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Rodent scavenging of human remains is repeatedly documented in literature. However, most of this documentation is based on single‐case examples. While this information is valuable, it does not provide an in‐depth understanding of scavenger behavior in a single environment. Mouse scavenging data, in particular, lack larger sample sizes and data representing the full duration of scavenging activity. In documented cases, mice scavenge primarily the hands, the feet, and the head without significant progression into the rest of the body. At the Forensic Investigation Research Station in Whitewater, Colorado, deer mice (Peromyscus maniculatus group) scavenged tissue from 11 human donors. Motion activated game cameras and regular field photography documented scavenging progression and deer mouse behavior. Deer mice generally showed a preference for skin and fat, rarely consuming enough muscle to expose bone. The most scavenged sections of the body were the limbs and deer mice generally ignored the hands, the feet, and the head, unlike previous documentation. In a few cases, deer mice consumed tissue on the limbs in a distinct trail pattern. Most of the scavenging began in spring. This sample greatly expands on the existing documentation of mice overall and contributes much needed data on the progression of scavenging. Scavengers can have a significant impact on a death scene, so detailed documentation of different scavengers in a variety of environments can prove useful in the investigation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Holocene accumulations of rodent bones digested by raptors have been found in El Bolsón, a high-altitude valley in Catamarca, Argentina. Yet, so far there were no relevant taphonomic frames of reference to account for them. We thus studied a modern accumulation in Los Viscos rockshelter from a taphonomic perspective. The rockshelter is used for roosting, and the surface is covered by rodent skeletal remains. The analysed sample (NISP = 421) is dominated by remains of Phyllotis vaccarum, and also comprises other cricetid species, cavids, ctenomids and abrocomids. The anatomical, breakage and digestion patterns were compared to data on different predators. The most probable predator related to this accumulation is a Strigiformes (Aves) species. Most variables, including digestion, suggest a low-intensity modifier, probably Tyto alba, an individual of which was spotted around. Although Athene cunicularia may produce similar bone breakage, the prey taxa are not compatible with its diet. Alternatively, intense fragmentation may relate to postdepositional processes such as trampling. We discuss the implications of these findings for understanding the formation of the zooarchaeological and palaeontological record in the area, as well as for helping assess the global variability of Tyto alba taphonomic signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Deşli Caira in northern Dobrogea (Romania) is one of the key localities for the definition of the GSSP of the base of the Anisian stage. Eugen Grădinaru studied the Hallstatt limestone-facies of the Agighiol Limestone in this section for over 30 years, amassing a huge collection of ammonoids, and he also involved several specialists in the study of specific fossil groups. These ammonoids, which are the historical group for Triassic marine chronostratigraphy, have never been described until now. We present here the results of our ongoing study of the Grădinaru collection, including a new bed-by-bed sampling of the section and description of some Aegean taxa. The ammonoids consisting of 959 mostly juvenile specimens are not reelaborated, but are often preserved as hollow phragmocones filled by sediment or by sediment and cement. The ammonoid record of the section is dominated by leiostracan ammonoids, as is usual for the Ammonitico Rosso facies of the Agighiol Limestone. The Olenekian/Anisian Ammonoid Faunal Turnover (O/A AFT), the most significant turnover in the history of Triassic Ammonoidea, occurs within a 1.1 m-thick interval. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Insects play a crucial role in cadaveric decomposition, yet their contribution to taphonomic alterations on bones is often overlooked. This study investigates insect activity's impact on bone surface modifications under different environmental conditions. Five unfleshed pig heads were subjected to varied settings—buried and exposed—across coastal and inland contexts. Nine insect taxa were identified, including flies (Sarcophagidae, Calliphoridae [Chrysomia albiceps], Fanniidae, Muscidae), beetles (Dermestidae [Dermestes maculatus], Cleridae [Necrobia rufipes], Hydrophilidae [Cercyon cf. arenarius]), ants (Formicidae [Tetramorium depressum]), and termites (Kalotermitidae [Cryptotermes brevis]). Taphonomic changes observed on bone surfaces varied between buried and exposed specimens, with greater insect diversity and more pronounced modifications in exposed samples. Striations, linear marks, perforations, and bone destruction were linked to specific insect taxa, revealing novel osteophagic behavior in certain species. Termite activity, identified by faecal pellets, occasionally resulted in bone damage. Notably, beetle-induced alterations were absent in coastal environments, suggesting post-decomposition transport when these modifications appear on bone elements from coastal sites. This is the first experimental study in archaeoentomology, providing critical insights into insect-driven taphonomic processes in coastal and inland archaeological sites, with implications for forensic and archaeological interpretations of bone alterations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental conditions highly affect decomposition rates and therefore a forensic practitioner should consider context‐specific information when estimating the post mortem interval (PMI). Traditional methods of collecting environmental data, however, are time‐consuming and often impractical for large‐scale studies or routine forensic investigations. This study developed an automated computer method by employing the technology of geographic information systems (GIS) and Python programming language to provide contextual information for bodies found outdoors in Greece. The generated coding script underwent testing on 95 bodies in various stages of decomposition, which were examined between the years 1999 and 2022 at the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and the Forensic Medical Service of Thessaloniki. Using ArcGIS Pro software and publicly available online data, a multilayer map was developed. Individual layers included high‐resolution aerial images and data on the European Nature Information System ecosystem type, the Köppen–Geiger climatic type, the population density, the elevation, and the slope. Additionally, 99 national weather stations and their corresponding meteorological data were integrated. By leveraging the geographical coordinates of the recovery site of each case and information about the decedent's disappearance and recovery dates, this script automatically generates details from each of the above layers. Additionally, it calculates the accumulated degree days (ADD) and accumulated humidity days (AHD) values by extracting data from the nearest weather station. The GIS‐based approach enables rapid, objective, and reproducible taphonomic profile construction, which can greatly improve the reliability of PMI estimations. By utilizing this method, forensic practitioners can accurately evaluate environmental effects on decomposition, thus standardizing taphonomic profiling globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cut marks are striae accidentally produced by the contact made between the edge of a cutting tool and bone surfaces by anthropogenic activity, presenting evidence of hominin carcass processing and behaviour, butchery activities or diet. Post-depositional processes can cause the alteration (chemical or mechanical) of bones surfaces, changing their composition and causing the modification of bone surfaces. Previous research has addressed the problem of chemical alteration from a qualitative perspective, resulting in the loss of all diagnostic characteristics of the cut marks affected by these processes. Geometrics Morphometrics has led to great progress in the study of cut marks from a quantitative perspective and can be useful for the study of altered cut marks. In this study, an experiment was carried out in which 36 cut marks were reproduced and chemically altered. These marks were scanned and digitized before and after each phase of alteration. They were analyzed metrically as well as using Geometric Morphometrics, in order to study the evolution of modifications to cut mark morphology during the experiment. Results show clear morphological differences between the different phases of alteration with altered cut marks presenting a general tendency towards a decrease in both the width and depth over time. Research of this type opens up a new path for the study of the chemical alteration of cut marks, as well as other striae, through the application of Geometric Morphometrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmental DNA (eDNA) preserved in marine sediments is increasingly being used to study past ecosystems. However, little is known about how accurately marine biodiversity is recorded in sediment eDNA archives, especially planktonic taxa. Here, we address this question by comparing eukaryotic diversity in 273 eDNA samples from three water depths and the surface sediments of 24 stations in the Nordic Seas. Analysis of 18S‐V9 metabarcoding data reveals distinct eukaryotic assemblages between water and sediment eDNA. Only 40% of Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs) detected in water were also found in sediment eDNA. Remarkably, the ASVs shared between water and sediment accounted for 80% of total sequence reads suggesting that a large amount of plankton DNA is transported to the seafloor, predominantly from abundant phytoplankton taxa. However, not all plankton taxa were equally archived on the seafloor. The plankton DNA deposited in