Journal of Quaternary Science最新文献

{"title":"Quantifying user variability in the traditional X-ray ice-rafted-debris counting technique","authors":"Neil McDonald,&nbsp;Tom Bradwell,&nbsp;S. Louise Callard,&nbsp;Jaime L. Toney","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70091","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70091","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The flux of icebergs is most commonly constrained in the palaeo-record by manually counting gravel clasts in sediment core X-ray images—a trusted method in Quaternary science and palaeoceanography for nearly 40 years. In this study, we explore the reproducibility (user consistency and between-user variability) of the traditional clast-counting technique, something that has rarely been quantified. A participatory study was undertaken whereby 14 individuals counted gravel clasts (&gt;2 mm) on X-radiographs in cm intervals of two different glaciomarine sediment cores: (i) a matrix-supported subaqueous diamicton facies and (ii) a clast-poor to clast-moderate laminated facies. Pairwise comparisons of all 14 users' counts using Spearman's rho indicate statistically significant relationships in all but one case (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05). A strong correlation (rho = 0.895; <i>p</i> &lt; 0.001) was also identified when comparing individual users' average clast counts on both images, indicating high internal counting consistency by users but significant differences in terms of overall counts. Substantial variation was also observed between different users' counts on the same image. In the diamicton facies, the standard deviation of all users' counts per cm was 1.91 (range: 0–4.3), while in the laminated facies, the standard deviation per cm was 1.28 (range: 0–3.67). Additionally, several users recorded a lower average clast count in the clast-rich diamicton facies and a higher count in the clast-poor laminated facies relative to other participants. These results may have significant implications when it comes to interpreting past iceberg flux and ice-marginal dynamics. As a way forward, we present a new rigid protocol to improve transparency, consistency and reproducibility for studies implementing this technique. Our findings have implications regarding how manual clast counts should be interpreted and implemented but also strengthen the case for automated clast-counting algorithms to reduce user bias and improve the consistency of IRD detection using X-radiographic images.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1048-1059"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70091","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149145727","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insect communities of late Pleistocene steppe–tundra and Holocene boreal forest ecosystems in central Yukon Territory, Canada","authors":"Scott L. Cocker,&nbsp;Svetlana Kuzmina,&nbsp;Nick Schafstall,&nbsp;Michael A. Monzon,&nbsp;Duane G. Froese","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70105","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70105","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Subfossil insect communities from the Quartz Creek site provide a detailed record of both Late Pleistocene steppe–tundra and Holocene boreal forest ecosystems in central Yukon Territory, Canada. Fifteen Pleistocene assemblages (marine isotope stages [MIS] 4 to 2) are dominated by steppe–tundra and dry-tundra taxa, particularly the weevils <i>Connatichela artemisiae</i> and <i>Lepidophorus lineaticollis</i>, indicating a cold and dry environment with widespread <i>Artemisia</i>–grassland habitats. Periodic increases in mesic tundra, riparian and forest-associated species reflect localised habitat mosaics within an otherwise arid landscape. Separated by a ~20 000-year stratigraphic hiatus, the Holocene assemblages show a marked increase in taxa associated with shrubs, wetlands, and coniferous forests, including bark beetles such as <i>Scolytus piceae</i>, <i>Polygraphus rufipennis,</i> and <i>Dendroctonus rufipennis</i>, as well as the carpenter ant <i>Camponotus herculeanus</i>. These taxa indicate the presence of boreal forest habitats near the site by at least 6045 cal yr BP. Community composition and biodiversity indices show a clear difference between the Pleistocene and Holocene assemblages, reflecting a shift from relatively species-poor steppe–tundra communities to more diverse assemblages associated with heterogeneous boreal forest environments. The continued absence of steppe–tundra specialists such as <i>Connatichela artemisiae</i> in our Holocene samples highlights the major restructuring of insect communities associated with the regional collapse of steppe–tundra ecosystems and the subsequent development of boreal forest environments in eastern Beringia.