Quaternary International最新文献

{"title":"Depositional history of the Holocene Faiyum Paleolake (Egypt) inferred from a petrographic analysis","authors":"M.A. Hamdan ,&nbsp;R.H. Badawy ,&nbsp;A.S. Zaky ,&nbsp;R. Osman ,&nbsp;F.A. Hassan ,&nbsp;R.J. Flower ,&nbsp;A.M. Afify ,&nbsp;M.S. Mabrouk","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Faiyum Depression basin was fed by the Nile River during high-flow seasons in the Holocene. A large freshwater lake persisted in the basin during most of the Holocene. The geological setting and geomorphological characteristics of this basin has made it a topic in North African hydrology, climate, and environment, especially in Egypt. The ancient shore sediments today are fragmentary, discontinuous, and suffer from extensive erosion but substantial records of the ancient lake remain. Continuous sediment records from drill cores provided a near complete record of the Holocene history of Faiyum Lake. The recovered sedimentary sequence of one core F3-08 consists of predominantly siliciclastic lacustrine facies divisible into six informal units. Petrographic analysis provides high resolution evidence of major hydrological changes affecting the lake system. In the early-middle Holocene this lake persisted but with a lower water level and thicker sediment layers. The middle Holocene Lake experienced repetitive variations in lake level as the amount of Nile water entering the depression fluctuated. During the late Holocene, the lake level dramatically lowered in part due to the construction of earthen dams during the late Holocene and to changes in the Nile headwaters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"714 ","pages":"Article 109588"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142759042","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":"The late Middle Pleistocene Zhongshan cave fauna from the Bubing Basin, southern China","authors":"Yaobin Fan ,&nbsp;Yanyan Yao ,&nbsp;Anne-Marie Bacon ,&nbsp;Thijs van Kolfschoten ,&nbsp;Jinyan Li ,&nbsp;Christopher J. Bae ,&nbsp;Wei Liao ,&nbsp;Wei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The karstic caves in the Bubing Basin, Guangxi, southern China, contain abundant Quaternary mammalian fossils. These cave sites are located at varying altitudes that have been roughly correlated with chronological age (higher caves are older, lower caves are younger). A growing number of recent studies have established a regional biochronological sequence for these Bubing caves from the Early to the Late Pleistocene. Here, we describe a new mammalian assemblage from the Zhongshan Cave, that dates to the late Middle Pleistocene - Marine Isotope Stage 6 (191–130 ka). The age is supported by minimum ages derived from U-series dating of the deposits, and the ESR/U-series dating of one <em>Rhinoceros</em> tooth (∼184 ka). The Zhongshan mammalian assemblage, comprising 33 taxa of large-sized mammals, belongs to the Middle Pleistocene “<em>Ailuropoda</em>-<em>Stegodon</em>” faunal unit and, in this respect, most closely resembles the Ganxian fauna (362–168.9 ka). The high diversity and abundance of ruminant Artiodactyla (versus Perissodactyla) in the Zhongshan fauna suggest a diversity of forest to more open habitats in the Bubing Basin during this period.</div><div>The Zhongshan fauna fills a gap in the biochronological framework of southern China, offering new insights into the evolutionary history of some mammalian lineages in the Bubing Basin. Overall, data indicate major changes in the Early to Late Pleistocene faunal sequence, particularly with more turnover during the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition compared to the Middle-Late Pleistocene transition.</div><div>Comparison between faunas from the Bubing Basin with those from sites in the Chongzuo area, also in Guangxi, southern China, highlights two major phases in the general decline of large-sized mammals during the Middle to Late Pleistocene transitional period. In that respect, our results provide an updated biochronological background for further analyses of the region.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"714 ","pages":"Article 109587"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142759041","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":"Anthropic and climatic impacts on biodiversity during the Mesolithic-Neolithic transition in North-Western France","authors":"Nathan Martin ,&nbsp;Kevin Nota ,&nbsp;Cédric Aumont ,&nbsp;Grégor Marchand ,&nbsp;Dominique Marguerie","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.11.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Neolithic transition, which began around 10,000 BCE in Western Asia, has significantly impacted the biodiversity dynamics and the hunter-gatherer communities due to the beginning of anthropization and climate fluctuations during this period. Neolithic farmers gradually spread to the Atlantic margins of North-Western Europe during the 6th millennium BCE, arriving later than in other parts of the continent.</div><div>This systematic review aims to shed a light on the landscape transformations and shifts in the ecological niches that occurred during neolithization in the Armorican Massif, driven by human and climatic influences, through an interdisciplinary examination of palynology, archaeology and palaeogenomics. This Massif is situated in North-Western France which hosted well established Mesolithic and Neolithic societies that have been extensively studied. However, recent research has called into question the coexistence of these two cultural groups in this area, necessitating a reevaluation of the literature in light of these new findings.