the sediments was dominated by diatoms and showed an underrepresentation of certain nano‐ and picoplankton taxa (Picozoa or Prymnesiophyceae). Our study offers the first insights into the patterns of plankton diversity recorded in sediment in relation to seasonality and spatial variability of environmental conditions in the Nordic Seas. Our results suggest that the genetic composition and structure of the plankton community vary considerably throughout the water column and differ from what accumulates in the sediment. Hence, the interpretation of sedimentary eDNA archives should take into account potential taxonomic and abundance biases when reconstructing past changes in marine biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The vertebrate assemblage recovered from the Toropí/Yupoí Formation (Late Pleistocene) in the Arroyo Toropí area, Bella Vista (Corrientes Province, Argentina), has been subjected to taphonomic evaluation. The fossil‐bearing levels have been dated to ~53 ka (MIS 3) based on Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating. This assemblage primarily comprises mammal remains, with a notable prevalence of herbivorous megamammals. Also, reptiles and birds have been documented. Sedimentological analysis suggests that the skeletal remains were preserved within a floodplain environment influenced by the dynamics of the adjacent fluvial system, and taphonomic features observed in the assemblage support this interpretation. The assemblage resulted from the deposition of disarticulated mammal remains and local dispersion over a relatively short period. Rapid burial is evident, but several processes such as weathering and breakage have contributed to the observed patterns. The loss of several skeletal elements within the assemblage may be attributed to sporadic water flows occurring on the floodplain. During the post‐burial stage, the specimens were affected by diagenetic processes, including filling, impregnation, deformation and breakage. In summary, the taphonomic evaluation of the Toropí/Yupoí Formation offers valuable comparison with other fossil fluvial assemblages. This research contributes to our understanding of the processes and environmental conditions that shaped this Late Pleistocene ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An integrated taphonomic analysis was applied to a tank deposit from the Zabelê Palaeontological Site (ZPS) in northeast Brazil. The unique sedimentological evidence documents the origin of the mammal assemblage via debris flow. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dates put the ZPS in the later Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 3, which was a time when it was colder and there were fewer trees. The study revealed that the Zabelê's periphery accumulation was the result of the short transport of specimens and their entrainment by debris flow. This hydraulic transport caused the preferential orientation of the bioclasts (north–southwest). Comparisons were made with other Pleistocene tank deposits, suggesting the occurrence of common megamammal taxa. Temporal mixing was evidenced by the long time interval recorded by OSL ages and the co‐occurrence of distinct degrees of fragmentation, weathering, and fossil diagenesis. Permineralization and staining of Fe3+ and Mn colour patterns were identified as fossilization processes with preservation of the original bone hydroxyapatite without substitution. The comparison with other tank deposits revealed common signatures (disarticulated and fragmented with moderate abrasion) and signs of reworking. Finally, the savanna‐adapted herbivore megamammals from ZPS, such as Eremotherium, Notiomastodon, Toxodon, and Glyptotherium, are congruent with the forest decline from MIS 3 to the Last Glacial Maximum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studying taphonomy is crucial for understanding how post-depositional processes impact archaeological remains. This knowledge is pivotal for accurately interpreting the archaeological record. Although taphonomy has a long tradition in archaeology, it is less developed in the analysis of stone tool residues compared to other subdisciplines. To address this gap, our study aims to further develop our understanding of the preservation potential of stone tool residues in temperate environments through actualist experiments. To achieve this, we develop a multidimensional experimental program that features the first biweekly monitoring of weathering processes on residues over a one-year cycle, aiming to understand the short-term effects of weathering immediately after tool discard. Additionally, the program involves the study of longer-term burial and weathering visual effects on different residue types within various previously unexplored depositional environments. This approach allows us to observe the visual effects of both weathering and burial processes and to improve our understanding of the different mechanisms involved in the diagenesis of stone tool residues. While known factors such as microbial activity and soil acidity play a primary role in residue decay, specific stone tool-related factors also prove important, underscoring the need to develop further a specific branch of taphonomy related to stone tool residues. Moreover, our results show that certain residue types may survive within these environments that are often considered as being hostile. A residue analysis of stone tools from temperate contexts may thus contribute unique data that can improve our understanding of past human behaviour. Future research with more diverse residue types and depositional conditions will permit further refinement of our understanding of how taphonomy affects residue preservation and enhance the reliability of residue identifications. As such, stone tool residue analysis will become firmly rooted within broader functional approaches to address how humans use stone tools and how this affects stone tool variability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal Impact Statement Summary Highland forests of Mozambique have been strongly modified by human activities for millennia. Some highlands have sheer rock cliffs and are highly inaccessible to people and appear relatively undisturbed. Evidence from the forest and soils of inaccessible Mount Lico show that the fire regime has changed over the recent millennia. As climate and fire regimes continue to change, management of highland ecosystems will be crucial to sustain the high biodiversity and mountain‐water resources that provide key ecosystem services to people living close to these forests. The sheer rock cliffs of the Mount Lico inselberg, northern Mozambique, is relatively inaccessible to people. A 0.57 km2 forest covers the top of the isolated mountain, and the tree demographics and soil offer an opportunity to investigate the long‐term fire ecology of the forests of the western, leeside of the mountain and potential for changing regional hydroclimate of the Late Holocene. On the western side of the mountaintop, a 20 × 20 m plot was surveyed for tree taxa, heights and bole diameters. A 220 cm deep pit was dug into the forest soil and analysed to describe the soil texture and carbon content. Charcoal was quantified on sieved subsamples and classified into charcoal morphologies that were then grouped by how readily entrainable on an index score. Three radiocarbon dates were collected from pieces charcoal. The forest is a combination of montane and woodland tree taxa that differed from the older, more mesic eastern side and reflected differential disturbance patterns. The reddish loam soils dated to the Middle Holocene. Charcoal was present in all soil subsamples and varied little until increasing consistently during the past millennium. The charcoal morphologies suggested a combination of locally derived charcoal and charcoal derived from the surrounding lowlands with the latter increasing in the past centuries. Few Holocene paleoenvironmental records have been developed from tropical soils in Africa and are useful in locations that do not host lakes and wetlands. Both tree demographics and soil charcoal suggest that changing forest disturbance regimes began during the past millennium. An understanding of history informs future conservation and appropriate management of these special places. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Only a few Swiss fossil localities are known globally and of which, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Monte San Giorgio, which extends from Switzerland into Italy, is the most important one. Following the discovery of the occurrence of articulated skeletons of marine reptiles in the local mines, large excavations were organized by Bernhard Peyer from the University of Zurich starting 1924. With this collection of articles, we commemorate the successful excavations and research, which initiated the publication of a series of monographies, mostly on the vertebrates but also on the invertebrates of this locality. Especially with the discovery of several remarkably similar Konservat-Lagerstätten in China, the discoveries from Monte San Giorgio gained global relevance. New methodologies such as computed tomography produced a wealth of new data, particularly on endocranial anatomy of several tetrapods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A comparative study has been made between some cidaroid fossil spines from Lower Cretaceous of southern Spain and other contemporary ones. The modern spines are a composite material formed by calcite nanocrystals oriented with their optical axes parallel to the elongated direction, which behave as a single crystal. Transmission Petrographic Microscopy (TPM) observations of the fossil spines prove that it is a calcite single crystal, whose optical axis coincides with the direction of elongation (as in the current spines). This paper presents a crystallographic approach to propose a secondary crystallisation mechanism, specifically the Ostwald ripening process, through a structural analysis that compares the spines and the conditions observed during the fossilisation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mora Cavorso cave is mostly known for