Quaternary Science Advances最新文献

{"title":"Eccentricity-driven glacial climate variability and its influence on speciation in the tropical Andes","authors":"Manuel Chevalier ,&nbsp;William D. Gosling ,&nbsp;Henry Hooghiemstra ,&nbsp;Olivier Cartapanis ,&nbsp;Brian M. Chase ,&nbsp;Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100278","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100278","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a detailed pollen-based climate reconstruction from Lake Fúquene, Colombia, spanning the past 284,000 years and revealing significant changes in temperature and hydroclimate modes of variability, particularly between glacial periods. Our findings highlight the central role of eccentricity in modulating the influence of high-latitude glacial climate variability on the northern Andes. During periods of high eccentricity (∼70–260 ka), we conclude that the region was shielded from northern high-latitude glacial ice-sheet dynamics by an intensified Walker circulation. After ∼70 ka, a weakening of this zonal circulation allowed high-latitude, millennial-scale glacial climate variability to penetrate deeper into the tropics, influencing the position of the ITCZ and the rainbelt. This shift in climate dynamics led to increased regional millennial-scale climate variability. A detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) on fossil pollen data highlights a contemporaneous compositional shift previously masked by glacial-interglacial vegetation changes. The observed ecological shift coincides temporally with predictions of elevated speciation rates in mechanistic simulations. Combined, these results suggest a long-lasting environmental impact from glacial millennial-scale climate dynamics, supporting the hypothesis that increased environmental dynamism during glacial periods may trigger the speciation pump in the Northern Andes more than glacial inceptions or terminations. These findings underscore the evolving nature of regional climate drivers and their complex interplay with ecology, offering new insights into the role of climate variability in shaping biodiversity in this hotspot.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100278"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143621057","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geospatial mapping of groundwater potential zones using multi-criteria decision analysis and GIS fuzzy logic in Dabus Sub-Basin, western Ethiopia","authors":"Dawit Girma Burayu ,&nbsp;Shankar Karuppannan ,&nbsp;Gemechu Shuniye","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100275","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100275","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ethiopian groundwater assessments are often conducted using field surveys as a basis. Although conventional groundwater exploration methods yield results of varying scale and improved quality, they are typically costly and time-consuming tasks. Utilizing remotely sensed data and geographic information systems (GIS), data may now be efficiently collected, analyzed, and managed across extensive spatial and temporal scales. This study will use timely, affordable remote sensing (RS) data and GIS approaches to map the groundwater potential in the Dabus Sub-Basin in Western Ethiopia. This study examines various geographic parameters, including lithology, slope, rainfall, drainage density, lineament density, soil texture, land use/cover (LULC), and geomorphology. Weight overlay analysis and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), particularly the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) method, were employed to delineate the groundwater potential zone (GWPZs). Then, using Saatty's (AHP) scale, the weights for each element were allocated based on their relative relevance. The results of the primary components show that lithology has the lowest weight and rainfall, and geomorphology has the highest weights when calculating the prospective groundwater potential zone in the research region. The findings showed that approximately 310.2 km² (1.5%) had very high groundwater potential, 16216 km² (77.1%) had high groundwater potential, 4476 km² (21.3%) had moderate groundwater potential, and 27.77 km² (0.13%) had low groundwater potential. After employing borehole points and the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curve method to assess the created groundwater potential zone map, a good correlation of 73.8% was found. Thus, this study demonstrates a reliable way to utilize GIS and remote sensing tools to map and define GWPZs. To make prompt judgments about groundwater management, planners and decision-makers rely heavily on the GWPZ that is produced.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"18 ","pages":"Article 100275"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-03-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143637587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reconstruction of deep-water undercurrent variability from the outer Labrador Sea during the past 550,000 years","authors":"Stefanie Kaboth-Bahr ,&nbsp;André Bahr ,&nbsp;Patrick Blaser ,&nbsp;Antje H.L. Voelker ,&nbsp;Jörg Lippold ,&nbsp;Marcus Gutjahr ,&nbsp;David A. Hodell ,&nbsp;James E.T. Channell ,&nbsp;Anne de Vernal ,&nbsp;Claude Hillaire-Marcel","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present a comprehensive multi-proxy analysis spanning 550,000 years from the outer Labrador Sea region at the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Sites U1302/1303. We combine new benthic foraminiferal stable oxygen (δ¹⁸O) and carbon (δ¹³C) isotope records, with sediment elemental composition and authigenic neodymium isotope measurements, to provide insights into deep-water mass sourcing and changes of the Deep Western Boundary Current (DWBC), which exports North Atlantic Deep Water (NADW) into the wider North Atlantic as part of the lower limb of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation.</div><div>We find that a prominent DWBC likely remained a persistent feature within the Labrador Sea region throughout the past 550 kyr. However, glacial peaks of marine isotope stage (MIS) 14 to MIS 2 were consistently characterized by a weaker or shallower DWBC, while all interglacial periods of MIS 13a to MIS 1, with the exception of MIS 7e, were marked by enhanced DWBC. Additionally, the dominant deep-water masses feeding into the DWBC during these glacial-interglacial periods varied from regional (K-rich sediment, unradiogenic εNd) to more distal sources from the Nordic Seas (Ti-rich sediment, radiogenic εNd). Yet, these changes in deep-water provenance did not consistently correlate with DWBC strength, suggesting that additional factors may have played a significant role in shaping the DWBC strength or core depth throughout the geological past.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100266"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174873","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrated litho-structural, hydro-geochemical, and numerical modeling analysis to characterize the 40 springs discharge system, Arba Minch, Ethiopia","authors":"Dagnachew Daniel Molla ,&nbsp;Fitsum Aschnaki Haile ,&nbsp;Tarun Kumar Lohani","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100271","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100271","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The 40-spring discharge system (40SDS) in Arba Minch, Ethiopia, is significantly influenced by the complex geomorphology and tectonic activities of the Ethiopian Rift Valley. These springs are the major source of water supply for drinking, domestic use, and tourism, with historical discharge rates between 130 and 250 L per second (l/s). The study aimed to characterize the 40SDS through an integrated approach using litho-structural, hydro-geochemical, and numerical modeling techniques to understand the dynamics and continuing decline rate. The results showed that faults channelize groundwater from the western plateau through the escarpment to the rift floor, discharging into Lakes Abaya and Chamo. Hydro-geochemical analysis identified magnesium (Mg²⁺), calcium (Ca²⁺), and bicarbonate as dominant ions, reflecting interactions with silicate minerals, with concentrations increasing downstream due to water-rock contact. Numerical modeling indicated that the aquifer is highly sensitive to hydraulic conductivity, with 99.8% of groundwater outflow occurring through constant head boundaries. Recharge estimates from WetSpass ranged from 0 to 331.8 mm/year, with an average of 64.7 mm/year. A lag in rainfall-discharge correlation was noted, with a 1-month lag during wet seasons and a 2-month lag during dry seasons, linking recharge to western highland precipitation. Long-term data (1981–2015) indicates a continuous decline in mean annual flow due to reduced recharge and anthropogenic pressures. The springs exhibit a Ca-Na-HCO₃ water type, contrasting with nearby Mg-Na-HCO₃-Cl surface and groundwater. This decline threatens Arba Minch's socioeconomic stability, as these springs are the primary source of water for the community. Effective management strategies are crucial for the sustainable use of this essential resource.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100271"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421555","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Radiocarbon age anomalies, potential carbon sources analysis and correction of terrestrial gastropods in a loess sequence from Kunlun Mountains since 3.6 ka","authors":"Yan Hu ,&nbsp;Peng Cheng ,&nbsp;Jibao Dong ,&nbsp;Haiyan Zhao ,&nbsp;Mengyu Zang ,&nbsp;Minwen Lan ,&nbsp;Xuefeng Lu ,&nbsp;Weijian Zhou","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100261","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100261","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Terrestrial mollusks serve as potential radiocarbon materials for dating loess deposits in the late Quaternary. However, the reliability of gastropod shell ¹⁴C ages is complicated by two issues: open-system behavior and the limestone problem. Due to lack of assessment on the preservation status of shell fossils and factors affecting old carbon, correction for age anomalies remains an unresolved question. This study investigated two gastropod shells, <em>Cathaica</em> <em>rossimontana</em> and <em>Succinea</em> sp., discovered from a loess section rich in charcoal in the North Kunlun Mountains of Central Asia. By analyzing local climate condition, leaching degree, and mineral composition, we revealed that the open systems have a negligible influence on shell fossils. The values of age anomalies of <em>Cathaica</em> <em>rossimontana</em> and <em>Succinea</em> sp. are respectively 1788 ± 240 years and 492 ± 100 years. Furthermore, we obtained the temporal variation patterns of different carbon sources in shell fossils through a mass balance model analysis. The results indicate that the proportion of carbonate sources ranges from 17.5% to 26.8% in <em>Cathaica</em> <em>rossimontana</em>, while it ranges from 6.0% to 7.8% in <em>Succinea</em> sp., which may result from their size and calcium demand. <em>Succinea</em> sp. is recommended for stratigraphic dating for its minor age anomalies. Our study further demonstrates that snails of the same species absorb a highly consistent proportion of limestone under stable environment. This provides a theoretical basis for correcting age anomalies in fossil shells. The corrected ages of <em>Cathaica</em> <em>rossimontana</em>, based on living specimens, are consistent with reliable charcoal ages. Our findings offer a potential approach to correct the old carbon in snail fossils and facilitate the reliable dating for loess deposits in Central Asia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100261"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173633","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reconciling the environmental implications of late Quaternary faunal and pollen records in southern Africa","authors":"Alexandra L. Norwood ,&nbsp;John Rowan ,&nbsp;J. Tyler