</div><div>This systematic review coupled with an analysis of pollen sequences reveals spatial and temporal heterogeneity in vegetation composition, openness, and the gradual introduction of domesticated taxa into the region. This analysis should be seen in the context of the delayed adoption of the agro-pastoral lifestyle in North-Western Europe, attributed to the different climatic conditions encountered, which required time for these societies and their domesticated taxa to adapt.</div><div>Further investigation is needed to clearly differentiate between anthropogenic and climatic impacts and paleo-climatic reconstruction based on pollen sequences looks promising for addressing this issue.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"714 ","pages":"Article 109586"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142759040","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":"Was LIA synchronous with equa-tropical climate? A multiproxy study from the southwest coast of India","authors":"Pooja Tiwari ,&nbsp;Biswajeet Thakur ,&nbsp;Purnima Srivastava ,&nbsp;Sanjay Kumar Singh Gahlaud ,&nbsp;Trina Bose ,&nbsp;Anurag Kumar ,&nbsp;Ravi Bhushan ,&nbsp;Rajesh Agnihotri","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.09.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.09.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A comprehensive study of the Mundrothruthu (MT) core (70 cm) from the Asthamudi wetland in Kollam, Kerala, India reveals three climate phases during the Little Ice Age (LIA) through multi-proxy investigations. The period (1507–1518 CE) shows high agricultural activity indicated by abundant diatom diversity, significant terrestrial influx, and freshwater runoff. Elevated TOC% and δ¹³C_TOC values suggest high temperature and a warm, humid climate, likely driven by high terrestrial influx and transport of organic matter from the nearby surroundings. This may have increased the organic matter influx to the estuary leading to high TOC% and more negative δ¹³C values. The second phase (1519–1548 CE) is characterized by increased marine incursion due to enhanced tidal currents, evidenced by a rise in marine palynomorphs, mixed terrestrial and marine organic matter, less negative δ¹³C values, and increased mud content. This shift likely reflects changes in sea level or tidal dynamics. The final period (1548–1804 CE) is marked by further enhancement of marine taxa, lower TOC%, and δ¹³C_TOC values, indicating reduced atmospheric CO₂ and a temperature decrease of about 1 °C. This period is associated with reduced solar insolation and a southward shift of the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). The study highlights both synchronous and asynchronous climatic behavior on the southwest coast of India relative to global changes during the LIA. Initially warm and humid with high agricultural productivity, the region gradually shifted to marine-dominated conditions due to tidal dynamics and broader climatic shifts. These findings underscore the complex interplay between local and global climatic factors during the LIA.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"709 ","pages":"Pages 66-81"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142593335","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":"Trace element variations in Indian speleothems: Insights into the Holocene climate","authors":"Ipsita Roy,&nbsp;Naveen Gandhi","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.007","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.007","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Speleothems from the Gupteswar and Kadapa caves were investigated using trace element (TE) ratios (Mg, Ba, Sr, Rb, Mn, Ti, U) over the last 7000 years, supported by ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U dating, to understand the regional and local climate variability induced by the Indian Summer Monsoon. The behavior of TE in calcite is influenced by temperature, seepage pathways, bedrock chemistry, and vegetation cover above the cave. A continuous decrease in the Ba/Sr ratio since 7 ka BP indicates changes in regional precipitation or local moisture availability during this period. However, determining changes in drip water rate and chemical composition is challenging due to the lack of supporting data. Variations in the TE ratios suggest significant climate and depositional changes at ∼4.2 ka BP and ∼2.8 ka BP. A decline in precipitation was observed between 4.2 and 3.8 ka BP and at ∼2.8 ka BP, with an increase in aeolian deposition at the study site since 3.8 ka BP because of preceding dry conditions. The moist and dry climate phases deduced from stable isotope values corroborate the variations in trace element ratios, affirming the paleoclimatic significance of the studied trace elements in tropical cave deposits. A probable explanation for the decline in precipitation at the study location around 4.2 ka BP is the southward migration of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ) along with a negative phase of the Indian Ocean Dipole. The prevailing dry conditions in this region could have impacted the northward monsoonal winds, contributing to the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization. Another abrupt change observed at ∼2.8 ka BP can be linked to low solar activity and the southward movement of the ITCZ, coupled with enhanced El Niño-Southern Oscillation activity.