preserving one of the largest human burials of early Neolithic in Central Italy, but it holds archaeological and palaeontological finds ranging from Late Pleistocene to historical times. The observation of faunal bone surfaces from Late Pleistocene layers has been carried out mainly to verify the human contribution to the formation of the bone accumulations. The assemblages are made up of about 3750 finds, 48% of which taxonomically identified, while 31% of the total show traces of surface alterations. Layer 8, the deeper and partially excavated, shows few traces on 28 finds with a dark patina. For Layer 7, boluses by birds of prey, traces of digestion and gnawing by small carnivores show the main agents of the formation of the bone accumulation. For Layer 6, just a small percentage of finds shows traces referrable mostly to small carnivores, with a few traces referrable to rodents. For Layer 5, gnawing of small carnivores was observed, however the occurrence of burnt bones and cut traces confirmed the hypothesis, based on the discovery of lithic artefacts, that the oldest human attendance in the cave is here attested and dates to Epigravettian period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The skeletal material from Sarmatian cemeteries in the Pannonian Plain (Hungary, Romania, Serbia), dating from the first to the fifth century ce, has exhibited poor preservation. This has been attributed to historical grave robbery, although no analysis of the skeletal remains or taphonomic processes has been conducted. A recent study focused on statistically assessing skeletal preservation and taphonomic examinations of skeletal remains from 152 graves in the Vojvodina territory (Serbia), utilizing interdisciplinary methodologies. The study found that grave reopening in the past contributed to bone fragmentation in two ways: first, by directly damaging and scattering the bones and, second, by leaving the skeletal material exposed to surface and weathering conditions for an extended period. Additionally, the Sarmatian burial practice of placing the dead in solid tree trunk coffins has also resulted in poor skeletal preservation, as indicated by coffin wear modifications on the bones. This research has provided new insights into the various anthropogenic and natural processes that affect skeletal remains from reopened graves, thereby supporting the reconstruction of Sarmatian funerary archeology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses the geology of the unique Mansurovo tetrapod and trace fossil locality in the Orenburg Region of Russia (Gostevskaya Formation, Lower Olenekian Substage, Ustmylian Horizon). Sections of 16 trenches are described bed-by-bed and correlated throughout. Based on fossils (Wetlugasaurus malachovi grouping of the Wetlugasaurus Fauna) and lithology, the Mansurovo section correlates with the middle part of the stratotype section of the Gostevskaya Formation (Buzuluk Depression of the East European Platform). The site geology suggests that the four recognized geological members of the section were formed in a varying channel-floodplain environment during alternating depositional cycles. The depositional settings were reconstructed based on rock structure and texture and microlithological examination of thin sections. The tetrapod faunal assemblages, macrofloral remains and unique trace fossil assemblages are also studied. Based on the lithology and facies analysis, the depositional environment is reconstructed for the locality, showing the irregular riverine depositional pattern due to the wandering of river channels and their periodic drying out in a hot and semi-arid climate during the Early Olenekian. Taphonomy of fossil occurrences suggests that the burial took place in a riverine depositional environment affected by strong currents, and that the Temnospondyli probably died in subaquatic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Indo-Pacific gastropod Terebralia palustris is particularly suitable for comparing natural and anthropogenic induced taphonomic pathways due to its wide geographic distribution and common presence within archeological context. The present study aims to (1) correlate shell architecture and morphology with fragmentation pattern and preservation, (2) quantify taphonomic changes to differentiate between natural vs. anthropogenic preservation features, (3) provide a guideline for analyzing fragmented shell remains in archeological material. Shells and taphonomic features were studied from both recent mangrove environments from the Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates as well as archeological material within the Iron age II site (1000–600 BC) of Muweilah near the City of Sharjah. Techniques utilized include morphometry, thin sectioning, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of recent specimens and a semi—quantitative taphonomic analysis of anthropogenic material. Thin sectioning shows a complex internal shell morphology with a tripartite subdivision of shell layers. The recent material shows better preserved features on both the exterior and internal shell surfaces than the highly fragmented material recovered from the archeological context, which shows a distinct size distribution as well as showing higher levels of surface abrasion, surface cracks and color alterations. These features are correlated to extraction techniques, cooking methods and waste disposal handling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cultivation of grapevines has spanned millennia, leading to thousands of varieties through exchanges, mutations, and crosses between genotypes, as well probably as gene flow from wild populations. These varieties are typically categorized by regional origin and primary use, either for wine production or fruit consumption. France, within the Western European group, hosts many of the world’s renowned wine grape varieties. However, the historical development of cultivated grapevines in France and in the world remains poorly understood. This study applies morphometry on 19,377 charred and waterlogged archaeological grape pips to investigate the evolutionary history of grapevine in France over the last 10,000 years. The study compares seed outlines and lengths, corrected for taphonomic distortions, with a reference collection of 80 wild and 466 modern domestic grapevine accessions. Findings reveal a shift from wild grapevine exploitation to the expansion of domestic varieties around 600–500 BCE, coinciding with Mediterranean cultural influences and the introduction of eastern grape types. The identification of the East-Table group, a group of varieties of eastern origin for fruit consumption, indicates that grapes were also grown for food, especially in Mediterranean regions and near urban areas, alongside wine production. Early French viticulture featured a notable presence of Western European wine-type grapevines. The abundance of pips with wild-like morphology suggests early cultivation involved plants at an initial domestication stage and gene flow between introduced and wild grapevines. As viticulture spread northward, wild and Eastern morphotypes declined, leading to the dominance of Western European wine types in inner France during the Middle Ages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of diagenetic alterations in bone microstructure ('histotaphonomy') as indicators of funerary treatment in the past and for post-mortem interval calculations in forensic cases has received increasing attention in the last decade. Studies have used histological changes to conclude in-situ decomposition, mummification, infanticide and post-mortem interval. There has been very little attempt to experimentally validate the links between decomposition, depositional conditions, time-since-death and microscopic changes in human bone so that meaningful interpretations of archaeological and forensic observations can be made. Here, we address this problem experimentally using the largest sample of human remains from anatomical donors and the longest-term deposition framework to date. This study tests one key assumption of histotaphonomy; that putrefaction during the early stages of decay is reflected in bone microanatomy and composition. Seventeen human donors and six pigs were deposited on the surface in a known Australian environment and left to decompose between 463 and 1238 days. All remains underwent all stages of decomposition reaching skeletonisation. Rib and femur samples were analysed using conventional histological methods and scanning electron microscopy, by applying the Oxford Histological Index, and examining collagen birefringence, microcracking and re- and de mineralisation. Biomolecular changes of the femoral samples were analysed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The results indicate that bioerosion in human bone does not occur due to putrefaction. There were no correlations between bone histology and the following variables: human vs pigs, season, primary vs secondary deposition, position, fresh vs frozen and time-since-deposition. Furthermore, no trends were observed between biomolecular changes and time-since-deposition. The study also shows that pigs cannot be used as substitutes for human remains for bone biodegradation research. This is the first, controlled, larger scale study of human remains providing a lack of support for a long-assumed relationship between putrefaction and bone histology bioerosion. Using bone degradation as an argument to prove putrefaction, in-situ decomposition and early taphonomic processes cannot be supported based on the experimental human data presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A three‐dimensional tubular fabric known as "vermiform microstructure" in Phanerozoic and Neoproterozoic carbonate microbialites has been hypothesized to represent the body fossil of nonspicular keratose demosponges. If correct, this interpretation extends the sponge body fossil record and origin of animals to ~890 Ma. However, the veracity of the keratose sponge interpretation for vermiform microstructure remains in question, and the origin of the tubular fabric is enigmatic. Here we compare exceptionally well‐preserved microbialite