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1178-1199"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70105","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146535","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Can DNA from wet, temperate soils be used for palaeoecological reconstruction?","authors":"Nick A. Cutler,&nbsp;Doreen Yu-Tuan Huang,&nbsp;Richard T. Streeter,&nbsp;Andrew J. Dugmore","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70100","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sedimentary ancient DNA in well-dated contexts (<i>sed</i>aDNA) has great potential as a palaeoecological proxy. A few studies have attempted palaeoecological reconstructions using <i>sed</i>aDNA from soil; these studies have been mainly restricted to cold and/or dry soils. The study of soils from wet, temperate locations has been limited due to uncertainties surrounding the longevity and mobility of DNA in these environments. We addressed this knowledge gap with a novel field experiment that (i) tracked the movement and longevity of ‘exotic’ DNA applied to a wet, temperate soil and (ii) compared extant plant community structure with recent (decades old) environmental DNA (eDNA) data extracted from shallow (&lt;20 cm deep) soil samples. We used DNA metabarcoding to detect the exotic DNA and reconstruct plant communities from soil eDNA at different depths. Dating control provided by layers of volcanic ash indicated that our oldest soil samples were formed ~100 years ago. Our findings indicated low survivability and limited (centimetre-scale or less) mobility of applied DNA. The reconstructed plant communities closely resembled extant vegetation cover. We concluded that <i>sed</i>aDNA would be suitable as a palaeo-proxy for vegetation in similar settings, albeit restricted to the most abundant taxa. Further work in more taxonomically and structurally diverse settings, preferably with different soil types, would be required to establish the broader use of soil <i>sed</i>aDNA as a palaeoecological proxy in wet, temperate soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1114-1124"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70100","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149145641","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Making palaeoclimatology research policy-relevant: Insights and experience from the DECADAL Project","authors":"Celia Martin-Puertas,&nbsp;Laura Boyall,&nbsp;Alice M. Milner,&nbsp;Ashley M. Abrook,&nbsp;Amen Al-Yaari,&nbsp;Alice Carter-Champion,&nbsp;Daisy Fallows,&nbsp;Katy Flowers,&nbsp;Paul Lincoln,&nbsp;Simon Blockley,&nbsp;Achim Brauer,&nbsp;Armand Hernandez,&nbsp;Gordon N. Inglis,&nbsp;Pete Langdon,&nbsp;Jürg Luterbacher,&nbsp;Antti E. K. Ojala,&nbsp;Adam Scaife,&nbsp;Didier Swingedouw,&nbsp;Louise Wilson","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70096","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70096","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Quaternary palaeoclimatology uniquely provides insights and new evidence about climate variability trends and extremes prior to the instrumental record; yet, its knowledge is rarely integrated into governmental decision-making. This opinion piece shares lessons and experience from the UKRI-funded DECADAL project, which bridges palaeoclimate science and policy through co-production with UK climate services and policy institutions. The views expressed represent a joint perspective of the academic and non-academic actors involved in the project, highlighting the challenges that we faced and the solutions that we adopted. We found that an iterative collaboration through aligning research questions, outputs and formats with user needs builds trust, increases relevance and creates pathways for long-term policy uptake. DECADAL demonstrates that engaging with relevant policy and other end-user groups does not compromise scientific excellence; rather, it drives methodological innovation and rigour, fosters creativity and produces high-impact, original publications that also have relevance beyond an academic audience. We argue that embedding policy engagement should be viewed as a collective community endeavour rather than the effort of an individual or research team. By embracing co-production, palaeo-scientists can strengthen the societal value of their research, open new avenues for innovation and collaboration, and collectively shape climate-informed decision-making.