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"709 ","pages":"Pages 55-65"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142593334","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":"Upper Pleistocene in Mallorca: Sedimentary variability of littoral units in relation to different structural contexts","authors":"Federica Perazzotti ,&nbsp;Laura Del Valle ,&nbsp;Joan J. Fornós","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.005","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.005","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This comprehensive study explores the Upper Pleistocene geological history of Mallorca, employing a multidisciplinary approach that integrates previous findings with new insights. The research spans various coastal regions, focusing on four distinct study areas characterized by different geomorphological and structural contexts. The first structural context, exemplified by Port des Canonge, showcases a fold and thrust sedimentary succession, resulting in prominent cliffs with Jurassic and Triassic formations. The second context, observed in Caloscamps, features smoother reliefs and notable terrestrial sediment input. Meanwhile, the third context, represented by Punta de s’Avançada and Punta de n’Amer, exhibits cliffs carved on Upper Miocene tabular units devoid of terrestrial sediment input. The main objective is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the geological and sedimentological characteristics of the Upper Pleistocene units across the Mallorca coastal regions by investigating different study areas located along the west, north-west, north-east, and east coasts, in distinct geomorphological and geological contexts using sedimentological methodologies: stratigraphic analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, microscopic techniques, and assessment of sediment color. Additionally, Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating techniques are employed, providing a precise temporal framework spanning Marine Isotope Stage 6 (MIS 6) to Marine Isotope Stage 3 (MIS 3). The findings reveal the complex interplay of environmental factors, climatic variations, and geological evolution across Mallorca. Colluvial deposits and paleosols reflect climatic shifts. Alluvial fans and aeolianites highlight periods of intense sediment transport and deposition linked to climate fluctuations. Finally, to provide a comprehensive overview of the outcrops present on the island, a stratigraphic correlation of the mentioned areas was conducted. In conclusion, the study enhances our comprehension of the regional coastal dynamics, geological composition, and environmental history, providing invaluable contributions to the broader understanding of Pleistocene deposits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"709 ","pages":"Pages 1-14"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142202471","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":"Paleoenvironmental characterisation of the Campos Basin slope (SE Brazil) in front of Cape São Tomé based on benthic foraminiferal biofacies succession since MIS 5","authors":"Sarah Pereira Gasparini ,&nbsp;Claudia Gutterres Vilela ,&nbsp;Mark Maslin","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.004","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.004","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The distribution of benthic foraminifera and the assemblage dynamics were analysed on piston core GL-54 to understand the changes in paleoecology since Marine Isotopic Stage 5 (MIS 5). The core was drilled on the upper slope of the Campos Basin on the Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) coast. Benthic foraminifera biofacies, ecological indices, lithological facies, biostratigraphy, and isotopic analyses were undertaken to characterise the paleoenvironment in front of Cape of São Tomé. Two distinct biofacies were identified in the GL-54 sedimentary record since the Last Interglacial Period (MIS 5). These two biofacies point to seasonal organic matter and a well-oxygenated environment, however, Biofacies 2 can be differentiated from Biofacies 1 by the presence of significant bottom water currents. Biofacies 2 has the same species as Biofacies 1, except for <em>Miliolinella subrotunda</em>. Benthic foraminiferal species and biofacies from GL-54 were compared to the ones present in the upper portion of the GL-39 piston core, which was drilled from the middle slope of the same basin. Species such as <em>Globocassidulina crassa</em>, <em>Islandiella norcrossi</em>, <em>Alabaminella weddellensis</em>, <em>Bolivina paula</em>, <em>M. subrotunda</em>, <em>Bulimina aculeata</em>, <em>Globocassidulina subglobosa</em>, <em>Rotorbinella lepida</em>, and <em>Uvigerina peregrina</em> were found in both piston cores. The biofacies of both piston cores were correlated, pointing to similarities between the upper slope and the middle slope in the Campos Basin since MIS 5. In general, the upper and middle slopes of the Campos Basin are characterised as a well-oxygenated environment with variation in the deposition of organic matter. In addition to these environmental factors, there is evidence for a strong bottom current in MIS 2 at both sites, probably due to the displacement of Brazil Current and Intermediate Western Boundary Current.