textures from the Upper Triassic to channel networks created by modern microbial biofilms. We demonstrate that anastomosing channel networks of similar size and geometries are produced by microbial biofilms in the absence of sponges, suggesting the origin for vermiform microstructure in ancient carbonates is not unique to sponges and perhaps best interpreted conservatively as likely microbial in origin. We present a taphonomic model of early biofilm lithification in seawater with anomalously high carbonate saturation necessary to preserve delicate microbial textures. This work has implications for the understanding of three‐dimensional biofilm architecture that goes beyond the current micro‐scale observations available from living biofilm experiments and suggests that biofilm channel networks have an extensive fossil record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different taxa of insects have been reported to modify the skeletal remains of vertebrates during feeding or the creation of their larval and pupal chambers. Anecdotal reports on the modification of skeletal remains by ants exist but are rare. In this paper, a case of modification of bone due to the feeding activity of the ant, Crematogaster cf. liengmei (Hymenoptera: Formicidae), is reported. In November 2022, a bone was encountered incidentally in the vicinity of the Table Mountain National Park. The bone had been colonized by several individuals of Crematogaster cf. liengmei. Several ants were observed feeding on and removing bone particles and soft tissue remnants. A closer observation revealed striae/furrows on the epiphyseal ends of the bone. A 60-kg pig cadaver used in a winter decomposition trial in the same area was similarly colonized by this ant species, resulting in soft-tissue modification. Due to the similarity in the striae/furrows observed on the bone and the bitemarks inflicted by the ants on the right ear of the pig cadaver in the vicinity, it was concluded that the striae/furrows seen on the bone were created by the ants. Our observations show that Crematogaster cf. liengmei is an important taphonomic bio-agent that can contribute to the modification of skeletal remains in terrestrial environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Embedded artifacts in osteoarchaeological remains may be key to approaching hunting strategies and other behavioral‐related issues such as technological development. However, that kind of evidence is not common within the archaeological record and often not well‐characterized, especially for faunal remains from prehistoric sites. Here, we present and discuss a unique case of a horse (Equus caballus) mandible with an embedded lithic remains from the Upper Paleolithic (ca. 17,300–16,200 cal BP) from La Garma cave in Cantabria, Spain. Our macro‐ and microscopic faunal and lithic integrated analysis suggests that the case presented here is a potential perimortem hunting lesion, representing an uncommon hunting strategy during the Magdalenian period. Furthermore, this study, representing the first case of its kind in the Iberian Peninsula, emphasizes the importance of the taphonomic analysis of bone surfaces to approach the understanding of past human behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The petrous parts of temporal bones are considered to be the densest parts of the human skeleton. Because of their high biomechanical strength, these elements can be preserved well even exposed to destructive processes. It has been proved that these bones are very well preserved in cremation graves and thus can be used as the foundation for anthropological analyses of cremated remains. The aim of the study was to determine the degree of shrinkage of the petrous portion of temporal bone under the influence of high temperature during the cremation. In a modern crematorium in Prague (Czech Republic), an experiment was conducted by burning 15 human temporal bones and a fresh pig's heads with soft tissues. Nine measurements were collected from each bone before the burning process. Cremation was carried out under controlled conditions in a modern cremation oven—the process took 45 min, and the temperature reached 1000°C. All the bones were burned together to maintain the same experimental conditions. Measurements of the individual bones were then repeated, and the significance of the dimensional changes was assessed. The presented study pointed out the significant size's reduction at level to 14% for dry petrous parts of temporal bones, while the size of fresh bones changed to 28% of their mass depending on the examined feature. Furthermore, the results of comparative analyses revealed that the differences between burning of dry and fresh bones are insignificant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Ediacaran of eastern Newfoundland preserves the world's oldest known eumetazoan body fossils, as well as the earliest known record of fossilized muscular tissue. Re-examination of the holotype of the eight-armed Haootia quadriformis in terms of its morphology, the arrangement of its muscle filament bundles, and hitherto undescribed aspects of its anatomy support its interpretation as a crown staurozoan. We also document several new fossils preserving muscle tissue with a different muscular architecture to Haootia, but with only four arms. This new material allows us to describe a new crown group staurozoan, Mamsetia manunis gen. et sp. nov. This work confirms the presence of crown group medusozoan cnidarians of the Staurozoa in the Ediacaran of Newfoundland circa 565 Ma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Switzerland is an ichthyosaur country: it has a rich record of marine reptile fossils, particularly the fish-shaped ichthyosaurs, and the according research. Here, we provide an overview over the 12 or more genera and at least 13 species plus numerous fragmentary remains of ichthyosaurs from the Triassic to the Cretaceous that have been discovered in twelve cantons thus far, of which four species are based on Swiss holotypes. This wealth of ichthyosaur species can be explained by their abundance in the Middle Triassic conservation deposits (Konservat Lagerstätte) of Monte San Giorgio, as well as occasional discoveries in strata of Middle Triassic to Early Cretaceous age. The moderate abundance of outcrops in reasonable conditions in combination with the long history of palaeontological research in Switzerland explains this good fossil record. In addition to this unique overview, we provide more data for further studies and update the knowledge of these taxa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pliocene lacustrine infill of Camp dels Ninots maar (Girona, Spain) hosts an exceptional record of complete articulated skeletons. Here we present the taphonomical description of 22 fossil water frogs recovered from the Pit 7/8 of Can Argilera Sector. Description of their skeletal taphonomy is done on the basis of their distribution, completeness, articulation and limb position, and by establishing comparisons with the late Miocene site of Libros (Spain). Microscopic examination shows no evidence of digestion and absence of weathering. Mass mortality or any environmental stress-induced factors cannot be ruled out, but natural death seems to be the most probable. Limited time of decay prior burial seems to be the main pattern explaining the relatively high degree of articulation and completeness. Floatation is not to be disregard for some more (proximally) disarticulated specimens. Taphonomical patterns document two types of sub-environments inside a cool and deep lake, suggesting a more complex depositional scenario for Camp dels Ninots than the ones described in others similar Konservat-Lagerstätten. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tetrapod tracks from the Lower Jurassic strata of the Hartford Basin (Newark Supergroup) abound in areas of Massachusetts and Connecticut, USA. However, tetrapod skeletal fossils are uncommon, and the co-occurrence of tracks with skeletal material in the same bedding plane is exceedingly rare. Due to this paucity of skeletal material, spatiotemporal gaps and taxonomic incompleteness continue to hamper research on bones preserved as natural casts. Here we report on the discovery of new bone cast specimens and three grallatoroid (Anchisauripus) tracks on a single sandstone slab originating from Portland or Middletown, Connecticut. The Nash Specimen – BRCM 2021.10 – holds important implications for Early Jurassic dinosaur taphonomic history and the paleoenvironment in which dinosaur footprints and bones as natural casts were preserved. Results from this study describe three Anchisauripus tracks and five natural bone casts from an early theropod dinosaur. Judicious comparisons to the only comparable specimen of dinosaur bone casts (MOS.2001. 248) are made in describing the morphological structures and the taphonomic pathways leading to cast formation. The unique taphonomic circumstances of bone casts preserved alongside dinosaur tracks on the same substrate layer provide an intriguing case of the non-preservation of body fossils that merits further research in the Hartford Basin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fossil tetrapod burrows from the Cerro Azul Formation (Late Miocene-Early Pliocene) of southwestern Buenos Aires Province, Argentina, are described and interpreted. The local sedimentary sequence is composed of massive siltstone, with two interbedded calcareous palaeosols, that were deposited in a loessic plain under a semiarid climate. The burrow systems are recognised as Maneraichnus pampeanum igen. and isp. nov., an ichnotaxon that is typified by long ramps that lead to a main chamber located at bifurcation, with chambers forming at least one-third of the total tunnel/ramp volume. A rodent producer is indicated by the presence of interconnected burrow systems with a subcircular cross-section (average RDI = 0.98) and by paired, blunt, incisor traces. The large ratio of chamber volume to tunnel/ramp volume (0.45) is indicative of a communal species and a body mass ranging from 0.9 to 4.6 kg is inferred for the producer. Considering the mentioned constrains and the fossorial mammals of the Cerro Azul Formation, it is proposed that the burrow systems belonged to Lagostomus (Late Miocene-Recent). The fossil burrows also match extant L. maximus ('vizcacha') burrow systems in overall architecture, passive fill, and similar size of claw traces. Miocene species of Paedotherium (Notoungulate) is discussed as an alternative potential digger. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taphonomy studies the environmental effects on remains from the time of deposition to the time of recovery and has been integrated into the field of forensic anthropology. The changes to skeletal remains are dependent on the method of disposal and the surrounding environment. This study focused on buried remains where the type and chemical composition of the soil and the microorganisms present need to be considered. The aim was to investigate the type, frequency, and correlations of the taphonomic alterations of buried domestic pigs. Six taphonomic alterations were observed which included depositional staining, adipocere formation, bone weathering, acidic soil corrosion, and plant, and animal activity. Depositional staining, weathering and plant activity were the most common alterations followed by adipocere which was present on 92.3% of the remains. The bones were mostly stained dark brown and brown; however, the trunk region was the only region to present with black staining. The right sides were darker than the left due to the body positioning as most pigs were placed on their right sides and thus were in direct contact with the cadaver decomposition island. Additionally, the right sides presented with more adipocere as well as increased plant activity suggesting that the soil retained water. Darker stains were correlated with a more complete skeleton as adipocere provides some protection. The study confirms that there are various complicated relationships between different taphonomic alterations. A good understanding of them is needed in forensic anthropology to assist in reconstructing the events that occur after death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Different biological models can be evaluated using mathematical models in both qualitative and quantitative ways. A fractional bone mineralization model involving Caputo’s fractional derivative is presented in this work. The fractional mathematical model is beneficial because of its memory carrying property. An appropriate fractional order of the derivative can be chosen that is more closely related to experimental or actual data. The dynamical system of equations for the process of bone mineralization is examined qualitatively and quantitatively in this article. A numerical simulation has been performed for the model. The model’s parameters have undergone sensitivity analysis and their effects on the model variables have been explored. By studying the mineralization patterns in bone, different diseases can be cured, and it can also be examined how the deviations from healthy mineral distributions lead to specific bone diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurately reconstructing past human population dynamics is critical for explaining major patterns in the human past. Demand for demographic proxies has driven hopeful interest in the "dates-as-data" approach, which models past demography by assuming a relationship between population size, the production of dateable material, and the corpus of radiocarbon dates produced by archaeological research. However, several biases can affect assemblages of dates, complicating inferences about population size. One serious but potentially addressable issue centers on landscape taphonomy — the ways in which geologic processes structure the preservation and recovery of archaeological sites and/or materials at landscape scales. Here, we explore the influence of landscape taphonomy on demographic proxies. More specifically, we evaluate how well demographic proxies may be corrected for taphonomic effects with either a common generalized approach or an empirically based tailored approach. We demonstrate that frequency distributions of landforms of varying ages can be used to develop local corrections that are more accurate than either global corrections or uncorrected estimates. Using generalized scenarios and a simulated case study based on empirical data on landform ages from the Coso Basin in the western Great Basin region, we illustrate the way in which landscape taphonomy predictably complicates "dates-as-data" approaches, propose and demonstrate a new method of empirically based correction, and explore the interpretive ramifications of ignoring or correcting for taphonomic bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In numerous carbonate reservoirs in the Middle East, peloidal packstone‐grainstones are rock types with excellent pore storage potential in micritised microporous grains. However, the origin of the micro‐porosity and associated micro‐spar remains unclear, and one hypothesis is that both micro‐spar and porosity originate from early marine micritisation and were later altered during subsequent diagenesis (i.e. cementation recrystallisation). The south‐eastern coast of the Arabian Gulf is recognised as a modern, albeit miniature, depositional setting analogue to Mesozoic carbonate sequences that form the supergiant reservoirs of the Middle East. Using optical microscopy, backscattered scanning electron microscopy and carbon and oxygen stable isotope analysis the present study aims to document the nature of internal microstructures of micritic envelopes and peloids from the surface sediments of various sub‐environments of the Abu Dhabi Lagoon. Results highlight a high degree of diversity and heterogeneities of most micritic envelopes and peloids observed across the sub‐environments. First, carbonate grains from ooid and bioclastic shoals show the simpler micritic envelopes. Here, micritic envelopes and peloids show sparse microborings filled with banded radial aragonite cement, a pattern of production of cryptocrystalline texture (e.g. micritisation) that is similar to the sequence of micritisation observed in the modern sediment of the Great Bahama Bank. Conversely, in the subtidal and intertidal zones with mangroves or seagrass, the micritic envelopes and peloids are much more complex and show multiple generations of microborings that are either empty or filled with carbonate materials of varying types (i.e. various cements, fragments, etc.). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Early Pleistocene sites of Orce in southeastern Spain, including Fuente Nueva-3 (FN3), Barranco León (BL) and Venta Micena (VM), provide important insights into the earliest hominin populations and Late Villafranchian large mammal communities. Dated to approximately 1.4 million years ago, FN3 and BL preserve abundant Oldowan tools, cut marks and a human primary tooth, indicating hominin activity. VM, approximately 1.6 million years old, is an outstanding site because it preserves an exceptionally rich assemblage of large mammals and predates the presence of hominins, providing a context for pre-human conditions in the region. Research suggests that both hominins and giant hyenas were essential to the accumulation of skeletal remains at FN3 and BL, with secondary access to meat resources exploited by saber-toothed felids. This aim of this study aims to correlate the relative abundance of large herbivores at these sites with their estimates of Carrying Capacity (CC) and Total Available Biomass (TAB) using the PSEco model, which incorporates survival and mortality profiles to estimate these parameters in paleoecosystems. Our results show: (i) similarities between quarries VM3 and VM4 and (ii) similarities of these quarries with BL-D (level D), suggesting a similar formation process; (iii) that the role of humans would be secondary in BL-D and FN3-LAL (Lower Archaeological Level), although with a greater human influence in FN3-LAL due to the greater presence of horses and small species; and (iv) that FN3-UAL (Upper Archaeological Level) shows similarities with the expected CC values for FN3/BL, consistent with a natural trap of quicksand scenario, where the large mammal species were trapped according to their abundance and body mass, as there is a greater presence of rhinos and mammoths due to the greater weight per unit area exerted by their legs. Given the usefulness of this approach, we propose to apply it first to sites that have been proposed to function as natural traps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Horsemeat consumption has been one of the most intriguing questions about ancient dietary practices. Zooarchaeological materials from the Late Bronze Age in Estonia (850â500 BCE) contain high proportions of the domestic horse (Equus caballus) compared to subsequent periods, leading to debates about the cultural­-economic features of eating horsemeat during this period. One of the assemblages rich in horse remains is from the Iru fortified settlement in northern Estonia, first studied by Kalju Paaver in the 1960s. This article revisits the Iru zooarchaeological material with the aim of clarifying the significance of horsemeat con sumption among Iru people and expanding the discussion about the Bronze Age horse culture in prehistoric Estonia. Several findings confirmed the consumption of horsemeat. First, the taxonomic analysis showed a high proportion of horse specimens among livestock remains, contextually interpreted as kitchen and food refuse. Second, despite the horse specimens coming mainly from the cranium (teeth) and body parts with low meat yield (distal elements of the limbs), the evidence of butchering, especially for elements representing meaty body parts, attests to various food procurement activities. Third, the presence of juvenile specimens in the material refers to the culling of young animals, even though there is no direct evidence of utilising juvenile meat. The study results are discussed in the frame of contemporaneous material from Estonia and elsewhere, touching upon the extent of horsemeat consumption, the tools used for butchering, and the possible origins of the Bronze Age horse culture in Estonia.

