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The Pikermian chronofauna is associated with C4 vegetation and the potential hominin Graecopithecus freybergi in Greece and Bulgaria and forms part of the Old World Savannah Paleobiome. This study provides a new magnetostratigraphy for thestratigraphic interval that includes the Haliminhanı and Hayranlı mammal sites from the central Anatolian Sivas Basin (Turkey), which show high faunal similarities to the Pikermian chronofauna.Dated sites harboring Pikermian fauna in Turkey, Greece, and Bulgaria range in age between 11 and 7.3 Ma. Based on biostratigraphy, the Haliminhanı and Hayranlı fossil horizons were previously placed within European Mammal Neogene (MN) zones MN11-MN12 (ca. 9 to 7 Ma). A new magnetostratigraphy in 140 m thick continental deposits refines the age estimate to 8.0–6.5 Ma for the fossil mammal-bearing levels of the Sivas Basin.Negative covariance between δ13C and δ18O values of bulk carbonate from the fluvio-lacustrine beds indicates an open lake hydrology; δ13C and δ18O values suggest a positive water balance and no significant long-term changes in hydrology and primary productivity within the lake that once covered the Sivas Basin. Two intervals of increased δ13C (by ca. 6–8‰) within the section are followed by a similar decrease over total time intervals of ca. 150 kyr. An increase of biogenic productivity can increase δ13C in lacustrine carbonate and may either result from changes in nutrient input or temperature. The absence of simultaneous changes in δ18O during peaks in δ13C make temperature an unlikely driver and we therefore conclude that nutrient input adjustments to the basin were responsible for the two peaks in δ13C.Our results suggest that the Pikermian chronofauna of the Sivas Basin thrived under relatively stable local hydrological and climatic conditions. In the Sivas Basin, the Pikermian fauna flourished well into the Messinian, as opposed to Greek and Bulgarian sites where faunal turnover was observed under a cooling climate and mid-latitude desertification across the Tortonian-Messinian boundary.Key words magnetostratigraphy, stable isotope geochemistry, mammal stratigraphy, late Miocene, Pikermian, central AnatoliaReferences Böhme et al. (2017). PLoS ONE, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0177347; Böhme et al. (2018). Global and Planetary Change, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2018.07.019 ; Meijers et al. (2018). Earth and Planetary Science Letters, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.05.040; Meijers et al. (2020). Geosphere, https://doi.org/10.1130/GES02135.1; Meijers et al. (2022). Newsletters on Stratigraphy, https://doi.org/10.1127/nos/2021/0623

The Central Anatolian Plateau (CAP, Turkey, elevation ca. 1-1.5 km) was established during the late Miocene. Prior to Pleistocene surface uplift of its southern margin (Tauride Mountains), a southern margin orographic barrier with similar-to-present elevations (ca. 2 km) existed between 8 and 5 Ma. To unravel the interactions between tectonics and Earth surface processes, we quantify biotic and abiotic parameters for the late Miocene to Pliocene. As the CAP exposes presently incised fluvio-lacustrine sedimentary rocks of well-dated Miocene to Pliocene age, the region provides an excellent archive for reconstructing past landscape dynamics, such as surface uplift, lake hydrology, and drainage integration. Within this established framework, we now reconstruct the late Miocene to Pliocene ecosystem by measuring clumped isotope (Δ47) temperatures of carbonate formation and δ13C and δ18O values of paleosol carbonate and fossil mammal tooth enamel. Collectively, our data allow for the reconstruction of paleoclimate, vegetation types (C3 vs. C4), mammalian diet, landscape heterogeneity, and seasonality. The first clumped isotope-derived paleotemperatures indicate a large (8 °C) temperature difference at ca. 5.5 Ma between lacustrine carbonate from the Mediterranean coastal region (Adana Basin; ca. 26 ± 1.8 °C) and paleosol carbonate from the central Anatolian interior (ca. 18 ± 1.7 °C), which likely reflects the higher elevation of the CAP. Soil carbonate δ13C values from the plateau interior (13 sites, N= 344, ca. 10 to 2 Ma) are much higher between ca. 8 and 5 Ma (ca. –3 to 0 ‰) than earlier or later in time (ca. –8 to –5 ‰), which indicates the presence of a significant component of C4 vegetation, characterized by wooded grasslands and grasslands, during the latest Miocene. In contrast, C3-dominated vegetation reflecting more wooded environments were dominant at ca. 10 Ma and from 4 to 2 Ma. The increase in C4 vegetation during the late Miocene is coeval with surface uplift of the southern CAP margin, whereas an increase of C3 vegetation by the Pliocene could coincide with a phase of subsidence of the southern CAP margin prior to its final phase of Pleistocene surface uplift. Furthermore, we collected mammal tooth enamel samples (equid, bovid, rhinocerotid, suid) from 11 individuals at one ca. 9 Ma-old and one latest Miocene-Pliocene fossil site. δ13C and δ18O values indicate the mammals at the two nearby fossil sites had varying diets and therefore access to different vegetation and water supplies. We are currently improving the stratigraphic framework and dating of these fossil sites, as well as obtaining tooth enamel δ13C and δ18O values of 44 more individuals to further constrain paleoenvironmental conditions and eventually the causality between tectonics and Earth surface processes in central Anatolia. References: Meijers et al., 2018a: Palaeo3, doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.03.001; Meijers et al., 2018b: EPSL, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.05.040; Huang, Meijers et al., 2019: J of Biogeography, doi: 10.1111/jbi.13622; Meijers et al., 2020: Geosphere, doi: 10.1130/GES02135.1