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"709 ","pages":"Pages 29-42"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142593332","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":"Holocene paleoclimatic records from Chakrata area, Northwest Himalaya","authors":"Narendra Kumar Meena ,&nbsp;Firoz Khan ,&nbsp;Yaspal Sundriyal ,&nbsp;Robert James Wasson ,&nbsp;Pankaj Kumar ,&nbsp;Rajveer Sharma","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We present monsoon variability records for the Holocene using multi-proxy approach (environmental magnetism, carbon isotope, and total organic carbon) from a 146 cm thick sedimentary profile in the Kotikanasar meadow (Chakrata), Northwest Himalaya. The chronology of the record was constrained by five AMS ¹⁴C ages. The carbon isotope (δ¹³C) and Total Organic Carbon (TOC) data highly variable which vary between −26.62‰ and −22.46‰ (C₃-plants) and 0.1–∼4%, respectively, indicating paleo-vegetation history and productivity of the studied area. The environmental magnetism is highly fluctuating in the Early Holocene with high concentrations of magnetic minerals during the high monsoon conditions and <em>vice-versa</em>. Intense Indian Summer Monsoon (ISM) phases were identified during the Early and Late Holocene i.e., ∼9.2 to 7.4 ka, and ∼4.8 ka to Modern which shows warm and wet climate. While decline in the ISM intensity during ∼7.4 to 4.8 ka which indicates cold and dry climatic condition in the Northwest Himalayan regions. From ∼9.2 to 7.4 ka, highly fluctuating climate linked with the Early Holocene warming. Sediment profile exhibits aridity in climate accompanying with the high influence of mid-latitude westerlies during ∼7.4 to 4.8 ka from Northwest Indian regions. Hence the long-term fluctuation in the climate governed by the changes in the North Atlantic Ocean circulation as well as variations in the incoming solar radiations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"709 ","pages":"Pages 43-54"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142593333","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":"Early Pleistocene forerunners of Mammuthus-Coelodonta Faunal Complex in Nihewan Basin, North China","authors":"Haowen Tong ,&nbsp;Xi Chen ,&nbsp;Bei Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.006","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.08.006","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The typical <em>Mammuthus</em>-<em>Coelodonta</em> Faunal Complex dominated the mid- and high latitudes of continental Eurasia during the Mid-Late Pleistocene; the dominant taxa include woolly mammoth (<em>Mammuthus primigenius</em>), woolly rhino (<em>Coelodonta antiquitatis</em>), steppe bison (<em>Bison priscus</em>) and diverse horses (<em>Equus</em> spp.), etc. Recent excavations at the Early Pleistocene site Shanshenmiaozui in Nihewan Basin of North China resulted in the discoveries of rich mammalian fossils which include steppe mammoth (<em>Mammuthus trogontherii</em>), Nihowan woolly rhino (<em>Coelodonta nihowanensis</em>), archaic Chinese bison (<em>Bison</em> (<em>Eobison</em>) <em>palaeosinensis</em>) and rich collections of early horse fossil. In Nihewan Basin, a couple of sites (Xiashagou, Shanshenmiaozui and Yeniupo) yielded the <em>Mammuthus</em>-<em>Coelodonta</em>-<em>Bison</em> assemblage, which can be regarded as the closest ancestors of the <em>Mammuthus</em> - <em>Coelodonta</em> Faunal Complex or the forerunners of the later <em>Mammuthus</em> - <em>Coelodonta</em> Faunal Complex. Nihewan Basin bears the richest and most complete fossils of Early Pleistocene <em>Coelodonta</em> and <em>Bison</em> to date, and the juvenile specimens of <em>M. trogontherii</em> also represent the richest collection for its kind and its geologic age.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"709 ","pages":"Pages 15-28"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-11-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142593331","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":"Reassessing Gombore I in the light of the history of research at Melka Kunture (Ethiopia)","authors":"Flavio Altamura ,&nbsp;Tesfaye Aragie","doi":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.10.008","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.quaint.2024.10.008","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Gombore I is located on the right bank of the present-day Awash River, adjacent to the lowest terrace of the Gombore gully, which is recognized as one of the most significant archaeological sites within Melka Kunture (Ethiopia). The site was extensively researched by the French Archaeological Mission under the direction of Jean Chavaillon. Initially discovered in 1965, it has been subject to comprehensive excavations over nearly two decades, encompassing approximately 240 m². Throughout this research, a substantial collection of lithic artifacts and faunal remains was unearthed, alongside a wood fragment and two hominin remains embedded within various archaeological layers (designated A, B1, B2, B3, C, D, E). Furthermore, purported structural remnants interpreted as an hominin shelter were documented. These findings are regarded as some of the earliest archaeological evidence at Melka Kunture and have been associated with both the Oldowan and Early Acheulean, dating back approximately 1.8 to 1.6 Ma. Utilizing materials preserved in the archives of the archaeological mission, this paper delineates the history of research conducted at this notable site while emphasizing that it was investigated using remarkably advanced and innovative methodological approaches for its time. The fieldwork engaged a multidisciplinary team and implemented a rigorous excavation protocol along with systematic recovery procedures for artifacts. Additionally, meticulous graphic and photographic documentation techniques were employed, including zenithal photogrammetry. The project also involved creating casts and utilizing punched cards for analyzing lithic industries. Consequently, the field documentation produced remains applicable for contemporary analysis; however, certain aspects of interpretation have since been revised by more recent studies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":49644,"journal":{"name":"Quaternary International","volume":"713 ","pages":"Article 109576"},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-10-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142759574","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}