Abstract Only a few Swiss fossil localities are known globally and of which, the UNESCO World Heritage Site Monte San Giorgio, which extends from Switzerland into Italy, is the most important one. Following the discovery of the occurrence of articulated skeletons of marine reptiles in the local mines, large excavations were organized by Bernhard Peyer from the University of Zurich starting 1924. With this collection of articles, we commemorate the successful excavations and research, which initiated the publication of a series of monographies, mostly on the vertebrates but also on the invertebrates of this locality. Especially with the discovery of several remarkably similar Konservat-Lagerstätten in China, the discoveries from Monte San Giorgio gained global relevance. New methodologies such as computed tomography produced a wealth of new data, particularly on endocranial anatomy of several tetrapods.

The first calcareous nannoplankton extinction and recovery close to the Triassic/Jurassic boundary (TJB) were studied in two Tatra Mountains sections of Kardolína and Furkaska. The studied sediments were deposited in an intra-shelf depression of the Tethyan shelf (the Zliechov Basin). Rare nannofossil assemblages were discovered in both sections. Rhaetian nannofossils are characterized by the dominance of Prinsiosphaera triassica and by episodic increases in the abundance of small-sized coccoliths. Coccoliths belonging to Calyculus? kardolinae sp. nov. were found on tops of the bedding planes. Triassic index species Eoconusphaera aff. hallstattensis was also recovered, it is rare though, probably due to the marginal or relatively high-latitudinal position of the area. The uppermost Triassic is characterized by a significant reduction in nannofossil abundance accompanied by the presence of organic matter in the rock, which was significant especially in the Kardolína section. The signal of the last occurrence of Prinsiosphaera triassica is overwritten by the reworking of Upper Triassic material into Jurassic strata within the boundary clay interval. The presence of representatives of Watznaueriaceae in the Jurassic Kopieniec Formation is surprising and might indicate hiatus in the TJB in the studied sections. We are also presenting the results of a newly developed method for the extraction of calcareous nannofossils from indurated rocks.

Abstract The cultivation of grapevines has spanned millennia, leading to thousands of varieties through exchanges, mutations, and crosses between genotypes, as well probably as gene flow from wild populations. These varieties are typically categorized by regional origin and primary use, either for wine production or fruit consumption. France, within the Western European group, hosts many of the world’s renowned wine grape varieties. However, the historical development of cultivated grapevines in France and in the world remains poorly understood. This study applies morphometry on 19,377 charred and waterlogged archaeological grape pips to investigate the evolutionary history of grapevine in France over the last 10,000 years. The study compares seed outlines and lengths, corrected for taphonomic distortions, with a reference collection of 80 wild and 466 modern domestic grapevine accessions. Findings reveal a shift from wild grapevine exploitation to the expansion of domestic varieties around 600–500 BCE, coinciding with Mediterranean cultural influences and the introduction of eastern grape types. The identification of the East-Table group, a group of varieties of eastern origin for fruit consumption, indicates that grapes were also grown for food, especially in Mediterranean regions and near urban areas, alongside wine production. Early French viticulture featured a notable presence of Western European wine-type grapevines. The abundance of pips with wild-like morphology suggests early cultivation involved plants at an initial domestication stage and gene flow between introduced and wild grapevines. As viticulture spread northward, wild and Eastern morphotypes declined, leading to the dominance of Western European wine types in inner France during the Middle Ages.

Abstract Switzerland is an ichthyosaur country: it has a rich record of marine reptile fossils, particularly the fish-shaped ichthyosaurs, and the according research. Here, we provide an overview over the 12 or more genera and at least 13 species plus numerous fragmentary remains of ichthyosaurs from the Triassic to the Cretaceous that have been discovered in twelve cantons thus far, of which four species are based on Swiss holotypes. This wealth of ichthyosaur species can be explained by their abundance in the Middle Triassic conservation deposits (Konservat Lagerstätte) of Monte San Giorgio, as well as occasional discoveries in strata of Middle Triassic to Early Cretaceous age. The moderate abundance of outcrops in reasonable conditions in combination with the long history of palaeontological research in Switzerland explains this good fossil record. In addition to this unique overview, we provide more data for further studies and update the knowledge of these taxa.