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"989-995"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70096","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146147","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating ZooMS and taphonomy further highlights differential processing of animal and Neandertal carcasses in the Quina Mousterian at Les Pradelles (Marillac-le-Franc, southwest France)","authors":"Pauline Raymond,&nbsp;Jean-Jacques Hublin,&nbsp;Karen Ruebens,&nbsp;Geoff M. Smith,&nbsp;Sandrine Costamagno,&nbsp;Cédric Beauval,&nbsp;Alan Mann,&nbsp;Bruno Maureille","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70102","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The cave of Les Pradelles (Marillac-le-Franc, France) was repeatedly visited by Neandertals ~55 000 years ago and is a key site in discussions of Neandertal cannibalism. Excavations between 1967 and 1980 (Vandermeersch) and between 2001 and 2013 (Maureille/Mann) produced a rich faunal assemblage (&gt;20 000 bones), alongside Quina Mousterian tools. Here, we provide a combined study of both collections integrating ZooMS (Zooarchaeology by Mass Spectrometry) and taphonomic analyses on morphologically unidentifiable bones (Vandermeersch [<i>n</i> = 762] and Maureille/Mann [<i>n</i> = 377]). Our results indicate excellent collagen preservation (99.2% identification rate) and consistent glutamine deamidation. While we note an increased representation of bovids and equids in the trabecular fraction, our results confirm Les Pradelles as a reindeer hunting camp. Differences in the fragmentation of Neandertal and reindeer carcasses are illustrated by the relatively low number of ZooMS-identified Neandertal bones (<i>n</i> = 5). We show that Neandertal processing was marginal compared to reindeer, but human bodies were processed on multiple occasions across the Quina Mousterian lithofacies. Abundant retouchers (<i>n</i> = 23) and anthropogenic bone surface modifications (25%) were observed on the ZooMS-identified fauna, but not on the newly identified Neandertal remains. We show the value of integrating ZooMS, taphonomic and zooarchaeological data to revisit curated collections.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1125-1140"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70102","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Insights into Neanderthal technological practices: Evidence of anthropogenic modifications on animal bones at the Abri 122/1200 Middle Paleolithic site (Eastern Carpathians, Romania)","authors":"Monica Mărgărit,&nbsp;Ștefan Vasile,&nbsp;George Murătoreanu,&nbsp;Mihai Caminschi,&nbsp;Loredana Niță,&nbsp;Teodora Florentina Matură,&nbsp;Daniel Veres,&nbsp;Mădălina Stănescu,&nbsp;Ionel Geambașu,&nbsp;Gabriel Sebastian Șerbănescu,&nbsp;Marian Cosac","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70098","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70098","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Archeological evidence has demonstrated that Neanderthals utilized mammal bone remains as tools. These findings are geographically widespread, stretching from the Altai Mountains in Central Asia to the Atlantic Ocean. Such an extensive distribution is indicative of a broad pattern of Neanderthal behavior concerning tool use and resource exploitation, although a notable lacuna exists in the archeological record within the Carpathian region that appears as a blank area on the existing map. The main purpose of our study is to address and fill this geographical gap. To this end, we focused on the site of Abri 122/1200 in Romania as a representative case study. The luminescence dating results indicate that the Middle Paleolithic occupation of the cave spans from the Middle Pleistocene (Chibanian) to the Late Pleistocene, approximately from Marine Isotope Stage 7 (MIS 7, around 230 000 years ago) to MIS 3. A crucial aspect of our investigation involved differentiating between taphonomic marks on faunal remains: those resulting from natural processes such as scavenging or environmental factors and those stemming from technological activities like tool production or usewear. Through meticulous analysis, we successfully identified and isolated a consistent set of faunal remains categorized into five distinct typological groups. Our observations reveal that technological interventions on these bones are infrequent; the majority of fragments appear to have been used in their natural state without extensive modification. Fragments show evidence of being used in activities such as the processing of lithic tools, hides, or plant materials, which indicates a more complex utilization pattern than previously assumed. The assemblage from Abri 122/1200 thus exemplifies the importance of re-evaluating other Middle Paleolithic contexts within the Carpathian region. It highlights the variability, origin, and technological significance of bone production and utilization by Neanderthals, challenging traditional perceptions of their technological capabilities and resourcefulness.