Quantifying the interactions between tectonics and Earth surface processes on orogenic plateaus requires the acquisition of a multitude of field observations and geological proxies. Here, we reconstruct the topographic development of the Central Anatolian Plateau (Turkey), identify the geodynamic drivers of plateau formation, and constrain the climatic boundary conditions that shaped the fluvio-lacustrine basins, drainage integration, and vegetation and biodiversity dynamics.Our comprehensive dataset includes sedimentological and field observations, 40Ar/39Ar ages, magnetostratigraphy, lacustrine carbonate δ18O and δ13C data (n=665) from thirteen sections in upper Oligocene to Pliocene continental basins of the CAP interior, and 10Be erosion rates. We also analyze existing fossil faunal (mammal) and floral databases to assess biodiversity dynamics through time and we model isostatic rebound to understand drainage integration.The CAP and its steep, southern Tauride margin emerged from the Mediterranean Sea ~12-11 Ma and ~8-7 Ma ago, respectively. Contemporaneously to surface uplift, a fluvio-lacustrine system covered extensive parts of the rising CAP. Today, the semi-arid CAP interior − except for the Konya Closed Catchment (KCC) − drains towards the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Persian Gulf.Our stable isotope paleoaltimetry data show similar-to-present elevations (~2 km) of the southern CAP margin by 5 Ma. Surface uplift affected the diversity of plants and large mammals, and was coeval with ignimbritic magmatism, forearc shortening and distributed compression. We suggest that removal of lithospheric mantle below Anatolia led to surface uplift of the CAP interior, followed by surface uplift of the southern CAP margin as a result of subduction-related crustal thickening. Persistently (>1 Myr) stable paleoenvironmental and hydrological conditions recorded by the former fluvio-lacustrine Anatolian depocenters suggest that a low-relief environment characterized the CAP during plateau uplift. Throughout the late Miocene, various open and closed lakes of the southern CAP drained into closed, terminal lakes within the plateau interior. Sedimentation east of the Tuz Gölü Fault ceased rapidly during the early Pliocene (from 5.3-3.6 Ma), when river incision led to a connection with marine base level. Analysis of incision patterns reveals that drainage integration was not driven by capture of the interior drainage by aggressive rivers draining the plateau margin, but rather by top-down avulsion or overflow due to the establishment of a more positive water balance in some of the closed catchments of the plateau interior. Drainage integration occurred shortly after the switch from regional compression to extension and the onset of escape tectonics of the new Anatolian microplate, when fault partitioning of the existing low-relief plateau interior may have led to drainage integration.In a next step to reconstruct the paleoenvironmental conditions of the CAP, we obtain δ18O and δ13C values from fossil mammal tooth enamel, which allows for the reconstruction of mammalian diet, and in turn reflects paleovegetation, as well as seasonality for the Mio-Pliocene climate.ReferencesMeijers et al., 2018a: Palaeo3, doi: 10.1016/j.palaeo.2018.03.001Meijers et al., 2018b: EPSL, doi: 10.1016/j.epsl.2018.05.040Huang, Meijers et al., 2019: J of Biogeography, doi: 10.1111/jbi.13622Meijers et al., 2020: Geosphere, doi: 10.1130/GES02135.1