The first paleoparasitological analyses in Brazil are related to the Gruta do Gentio ll (GGll) an archeological site related to the beginning of the Una ceramist tradition (13,000–410 cal B.P.), with two subsistence horizons, an ancient one related do hunter-gatherers, and a more recent one related to a horticulturist population. Crucial cultural traces of Una tradition such as pottery, fabric, adornments made from animal teeth and shells, and food remnants were also identified during the GGII excavations. Coprolites, fossilized or mineralized feces are important elements in the studies on taphonomy and sedimentology, and yield valuable information on parasitological, environmental, producer origin, and diet. In the present study, GGll coprolites were submitted to morphological and morphometrical procedures to identify the probable origin of samples within the geographical location of study. The results of the identification of coprolites showed four different morphotypes including complex, flat, spherical, and cylindrical, in 10 distinct colors, distributed heterogeneously in 16 sectors and 11 stratigraphic layers, indicating a great variety of not only human but animal coprolites. With the collected data, along with previous archeological evaluations, we can propose a primary GGII paleoecological scenario, with the presence of animals and humans that used de cave in the Pleistocene and Holocene times of Southeast Brazil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface sediments of the mesotrophic dimictic Lake Valdayskoye (Novgorod region, Russia) were studied by analysing microscopic remains of algae, cladocerans, and other invertebrates. Surface-sediment samples were collected from 3 m depth intervals along a transect spanning a depth gradient from 0 to 57 m. The results show that remains of cladocerans, sponges and tintinnids were preserved predominantly near their production zones, despite some mixing and the transfer of individual remains over long distances. Specifically, sediments from the shallower part of the transect were most representative of subfossil Cladocera diversity. When comparing the results of the analysis of subfossil remains with limnological data, signs of the influence of the thermal stratification of the lake on the distribution and preservation of living organisms remains in surface sediments were revealed. A pronounced change in the taphocenosis composition was observed in the lower part of the metalimnion. Also, we detected a predominance of animal remains over algal remains in the metalimnion. Towards its lower boundary the relative abundance of sponge spicules sharply decreases and that of ciliate Codonella cf. cratera increased. An increase in the relative abundance of daphniid remains also occurred in the cladoceran taphocenosis. Cluster analysis identified two groups of samples based on their taphocoenosis, with a boundary between 12 and 15 m, at the lower part of the thermocline, the metalimnion/hypolimnion transition, in Lake Valdayskoye. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Sea of Galilee is a unique large freshwater or slightly oligohaline natural lake in the Levant. Therefore, it represents an important aquatic habitat in the region that also provides invaluable ecosystem services for the local communities. To improve our knowledge of the lake's ecosystem and the use of disarticulated ostracod valves and preserved carapaces, micro-crustacean remains commonly used in palaeolimnology and palaeoceanography, as proxies for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions, and to examine the post-mortem dispersal of ostracod remains, 68 surface-sediment samples were collected from the lake bottom in 2012 and analysed for the ostracod assemblages. Both, the noded and smooth, forms of Cyprideis torosa dominate in the Sea of Galilee, with the former more abundant than the latter. Relatively abundant and found at half of the 68 sampling locations or more, are also Ilyocypris hartmanni, I. cf. nitida, Darwinula stevensoni and Neglecandona angulata. In addition, ten less abundant ostracod taxa were recorded in the lake. Of all 15 taxa recorded in our study, ten were also recorded in a study of the Sea of Galilee's ostracod fauna conducted already in the 1960s. The newly recorded five taxa are relatively rare, and they were mostly found in the region of the Jordan River delta or near the southeastern shore of the lake which were not included in the survey of the 1960s. Thus, there is no evidence for a significant change in the ostracod fauna of the lake over the last half-century. In comparison to the ostracod assemblage from a late Pleistocene archaeological excavation site at the southwestern margin of the lake, the assemblage from the recent survey is slightly less diverse, probably because of the long duration of ca. 5000 years integrated by the sedimentary section of the archaeological site and also due to nearby freshwater inflows from which valves and carapaces were probably washed to the site's location. Our study also shows that ostracod valves and carapaces are typically relatively abundant in most of the surface-sediment samples collected from locations at 18 m or shallower. In contrast, very few valves and carapaces were recorded at depths greater than 18 m, which is a zone affected by seasonal anoxia in the Sea of Galilee. These few ostracod remains were apparently transported by currents and waves to the central, deeper part of the lake, but their low number shows that such post-mortem dispersal of ostracod remains is insignificant in the deeper part of the lake. Thus, our study provides support for palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimate reconstructions based on ostracod records from single sediment cores obtained from depths unaffected by post-mortem transport and seasonal or permanent anoxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Globally Cenozoic interval witnessed recurrent climatic change of warming and cooling episodes of various magnitudes. The geological archives of the western part of the Kutch Basin are bestowed with spectacular igneous structures formed during the Deccan Trap volcanism. Overlying, Cenozoic successions of the Kutch Basin also get affected by the global climatic perturbations, which get registered in their impressive stratigraphic successions. Sedimentation in the basin was primarily controlled by the rate of relative sea-level fluctuations vs. background siliciclastic supply. Combined effect of climatic perturbations and relative sea-level fluctuation along passive-margin setting resulted in the occurence of variety of fossils, lithology and sedimentary structures, available all over the Cenozoic outcrops. To conserve and protect endangered geological features, geoscientists around the world have recognized several geosites, which can serve as standard reference section for further research and sustainable development for generations. In this study, we identify some spectacular outcrops from the western parts of the Kutch Basin (Cenozoic outcrops and Deccan Trap exposures) and document their properties to be recognized as potential geosites. These sites preserve exclusive geological features and provide template to understand the geological processes, however, needs conservation and protection. We propose the following assorted geosites viz. (1) Entablature geosite, (2) Pillow lava geosite, (3) Taphonomy geosite, (4) Fossil crab geosite, (5) Trace fossil geosite and (6) Soft sediment deformation (SSD) geosite. These sites may serve as exclusive locations for students field excursion, field-training for diverse professionals, social outreach activities and future reference section; indeed helps to achieve the implementation of some of the geoheritage goals. Diverse and unique geological features can be easily approached by thoroughly connected rail network and metalled roads. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work provides a review of the state of knowledge of woolly rhinoceroses in Poland. We compile research results from the 19th century to the present day and consider the collected data not only quantitatively, but above all qualitatively. Here we present a list of 215 sites from Poland where the remains of the woolly rhinoceros have been found. Studies of woolly rhinos from Poland usually employ small samples. Our compilation of data also reveals that there is currently no basis for drawing conclusions regarding the geographical distribution pattern of the species in Poland. Only a small number of works have focused on matching the places where remains occurred with the geological conditions of the area and their depositional history. Moreover, the results show that the resolution of the radiocarbon dates that are currently published is insufficient to allow conclusions about the chronology of woolly rhinoceroses in Poland to be drawn. No works to date have dealt with any aspect of palaeopopulation research. The woolly rhinoceros is not present in Palaeolithic art in Poland. A summary of our knowledge of this taxon is the starting point for our multi-aspect research into this topic.

The cemetery of the Church of Santi Simone e Giuda in Borca di Cadore (Belluno province, Veneto region, Italy) was excavated between 2021 and 2023 as part of an archaeological intervention. The excavation area yielded a total of 21 graves dating back to the 18th–19th century; this was intriguing due to the presence of grave goods and taphonomic indicators that allowed these burials to be interpreted as clothed burials. This contribution examines 14 of the 21 graves, representing the available sample considering preservation conditions. Fieldwork was carried out through close synergy between archaeological and anthropological methodologies, involving careful excavation to verify funerary rituals through taphonomic data analysis. Anthropological methods were applied to determine the biological profile of the individuals, while aspects related to their health status were investigated through paleopathological analyses. Data obtained from field and laboratory observations were cross-referenced with historical and anthropological-cultural data from bibliographic and archival research. Reconstructing the social status of the deceased within the burial context is crucial for understanding the social and cultural dynamics of past populations, achievable only through a biocultural approach integrating information from archaeology, cultural anthropology, and bioarchaeology. Modern burial contexts offer privileged realities due to abundant historical and anthropological-cultural documentation, allowing for a more precise contextualization of bioarchaeological findings with significant support from documentary sources. Studies applied to these periods closer to the present enable the continuous refinement of an investigative method attentive to the synergy of different aspects of biocultural research, enhancing the importance of this approach in reconstructing the life histories of populations.

