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Incipient forms of the ichnogenera Celliforma, ? Rebuffoichnus, Tombownichnus, Taenidium, Chubutolites and Machichnus and, in addition, complex forms of probable termite galleries, beetle galleries and mammal burrows were found in masonry, plasters and surrounding (both natural and man-made) deposits in the ancient Abusir necropolis. Among the ways of the classification of the material, the use of standard ichnotaxonomic names appeared to be more objective and more correct than mere estimations of possible tracemakers as made colloquially in the past. The realistic classification enables a useful interpretation in such a context through dating (radiometric dating is possible if the tunnels are lined with organic matter), specification of depth of burrowing/bioerosion (some insect structures show a highly specific depth below the substrate surface) and identification of the tracemaker (insect family, genus, species). Having such information, it is possible, e.g., to recognize that the wall of a building was exposed/unburied during certain time interval and that the environment was favourable for the development of the tracemaker (e.g., clover-pollinating solitary bees). Three basic colonization times were recognized: first, 2760 ± 35 B.P. = ca 750 B.C.; second, 645 ± 30 B.P. i.e. ca 1350 A.D.; third, 225 ± 30 B.P., i.e. ca 1775 A.D. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an ostracod record covering the past two millennia from an 8.25-m core taken from Lake Qarun, in the Faiyum Depression of Egypt. The occurrence of ostracod species in the lake is controlled primarily by variations in solute composition, which are in turn related to shifts in catchment land use. At times when the Faiyum Depression supported thriving agriculture, lake water contained Na–Cl brine, and Cyprideis torosa dominated the ostracod assemblage. When the Faiyum Depression experienced periods of environmental and economic decline, lake water contained Na–HCO brine, and Limnocythere inopinata dominated. The relative abundance of other ostracod species provides additional information about past conditions in Lake Qarun including salinity and lake level changes. Overall, the ostracod assemblages provide evidence for human influences in the Faiyum, which extend back before instrumental or detailed observational records began. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]