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This paper advances knowledge of human behavioural and adaptational strategies in coastal areas related to acquiring, producing and distributing ornaments, specifically, the omnipresent marine gastropod Columbella rustica. By applying quantitative and qualitative approaches to the most extensive collection of Columbella rustica shells in the Eastern Adriatic region discovered in the Late Upper Palaeolithic and Mesolithic levels of Vlakno cave in Croatia, we have determined the complete step-by-step life cycle of this bead type , in particular, where and how shells were collected, produced, used, distributed and discarded. By integrating different methodologies, our data revealed changes in the collection strategies, reduction of the shell size during the Mesolithic period, and standardisation and continuity in production techniques. Detailed analyses of broken shells in the archaeological assemblage identified the presence of technological traces resulting from processing mistakes, supporting our hypothesis of on-site production. A significant share of used and unused standardised beads points that bead production at this site was for personal use but also likely for the exchange and distribution systems. Standardised, systematic and long-lasting activity related to the ornaments places Vlakno cave as one of the leading centres for maintaining regional exchange and communication networks in the Eastern Adriatic region during significant climatic and environmental changes happening in this region in the Late Pleniglacial and the early Holocene. Detecting on-site activities related to the ornaments in Vlakno cave has extended our understanding of how symbolic motives influenced the settlement model of the Late Pleniglacial and Early Holocene hunter-gatherers in Eastern Adriatic region and overall contributed to fundamental questions about the complexity of ancient human societies' adaptation strategies. • Chaîne opératoire and in-situ production of C. rustica ornaments • Changes in collection strategies reflected in size reduction • Standardization of production techniques in Eastern Adriatic • Archaeological broken shells as processing mistakes [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sulfuric acid is involved in carbonate rock dissolution in karst areas and affects regional hydrogeochemical and carbon cycling processes. Sulfate sources and carbonate weathering at dripwater points of different hydrological types also differ significantly. Therefore, in this paper, three dripwater points (SQ2#, PB and MH6#) of different hydrological types in Dafeng Cave and Mahuang Cave were selected and systematically analyzed. The results show that: (1) ions in the cave dripwater mainly originated from rock weathering, and the water chemistry types were HCO 3 ·Ca–Mg and HCO 3 –SO 4 ·Ca–Mg. (2) Sulfur and oxygen isotopes reveal that sulfate in the cave water of Shuanghe Cave mainly came from a mixture of soil sulfate and chemical fertilizers. (3) The Simmr model shows that the main sources of sulfate at each dripwater point were natural sources, such as soil sulfate and gypsum dissolution. The natural sources contributed more than 80% of the sulfate in the cave water and were less affected by anthropogenic activities. (4) Carbonate weathering by sulfuric acid (CSW) can accelerate rock weathering and the prior calcite precipitation effect, involving regional CO 2 exchange through fissure pipes. The forward model results show that CSW reduced the karst carbon sinks at SQ2#, PB and MH6# by about 19.44%, 23.88% and 12.74%, respectively. Therefore, the impact cannot be ignored in assessing carbon source and sink processes in karst areas. • Differences in SO 4 2− and their stable isotope values at dripwater points of different hydrological types. • Sulfate at each dripwater point is mainly from natural sources such as soil and gypsum. • In natural state, CSW can accelerates the rate of carbonate weathering and affects regional carbon cycling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The highly fragmented nature of Palaeolithic faunal assemblages is a regular limitation in archaeozoological analyses as it prevents a precise taxonomic identification following comparative anatomy criteria. In this paper, we integrate Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry (ZooMS) analysis of unidentifiable bone fragments within archaeozoological and taphonomic data to overcome this limitation and disentangle the subsistence strategies of Solutrean and Magdalenian human groups of the La Viña rock shelter (northern Iberia). The ZooMS results are consistent with the archaeozoological data showing preferential exploitation of red deer complemented by horses and caprids, whereas large bovids and reindeer are a minor component. This study also reveals significant species variability in classifying unidentifiable bones to mammal-size classes. The combination of biomolecular methods and traditional archaeozoology and taphonomy provides a higher resolution of faunal diversity in Palaeolithic assemblages and hominin subsistence behaviour related to carcass transport and seasonality. • First study in Iberia combining ZooMS and archaeozoology for evaluating Palaeolithic subsistence strategies. • ZooMS reveals species variability in archaeozoological mammal-size classification. • Foetal and perinatal bones identified by ZooMS inform about seasonality and hunting strategies. • Collagen deamidation level at La Viña decreases when more protein is preserved. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]