Journal of Quaternary Science最新文献

Kalavan-2, a high-altitude (∼1640 m a.s.l.) open-air site in Armenia, preserves stratified Middle Paleolithic occupations with a rich small-vertebrate record. Luminescence dating has placed site formation between ~60 and 45 ka, but without independent chronological control of the microvertebrate accumulation. Here, we apply accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) ¹⁴C dating directly to individual rodent bones, made possible by recent advances in collagen extraction. These new radiocarbon ages refine the chronology to late marine isotope stage 3 (ca. 50–35 ka), in agreement with luminescence estimates. In addition, we conducted detailed taphonomic and taxonomic analyses of the microvertebrates, alongside paleoenvironmental reconstruction using the Taxonomic Habitat Index and Habitat Weighting Method. The microfaunal assemblage, dominated by cold-adapted rodents and insectivores, indicates open, montane steppe conditions during occupation, contrasting with today's mixed forest. Combined chronological and faunal evidence suggests episodic high-altitude hunting by Late Pleistocene hunter-gatherers, consistent with models of seasonal mobility. More broadly, this study demonstrates the potential of direct ¹⁴C dating on microvertebrate remains to independently anchor Paleolithic chronologies and strengthen reconstructions of human adaptations in marginal environments.

Access to freshwater has always been a critical factor in sustaining human settlements, especially in regions with limited water resources. In the Mediterranean region, where dry summers and karst landscapes limit water availability, ancient societies developed advanced methods for collecting and storing rainwater. Among these, cisterns played an important role in securing drinking water supplies. Despite their historical importance, the efficiency of these installations remains less studied than that of monumental aqueducts. This study focuses on a large Roman cistern at Barbariga Stancija in south-western Istria, Croatia, where rainwater harvesting was essential for sustaining local settlements and supporting intensive agricultural production. By integrating archaeological evidence, contemporary climatological analysis and paleoclimatic reconstructions, we have developed a quantitative model that simulates the performance of the cistern under varying rainfall conditions. The analysis uses high-resolution meteorological data and Weibull distribution-based simulations to estimate annual water storage capacity and variations in supply reliability. The study also assesses the maximum number of people the cistern could have supported, based on a reconstructed daily per capita water consumption rate. Our results suggest that under average rainfall conditions, the cistern could have reliably supported approximately 25–28 people throughout the year. However, seasonal variations in rainfall led to significant fluctuations in water availability, potentially leading to shortages during the dry summer months. Comparative analyses with other Roman cisterns in the Adriatic region provide a broader context for understanding the functionality and limitations of such storage systems within ancient water management strategies. This research not only enhances our understanding of local Roman hydraulic infrastructure but also contributes to broader discussions on sustainable water management in arid and semi-arid climates. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary approaches that integrate archaeology, climatology and hydrological modelling to comprehensively assess ancient water supply mechanisms and their implications for modern water conservation strategies.

The Last Interglacial (LIG) or Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e, spanning 129 to 116 kyrs ago, is recognised as one of the warmest periods in the Quaternary, with global sea surface temperatures (SSTs) 1°C–2°C higher than today, sea levels 5–10 m above the current level and biogeographical range expansion of specific tropical species into the Mediterranean. We present new stratigraphic, palaeoecological and palaeobiogeographic data from the uplifted marine terraces of Kastellos Bay, Karpathos (Aegean Sea, Greece). Detailed sedimentological analysis reveals that the so-called “Tyrrhenian” terrace comprises multiple depositional cycles, with only the uppermost bed attributable to MIS 5e. From this unit, we document 64 molluscan taxa, including members of the “Senegalese fauna” and several species not previously reported from Greek LIG deposits. Ecological affinities of the assemblage indicate a heterogeneous infralittoral environment with mean annual SSTs of around 20°C, consistent with other Mediterranean records. By revising and integrating Greek species lists into a Mediterranean–Atlantic framework, we demonstrate that the Aegean Ecoregion forms a key link between eastern and western Mediterranean faunas and shares affinities with the Saharan Upwelling region. These results refine the palaeobiogeographic interpretation of tropical species dispersal into the Mediterranean and highlight the need for robust chronological calibrations of Greek LIG sites to improve reconstructions of faunal dynamics under warm climate scenarios.

Only one last interglacial relative sea-level indicator point (SLIP) has been recognised for Fenland, eastern England, and the nearest penultimate interglacial SLIP is located on the north Norfolk coast. Such limited information restricts the regional input to, and hence the relevance of, global reconstructions of late Middle and Late Pleistocene sea level. Marine-influenced deposits without such relevant data are known in Fenland, but their age and connection to past relative sea level (RSL) were largely uncertain. To improve this situation, new age-estimate data are presented and assessed in combination with existing age-estimate and new and existing palaeoecological data. Sea level relative to the marine-influenced deposits of Fenland is approximated based on brackish-marine faunal analyses. Results distinguish between marine-influenced deposits of penultimate and last interglacial sites. Fenland marine-influenced deposits of both interglacial stages share similar altitudinal envelopes (between a few metres above and below present ordnance datum (OD)), in common with Kirmington to the north and those of the British south coast, the Channel Islands and northwest France. Peak Fenland minimum RSL approximation (RSLA) of 2.5 m OD in the penultimate interglacial is commensurate with the north Norfolk coast SLIP but contrasts with the below OD peak of the global record. Timing of the peak Fenland maximum RSLA of 3.75 m OD late in the last interglacial at 116 ± 16 ka is commensurate with the Dutch record (116–105 ka), but contrasts with the early peak of some global records.

The southwestern Cape of South Africa experiences a complex and dynamic climate, shaped by the interplay between the temperate Southern Hemisphere westerly winds and the subtropical easterlies. Despite the climatic sensitivity of the region, relatively few studies have examined how conditions have varied since the last deglaciation in response to significant changes in global boundary conditions. Here, we present a 30 000-year sedimentary record from a coastal wetland at Pearly Beach on the southern Cape coast, focusing on climatic changes that occurred during the last glacial–interglacial transition. Downcore variations in grain size and inorganic geochemical composition provide evidence for a period of heightened storm activity between ~18.5 and 14.0 cal ka BP, which we interpret to reflect intensified westerly wind-driven activity. This period of increased storminess coincides with a slowdown in Atlantic meridional overturning circulation (AMOC) during Heinrich Stadial 1 (HS1: ∼18–14.6 ka) and subsequent warming in the southeast Atlantic Ocean. We propose that this warming enhances moisture uptake by westerly frontal systems, leading to stronger storms in the southern Cape. The intensification of westerly-driven storms occurred concurrently with a broader cooling trend across South Africa, suggesting that AMOC variability during HS1 may have influenced climate across much of the region.