are the remains of a Mammuthus meridionalis, a species of elephant that lived in the Upper Valdarno when the environment was similar to the African savanna of today. The discovery called for a paleontological excavation and the Soprintendenza Archeologia Belle Arti e Paesaggio delle Provincie di Siena, Grosseto e Arezzo prepared for it, with the help of the Faculty of Scienze della Terra of the University of Florence and the Paleontological Museum of Montevarchi.
At the end of May 2017, the paleontological excavation begins, with the collaboration of palaeontologists, archaeologists, geologists, restorers and photographers: courageous and tight-knit teamwork, that challenges a savanna-like climate!
After two months of digging a skull comes to light, with its tusks, and an elephant's ulna, together with fragments of Equidae's teeth and the shoulder blade of a Cervidae: all remains just over 1.6 million years ago.
In September 2017 the fossil is moved into a restoration laboratory in San Giovanni Valdarno. The laboratory is the destination of guided tours of visitors and schools. In few months, more than a thousand visitors came to the laboratory.
Finally in July 2018, with delicate and very demanding operations, the fossil is moved into the Paleontological Museum in Montevarchi; there the restoration continues.
The planning is involving different groups of people: everybody is called to put forward ideas and suggestions.

Your contribution will be fundamental to put on show the new fossil: it will be the result of a journey made with many people, including you!

The first arrivals of hominin populations into Eurasia during the Early Pleistocene are currently considered to have occurred as short and poorly dated biological dispersions. Questions as to the tempo and mode of these early prehistoric settlements have given rise to debates concerning the taxonomic significance of the lithic assemblages, as trace fossils, and the geographical distribution of the technological traditions found in the Lower Palaeolithic record. Here, we report on the Barranc de la Boella site which has yielded a lithic assemblage dating to ~1 million years ago that includes large cutting tools (LCT). We argue that distinct technological traditions coexisted in the Iberian archaeological repertoires of the late Early Pleistocene age in a similar way to the earliest sub-Saharan African artefact assemblages. These differences between stone tool assemblages may be attributed to the different chronologies of hominin dispersal events. The archaeological record of Barranc de la Boella completes the geographical distribution of LCT assemblages across southern Eurasia during the EMPT (Early-Middle Pleistocene Transition, circa 942 to 641 kyr). Up to now, chronology of the earliest European LCT assemblages is based on the abundant Palaeolithic record found in terrace river sequences which have been dated to the end of the EMPT and later. However, the findings at Barranc de la Boella suggest that early LCT lithic assemblages appeared in the SW of Europe during earlier hominin dispersal episodes before the definitive colonization of temperate Eurasia took place