Faith","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100259","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2024.100259","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Across southern Africa, the Pleistocene-Holocene transition was associated with changes in community composition of large mammalian herbivores, which included the extinction and extirpation of numerous grazers. Past research has often linked these changes to the contraction and disappearance of grasslands; however, the relationship between faunal and pollen records spanning this transition has not been systematically analyzed. Here, we investigate changes in fossil ungulate community composition and grass pollen abundance from late Quaternary sites across southern Africa to evaluate the extent to which these communities track paleovegetation change across this interval. Our dataset draws from faunal and pollen records across southern Africa. Results from the comparison of compositional changes in both records suggest a sub-continental-scale decoupling of grass cover and ungulate community composition during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. Although there is strong evidence for a regional-scale decline in grazers from the Last Glacial-Interglacial Transition to the early Holocene, there is no evidence for regional-scale declines in grassy vegetation. Several potential mechanisms may account for this decoupling of grazers and grass abundance. The possible strengthening of winter rainfall systems during glacial Pleistocene may have played a role by enhancing year-round availability of grasses in the interior and by elevating moisture availability and productivity in the Cape Floristic Region. Alternatively, current paleoecological data allow for the possibility that Pleistocene ‘grazers’ consumed more dicots, such that their decline at the onset of the Holocene reflects dietary niche contraction rather than vegetation change. These findings contribute to a growing body of evidence challenging the link between grass abundance and grazer diversity and complicate our understanding of the drivers of late Quaternary extinctions in southern Africa.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100259"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143173630","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Testing the reliability of geometric morphometric and computer vision methods to identify carnivore agency using Bi-Dimensional information","authors":"Manuel Domínguez-Rodrigo ,&nbsp;Marina Vegara-Riquelme ,&nbsp;Juan Palomeque-González ,&nbsp;Blanca Jiménez-García ,&nbsp;Gabriel Cifuentes-Alcobendas ,&nbsp;Marcos Pizarro-Monzo ,&nbsp;Elia Organista ,&nbsp;Enrique Baquedano","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100268","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100268","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Bidimensional information of tooth marks and other bone surface modifications (BSM) presents limitations, as highlighted in this study. Here, we establish a methodological comparison on a controlled experimentally-derived set of BSM generated by four different types of carnivores, using geometric morphometric (GMM) and computer vision (CV) methods. We highlight that previous generalizations of high accuracy on tooth marks using GMM are heuristically incomplete, because only a small range of allometrically-conditioned tooth pits have been used. Biased replication and exclusion of the most widely represented forms of non-oval tooth pits from such analyses have compromised the published results and their ensuing generalizations. Here, we document bidimensionally a much wider range of tooth pits, using their outlines (and not a limited set of non-reproducible <em>idem locus</em> semi-landmarks), through Fourier analyses. The resulting tooth mark sets show low accuracy (and resolution) in the classification of tooth marks per carnivore modifying agent. This low resolution is also reproduced when using a semi-landmark approach. In contrast, our study demonstrates that CV approaches, through Deep Learning (DL), using convolutional neural networks (DCNN), and Few-Shot Learning (FSL) models, classify experimental tooth pits with 81% and 79.52% accuracy, respectively, being equally efficient at classification. However, a limitation in CV methods occurs when applied to the fossil record, as BSM undergo dynamic transformations over time. The most impactful processes occur early in taphonomic history, altering the original BSM properties. Consequently, no objective referents exist for marks combining original and subsequent diagenetically or biostratinomically modifying processes. However, in well-preserved contexts, such as the 1.8 Ma tooth marks from some of the Olduvai sites, confidence in interpretations can be high with convergent CV models indicating high agent attribution probability. While GMM shows potential in 3D, its current bidimensional application yields limited discriminant power (&lt;40%). Thus, future research should utilize complete 3D topographical information for more complex GMM and CV analyses, potentially resolving current interpretive challenges. Despite necessary cautions, these new methods offer an unprecedented objective means of classifying BSM to taxon-specific agency with confidence indicators. Continued research should refine these approaches, enhancing the reliability of prehistoric interpretations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100268"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143421554","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human Response to Cold Climate: First Evidence from the Tibetan Plateau during the Last Glacial Maximum","authors":"Wenli Li ,&nbsp;Weijian Zhou ,&nbsp;Peng Cheng ,&nbsp;Peixian Shu ,&nbsp;Yikun Li ,&nbsp;John Dodson ,&nbsp;Yuda Chui ,&nbsp;Yan Hu ,&nbsp;Ling Yang ,&nbsp;Hua Du ,&nbsp;Xuefeng Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100269","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100269","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Tibetan Plateau (TP) is