Problems Statement and Purpose. The colouration (when pigment is distributed more or less uniformly within skeletal substance) and colour patterns (when pigment is concentrated or arranged in bands, lines, spots, patches, etc.) of fossil brachiopod shells is poorly understood, since its preservation in the fossil record requires the coincidence of several, sometimes random, taphonomic factors. However, the study of the original colouration of fossil invertebrates is of great palaeoecological and taphonomic importance (e.g., to study of the evolution of vision, the development of predator-prey relationships). Records of Palaeozoic brachiopod shells with preserved colouration are quite rare and the shell colouration and colour patterns are currently known for only 15 genera. Data and Methods. Studied isolated valves of the lingulid brachiopods Lingularia mytiloides from the lower Moscovian Kamensk Formation of Luhansk Region (Ukraine) show a preserved colour pattern on the outer surface, represented mainly by light concentric bands. Studied remains are represented by small, 8–10 mm long and 6–7 mm wide, moderately convex ventral thin-shelled valves with elongate elliptical outlines, a rounded anterior margin, subparallel lateral margins and a small, pointed umbo. Valve surface is covered with thin concentric growth lines and weakly developed rugae. Results and Discussion. The studied specimens were divided into two groups based on shell colouration features, which may reflect some details of the colouration and colour patterns. However, these differences may be taphonomic artefacts. It is quite possible that the colour bands on the surface of the valves are evidence of sulphide oxidation, but even so, they likely still reflect the original colour patterns. Environmental conditions were important factors for the preservation of the colouration on the shells of the studied lingulid brachiopods. Among these conditions, the most important were slow sedimentation, absence of agents of mechanical and chemical destruction, such as high-energy water activity, encrustation by epibionts, etc., dysaerobic conditions, and rapid burial apparently accompanied by the activity of bacterial communities. The studied colour patterns on the shells of Lingularia mytiloides are similar to those on other fossil lingulids. The adaptive significance of this colouration for the studied lingulids, which lived infaunally, remains unclear and cannot be resolved with the available material.

Histotaphonomic analysis, through thin section microscopy, SEM and micro-CT scanning, has become an increasingly popular approach for archaeologists in recent years. The method relies on assessing the character of degradation in bone microstructure, placing particular importance on the degree and nature of bacterial bioerosion. However, there remains considerable disagreement about the origins and timing of bacterial bioerosion and this has major ramifications for the interpretative potential of the approach. Turner-Walker et al. (2023) p resent a firm case for the origins of bacteria being exclusively exogenous (from the soil) with bioerosion occurring only after skeletonisation. This scenario means that information gained from analysis of histotaphonomy relates entirely to the nature of the burial environment and its suitability for collagenolytic bacteria to thrive and thus provides very little useful information about human behaviour and mortuary practice. This contrasts with the common position that the origins of bacteria can be enteric (from the gut) and can effect bioerosion during putrefaction in the early post-mortem phase, thus potentially informing on mortuary practice. In this response, we present the alternative view to Turner-Walker et al. (2023) and demonstrate strong and wide-ranging evidence for bacteria from the gut microbiome to have the potential to cause bioerosion. A review of previous studies is used to evidence the impact of mortuary practice on variable microstructural preservation. We counter some of Turner-Walker et al.'s key lines of evidence and present alternative, evidence-based explanations. Importantly, we acknowledge that the origins of bacteria are not always enteric and that current interpretations that only consider bacteria as either enteric or exogenous cannot account for the variability seen in the archaeological record. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cemetery of the Church of Santi Simone e Giuda in Borca di Cadore (Belluno province, Veneto region, Italy) was excavated between 2021 and 2023 as part of an archaeological intervention. The excavation area yielded a total of 21 graves dating back to the 18th–19th century; this was intriguing due to the presence of grave goods and taphonomic indicators that allowed these burials to be interpreted as clothed burials. This contribution examines 14 of the 21 graves, representing the available sample considering preservation conditions. Fieldwork was carried out through close synergy between archaeological and anthropological methodologies, involving careful excavation to verify funerary rituals through taphonomic data analysis. Anthropological methods were applied to determine the biological profile of the individuals, while aspects related to their health status were investigated through paleopathological analyses. Data obtained from field and laboratory observations were cross-referenced with historical and anthropological-cultural data from bibliographic and archival research. Reconstructing the social status of the deceased within the burial context is crucial for understanding the social and cultural dynamics of past populations, achievable only through a biocultural approach integrating information from archaeology, cultural anthropology, and bioarchaeology. Modern burial contexts offer privileged realities due to abundant historical and anthropological-cultural documentation, allowing for a more precise contextualization of bioarchaeological findings with significant support from documentary sources. Studies applied to these periods closer to the present enable the continuous refinement of an investigative method attentive to the synergy of different aspects of biocultural research, enhancing the importance of this approach in reconstructing the life histories of populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of taphonomy has improved our knowledge of site formation and palaeoenvironmental reconstructions. It has also stimulated many neotaphonomic analyses that bring clues to some of the alterations and modifications processes of fossilisation and accumulations. This article aims to show that such neotaphonomic analyses and experiments, by generating a lot of valuable material and associate data, need to be integrated into official collections for future preservation. We will focus here upon two examples of neotaphonomic collections: 1 owl pellet microvertebrate collections and 2 collections resulting from experimental work (simulation and monitoring). We detail some problems for incorporating such new type of materials in Museums and some requirements for their curation. In the era of open science, there is a need to improve the management and curation of such unconventional collections to incorporate them into future classical comparative research, training and education as well as exhibitions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to gain better understanding of the Neanderthals' subsistence exploitation of marine crustaceans, this work presents evidence on the consumption of brown crabs using experimentation following-up from the archaeological evidence recovered from the 2010-2013 excavation of Gruta da Figueira Brava (Portugal). Amongst the aquatic fauna from occupation phase FB4, which dates to MIS-5b, brown crabs (Cancer pagurus) are numerous. The average carapace width estimated from their remains is 16 cm, and skeletal part analysis reveals the introduction of complete animals and their on-site processing. Due to the lack of a referential corpus for the interpretation of archaeological crab taphonomy, we experimented with the processing of two raw, two boiled, and two roasted brown crabs. We found that manual processing of large adult Cancer pagurus is only possible for the disarticulation of the walking legs, and the separation of the claws. Experimental results indicate that archaeological crabs were roasted, which weakened the shell and facilitated breaking it open. Though it is also possible to manually disarticulate the fingers, most times it requires a small hammerstone. Impact scars and longitudinal fractures bear witness to the use of such tools to access the meatier parts of both the propodus and the dactylopodus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gruta da Aroeira (Torres Novas, Portugal), with evidence of human occupancy dating back ∼ 400,000 years, is one of very few Middle Pleistocene cave sites to provide a fossil hominin cranium in association with Acheulean bifaces and the by-products of fire usage. Zooarchaeological, taphonomic and tooth-wear analyses suggest that the accumulation of the faunal remains and their modification are anthropogenic. Large game constituted the basis of subsistence, with equids and cervids being preferentially targeted. Woodland and open landscapes formed the ecosystems supporting the populations of the mammals that were preyed upon by the inhabitants of the site. Most of the animal carcasses were carried to, and fully butchered at the site, which was used as a residential base camp. The features of the Aroeira faunal assemblage foreshadow the subsistence strategies developed by the hunter-gatherers of the Middle and the Upper Palaeolithic and testify to their very ancient roots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]