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1089-1113"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146488","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Refinement of the Quaternary seismic stratigraphy and analysis of buried glacial channels on the Labrador Shelf","authors":"Kai-Frederik Lenz,&nbsp;Felix Gross,&nbsp;A. Catalina Gebhardt,&nbsp;Arne Lohrberg,&nbsp;Ralph Schneider,&nbsp;Henriette Kolling,&nbsp;Florian Riefstahl,&nbsp;Orlando Martinez Bautista,&nbsp;Viktoria Thamm,&nbsp;Sebastian Krastel","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70099","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70099","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The Laurentide Ice Sheet covered vast areas of North America during the Wisconsinan, including the Labrador Shelf, off the coast of eastern Canada. The shelf is characterized by glacial cross-shelf troughs, which have been considered as predominantly eroded by the last ice advance. Nevertheless, these cross-shelf troughs contain substantial sedimentary infill that has not yet been thoroughly explored and elucidated. Therefore, we hypothesize that older, potentially non-glacial, sediments are preserved within these cross-shelf troughs on the Labrador Shelf. In this study, we investigate the stratigraphic infill of three major trough systems on the Labrador Shelf using 2D seismic reflection data to refine the erosional and depositional processes that produce the geomorphology and stratigraphy of the shelf. The results of the study present an updated Quaternary stratigraphy of the Labrador Shelf, comprising eight seismic units. For the first time, we interpret glaciomarine and open marine deposits between glacial till layers. Additionally, we identified sets of elongated depressions, at three different depth intervals. Some of them are classified as subglacial meltwater channels and some others as ice stream troughs. Finally, we propose a stratigraphic evolution model consisting of 10 phases and spanning two glacial–interglacial cycles. The results support our hypothesis and suggest that the deeper sediment layers on the shelf contain evidence of older glacial–interglacial cycles. They also lend support to the hypothesis of a multiphase origin over multiple glacial cycles for the cross-shelf troughs. Consequently, new opportunities are provided for the reconstruction of ice-sheet dynamics and associated oceanographic conditions on the Labrador Shelf, as the sedimentary succession provides an archive to reconstruct dynamics of ice sheets during at least two Quaternary glacial–interglacial cycles.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1141-1158"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70099","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146464","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Black layers in speleothems as a proxy for natural and anthropic processes","authors":"Virginia Martínez-Pillado,&nbsp;Eneko Iriarte,&nbsp;Iñaki Yusta,&nbsp;Saúl González-Lemos,&nbsp;Hai Cheng,&nbsp;Arantza Aranburu,&nbsp;Juan Luis Arsuaga","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70103","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70103","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Black layers (BL) in speleothems record natural and anthropogenic processes that complement calcite laminae information. However, their complex composition and genesis often remain understudied. This work presents a multi-analytical characterization (petrography, dating, trace-element geochemistry, SEM-EDS, TEM and computed axial tomography) of BL observed in four Holocene stalagmites from Atapuerca (northern Spain). Based on petrographic criteria (erosional features, alteration of underlying calcite and crystal fabric changes), two BL categories are defined: erosive (BL-E1 and BL-E2) and non-erosive (BL-C1 and BL-C2). BL-E1 shows dissolution surfaces, neomorphism (micritization/sparitization) and enrichments in lithophile and biophile elements; the subtype BL-E1b includes phosphatic precipitates suggesting bat guano input. Their formation reflects arid intervals with reduced growth rates and/or the occurrence of growth hiatuses, followed by infiltration of terrigenous material and organic matter. BL-E2 lacks allochthonous minerals and shows only subtle geochemical anomalies, being linked to humid periods where undersaturated drip waters caused erosion without significant detrital input. BL-C1 consists of calcite bands stained by organic colloids with no geochemical enrichment, indicating moderate humidity. BL-C2 is composed of soot particles and charcoal fragments, enriched in biophile elements and is attributed to anthropogenic fires inside the cave coinciding with intense human occupation phases (Neolithic to Bronze Age). This study demonstrates that BL in speleothems record both natural and anthropogenic processes and highlights the importance of their study for palaeoenvironmental reconstructions.