Diyarbakir Ili, Bismil Ilcesi, Yukari Salat Beldesi’nin 3 km guneyinde yer alan Asagi Salat Hoyugu, Dicle Nehri’nin ve Salat Cayi’nin kesistigi noktanin 2 km dogusuna konumlanmistir. Asagi Salat Hoyugu Kazilari, Diyarbakir Muze Mudurlugu Baskanligi ve Gazi Universitesi Arkeoloji Bolumu ogretim uyesi Prof. Dr. Suleyman Yucel Senyurt bilimsel baskanligi ile 2000-2002 yillari arasinda uc donem ve 2009-2010 yillari arasinda iki donem olarak gerceklestirilmistir. Yapilan kazi calismalari sonucu Kalkolitik, Erken Tunc Cagi I, MO I. binyil (Yeni Asur Donemi) ve Ortacag’a ait 9 kultur kati tespit edilmistir (Senyurt 2002, 445). Hayvan kemikleri Eski Tunc Cagi, Yeni Asur Donemi ve Orta Cag tabakalarina ait mezarlardan ele gecmistir. Faunayi olusturan hayvan kemikleri uzerinde aile ve cins/tur siniflandirilmasi yapilmistir. Kemikler uzerinde yapilan incelemeler tanimlanabilen cins\turlerin memeli sinifina ait oldugunu gostermektedir. Faunanin tamamina yakin bolumu evcil memelilerden olusmakta, cogunluk sigirlardan meydana gelmektedir. Hayvan kemiklerinin yogunlukla kult yerlerinden ve mezar alanlarindan ele gecmesi, burada sunu-adak rituelleri ve cenaze-olu kultu ile ilgili rituellerinin gerceklestirildigini dusundurmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler : Erken Tunc; Asur; Roma Donemi; Zooarkeoloji; Fauna;Tarim ve Hayvancilik.

Ozet: Bu calismada, Tarsus Makam Cami Son Cemaat yerinde yapilan kurtarma kazisindan ele gecen ve 18.-19. yuzyila tarihlendirilen eriskin bireylere ait toplam 37 cene ve 210 daimi dis paleopatolojik acidan incelenmistir. Tarsus Makam Cami eriskinlerinin daimi dislerinde ve cenelerinde, dis asinmasi (% 95,37), dis curugu (% 28,09), hipopilazi (% 14,29), distasi (% 50,95), apse (% 1,67), alveol kaybi (% 64,86) ve olum oncesi (antemortem) dis kaybi (% 12,78) gibi lezyonlar saptanmistir. Elde edilen veriler, farkli zamanlarda ve farkli cografik ortamlarda yasamis diger eski Anadolu toplumlari ile karsilastirilmis, incelenen toplumda ozellikle dis curugu ve distasi gibi lezyonlar bircok topluma gore daha yuksek oranda kaydedilmistir. Alveol kaybi orani da yuksektir. Fakat bu lezyon, karsilastirilan toplumlarin bircoguna yakin degerler vermektedir. Tarsus elverisli topraklari nedeniyle tarimin oldukca yogun yapildigi bir bolgedir. Tarsus eriskinlerinin daimi dislerinde saptanan yuksek dis curugu ve distasi oranlari, bu bolgedeki tarimsal yasam bicimini desteklemektedir. Ayni zamanda yuksek alveol kaybi ve distasi olusumu, incelenen bireylerin agiz hijyenlerine cok da dikkat etmediklerini dusundurmektedir. Anahtar Kelimeler : Tarsus, 18.-19. Yuzyil, Dis ve Cene Patolojisi, Agiz Sagligi. Abstract: In this study, with the total of 37 jaw and 210 permanent teeth of adult individuals dating back to 18th-19th century has been recovered from the excavations in the narthex of the Tarsus Authorithy Mosque and examined in terms of paleopathology. Lessions such as tooth wear (% 95,37), tooth decay (% 28,09), hypoplasia (% 14,29), calculus (% 50,95), abscess (% 1.67 on), alveolar loss (% 64,86) and pre-death (antemortem) tooth loss (% 12,78) is found on the permanent teeth and in the jaw of adults in Tarsus Mosque. The data obtained is compared with other ancient Anatolian populations who lived in the different times and in different geographical environments, lesions such as dental caries and calculus was recorded higher in the surveyed community than in many of the other populations. Alveolar bone loss rate is also high. However, this lesion value is very close to many of the compared community values. Tarsus is a region where agriculture is done intensively due to it's arable soil. Tartar and tooth decay in the permanent teeth of Tarsus adults detected at high rates encourages the agricultural way of life in the region. At the same time, high alveolar bone loss and the formation of dental calculus individuals suggests that individuals examined did not pay much attention to their oral hygiene. KeyWords: Tarsus, 18th- 19th Century, Dental and Jaw Pathology, Oral health.