a hotspot for early human history research, however, there is no evidence of prehistoric human activity on the southern TP during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM). Thus, it remains unclear how the cold climate affected human activities and whether humans could survive such extremes on the Tibetan Plateau. Here, we present eight AMS ¹⁴C dates obtained from charcoal at a newly discovered blade site-Pengbuwuqing (PBWQ) in the Yarlung Zangbo River Valley basin, southern TP. We have also identified ochre at Paleolithic sites on the TP for the first time. Our chronological data indicate the human occupation of the Yarlung Tsangpo River basin during MIS2 (cal 29.2–27.0 kyr B.P), (cal 25.03–24.37 kyr B.P), and (cal 23.7–23.1 kyr B.P). This site represents the first evidence of human activity during the LGM in the southern TP valley and indicates that the southern TP river valley could have served as a refugium enabling prehistoric humans to survive the cold LGM on the TP.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100269"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143174874","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Geospatial analysis of landslide susceptibility and safe relocation zones: Insights from recent disasters in Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia","authors":"Natnael Agegnehu Ayele ,&nbsp;Esubalew Mulugeta Engda ,&nbsp;Taye Teshome Terefe ,&nbsp;Eyasu Leta ,&nbsp;Talema Moged Reda ,&nbsp;Muralitharan Jothimani","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100272","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100272","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates landslide susceptibility and proposes potential relocation sites in the Gofa Zone of Southern Ethiopia, utilizing combined geospatial analysis techniques such as Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Remote Sensing (RS). Factors such as slope, soil type, land use, rainfall, etc., were integrated into the analysis to identify the susceptible zones. A landslide susceptibility map was developed, categorizing the region into five susceptibility classes: very low, low, moderate, high, and very high. The analysis revealed that 11.74% of the Gofa Zone is classified as very low susceptibility, 31.33% falls under low susceptibility, and 30.02% is categorized as moderate susceptibility. Areas of high susceptibility cover 19.89%, while very high susceptibility zones account for 7.02% of the region. The findings indicate that high-risk areas are predominantly located in steep, mountainous terrains with unstable soils and intensive agricultural activities. In contrast, moderate and low-risk regions are characterized by more stable slopes and lower levels of human impact. Additionally, the study identifies potential relocation sites with minimal landslide risk, primarily located in flatter, stable terrains with less human encroachment. This study highlights the importance of combining GIS and RS for practical landslide risk assessment and provides valuable insights for disaster risk management, urban planning, and identifying safer areas for population relocation. The results are intended to assist local authorities and planners in making informed decisions to mitigate landslide hazards and promote sustainable regional development.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100272"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143437651","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The ichnology of White Sands (New Mexico): Linear traces and human footprints, evidence of transport technology?","authors":"Matthew R. Bennett ,&nbsp;Thomas M. Urban ,&nbsp;David F. Bustos ,&nbsp;Sally C. Reynolds ,&nbsp;Edward A. Jolie ,&nbsp;Hannah C. Strehlau ,&nbsp;Daniel Odess ,&nbsp;Kathleen B. Springer ,&nbsp;Jeffrey S. Pigati","doi":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100274","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.qsa.2025.100274","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A travois is crafted from one or more wooden poles and is one of the simplest prehistoric vehicles. Although these devices likely played vital roles in the lives of ancient peoples, they have low preservation potential in the archaeological record. Here we report linear features associated with human footprints, some of which are dated to ∼22,000 years old, preserved in fine-grained sediments at White Sands National Park (New Mexico, USA). Using a range of examples, we identify three morphological types of trace in late Pleistocene sediments. Type I features occur as single, or bifurcating, narrow (depth &gt; width) grooves which extend in planform from 2 to 50 m in length and trace either straight, gently curved or more irregular lines. They are associated with human footprints, which are truncated longitudinally by the groove and are not associated with other animal tracks. Type II examples are broader (width &gt; depth) and form shallow runnels that typically have straight planforms and may truncate human footprints to one side. Type III examples consist of two parallel, equidistant grooves between 250 and 350 mm apart. They trace gently curving lines that can extend for 30+ m. Human footprints are associated with these features and may occur between, and to the side of, the parallel grooves. We review a range of possible interpretations including both human and non-human explanations and conclude that the most parsimonious explanation is that they represent drag marks formed by travois consisting of a single pole or crossed poles pulled by humans, presumably during the transport of resources. As such this unique footprint record may represent one of the earliest pieces of evidence for the use of transport technology.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34142,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary Science Advances","volume":"17 ","pages":"Article 100274"},"PeriodicalIF":2.9,"publicationDate":"2025-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143454620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}