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1159-1177"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ostracod faunal and geochemical evidence for the impact of Hoxnian (MIS 11c) sea levels in eastern England","authors":"Tom S. White,&nbsp;Jonathan A. Holmes,&nbsp;David J. Horne,&nbsp;David R. Bridgland","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70097","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70097","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Marine isotope substage 11c (~426–366 ka) is widely regarded as the most recent Pleistocene interglacial that is broadly analogous to the Holocene. The timing and magnitude of sea-level changes during MIS 11 have been much debated, particularly concerning whether sea levels were significantly higher than during the Holocene. Empirical evidence derived from terrestrial (onshore) records in northern Europe that might contribute to this debate has until now been rare. Here, we present data from three contemporaneous fluvial sequences in the lower reach of the ancestral River Thames, in which intrusion of saline water is marked by the appearance of fossils (ostracods, molluscs, vertebrates and foraminiferids) indicative of brackish and nearshore environments. The maximum input of saline water to each site was estimated using trace-element ratios (Sr/Ca and Mg/Ca) for valves of the ostracods <i>Cyprideis torosa</i> (Jones), <i>Scottia browniana</i> (Jones) and <i>Ilyocypris</i> spp. Correlation with the Hoxnian pollen record places the onset of brackish conditions in the Lower Thames within the late-temperate substage (Ho III) of the interglacial. Comparison with the tidal reach of the modern Thames shows that palaeosalinity values reconstructed at Clacton, presently situated on the coast, are equivalent to areas much further upstream during MIS 11. This is consistent with global records that place the MIS 11 sea-level maximum later in the interglacial than the time represented by the Clacton sequence. The data have important implications for palaeobiogeographical reconstructions of the southern North Sea basin, particularly with respect to the first breaching of the Weald–Artois anticline and the opening of the English Channel, and the ability of early human populations to colonise Britain during MIS 11.</p>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1078-1088"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/jqs.70097","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Contextualizing Early to Middle Pleistocene hominin ecology in the Indian Subcontinent","authors":"Anubhav Preet Kaur,&nbsp;Juha Saarinen,&nbsp;Rajeev Patnaik,&nbsp;Parth R. Chauhan,&nbsp;Robin Dennell","doi":"10.1002/jqs.70088","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/jqs.70088","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The paleoecology of early hominin dispersal(s) out of Africa remains a central topic of discussion in paleoanthropology. While African and Eurasian records are relatively well documented, the Indian Subcontinent has remained underrepresented in this discourse. Here, we present the first multiproxy paleoecological reconstruction of Early-to-Middle Pleistocene (2.58–0.4 Ma) environments in the northern Indian Subcontinent, combining dental δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O isotope analysis, dental mesowear, and dental ecometric trait data from 289 mammalian dental specimens from the Pinjor Formation, Upper Siwalik Hills of northern India. δ¹³C values indicate a predominantly C₄-based herbivore guild throughout the study period, with progressive broadening toward mixed C₃–C₄ diets after ~1.77 Ma. Strong temporal variation in δ¹⁸O values indicates that hydroclimatic variability was possibly the primary driver of this ecosystem reorganization across this interval. In conformity to results from the dental enamel, climate estimates based on dental ecometric trait data document a similar transition from drier, open grassland conditions before ~1.77 Ma to a more productive, structurally heterogeneous savannah mosaic ecosystems after ~1.77 Ma. These results demonstrate that the region sustained a predominantly savannah mosaic ecosystem, with an increase in habitat heterogeneity after the Early to Middle Pleistocene Climate Transition, corresponding to an increase in precipitation. This mosaic landscape sustained resource availability and opportunities, critical for survival of hominins dispersing through the region. This study fills a critical geographic gap by adding to the growing body evidence indicating that hominins occupied diverse and regionally variable environments during early out-of-Africa dispersal(s).</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":16929,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Quaternary Science","volume":"41 7","pages":"1036-1047"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2026-10-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149146143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"地球科学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}