WOS: 000372953300004 Ouranopithecus turkae, from the late Miocene of Corakyerler in Central Anatolia, is considered one of the last known occurrences of great ape in the eastern Mediterranean. The Corakyerler fauna has previously been correlated with MN 11 to early MN 12 on the basis of biochronology, and its faunal composition has been found to contrast with those from contemporaneous sites. In this paper, we present the magnetostratigraphy of the Corakyerler site and an expanded interpretation of its paleobiogeographical and paleoecological contexts. The paleomagnetic results reveal two intervals of normal polarity and an intervening interval of reversed polarity in the main fossiliferous section. Of the three likely age correlations spanning 8.13-7.15Ma (MN 11-MN 12), we favor correlation with chron 4n, with a possible age range of the fossiliferous deposit between 8.11 and 7.64Ma (late MN 11). The geographic distribution of genus-level faunal similarity and mean hypsodonty show that Corakyerler is a typical representative of the Pikermian chronofauna with a wide range of faunal similarity, including late Miocene localities from the eastern Mediterranean, eastern Asia, and eastern Africa. Lithological and sedimentological characteristics of the fossiliferous horizon, however, indicate a lacustrine depositional environment and relatively humid local conditions within the more arid regional context. This special setting could explain the unexpected occurrence of a hominid primate at Corakyerler.Citation for this article: Kaya, F., N. Kaymakci, F. Bibi, J. T. Eronen, C. Pehlevan, A. C. Erkman, C. G. Langereis, and M. Fortelius. 2016. Magnetostratigraphy and paleoecology of the hominid-bearing locality Corakyerler, Tulu Formation (Cankr Basin, Central Anatolia). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. DOI: 10.1080/02724634.2015.1071710. NSF-RHOI 'Anatolian Upper Miocene Project' [0321893]; Academy of FinlandAcademy of Finland We would like to thank all the people who have dedicated their efforts to this excavation project and the magnetostratigraphic sampling of the section. F.K., C.P, and A.C.E. are grateful to A. S. Erol, project leader of the, Corakyerler excavation, for allowing them to work long years under hard conditions at, Corakyerler, and to E. S. Gulec, who played a key role in the initiation of the first, Corakyerler excavations and who provided the back-hoe for magnetostratigraphic sampling. For their valuable suggestions, we would like to thank the reviewers of this article. We thank A. H. Kaya and C. TenWolde for editing the language of the article. This work was supported by the NSF-RHOI 'Anatolian Upper Miocene Project' (grant no.: 0321893) and by a grant from the Academy of Finland to M. Fortelius.

A diverse assemblage of large mammals is spatially and stratigraphically associated with Ardipithecus ramidus at Aramis. The most common species are tragelaphine antelope and colobine monkeys. Analyses of their postcranial remains situate them in a closed habitat. Assessment of dental mesowear, microwear, and stable isotopes from these and a wider range of abundant associated larger mammals indicates that the local habitat at Aramis was predominantly woodland. The Ar. ramidus enamel isotope values indicate a minimal C 4 vegetation component in its diet (plants using the C 4 photosynthetic pathway), which is consistent with predominantly forest/woodland feeding. Although the Early Pliocene Afar included a range of environments, and the local environment at Aramis and its vicinity ranged from forests to wooded grasslands, the integration of available physical and biological evidence establishes Ar. ramidus as a denizen of the closed habitats along this continuum.

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