Large mammal biochronology framework in Europe at Jaramillo: The Epivillafranchian as a formal biochron

Bellucci, Luca; Sardella, Raffaele; Rook, Lorenzo

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2014.11.012

Cited by 58 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 19 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…A variety of biostratigraphic studies of Early Pleistocene sites in Europe have aimed to correlate taxa with the radiometric time-scale 49 – 51 ; in this context the Epivillafranchian paleontological period was defined 52 , with an estimated time interval of 1.2–0.9 Ma (ref. 53 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New dating evidence of the early presence of hominins in Southern Europe

Michel

Shen

Woodhead

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The first “Out of Africa” migrations represent a seminal event in the history of humankind. At the gates of Europe, the first appearance of Hominins is recorded in Georgia, 1.8 million years ago (Ma); however, the picture of migration across the continent remains incomplete. Vallonnet Cave (France) is a Lower Paleolithic prehistoric site with traces of hominin activities including lithic remains and cut-marks on mammal bones. Here, we apply the uranium-lead (U-Pb) methods to two flowstones to date the intervening archaeological levels. The U-Pb data, coupled with paleomagnetic constraints, provide an age range from 1.2 to 1.1 Ma. The results conclusively demonstrate that Vallonnet Cave is one of the oldest European prehistoric sites in France with early hominin occupations associated with an Epivillafranchian fauna. Combined with data from other archaeological sites, the new precise chronology suggests a widespread occupation the Northern Mediterranean to Southwestern Europe at ~1.2 Ma.

show abstract

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

New dating evidence of the early presence of hominins in Southern Europe

Michel

Shen

Woodhead

et al. 2017

Sci Rep

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…It comprises the Colle Curti and superjacent Slivia Italian faunal units, the latter occurring just below the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary. Above this, the Ponte Galeria faunal unit is assigned by Bellucci et al (2015) to the lowest faunal unit of the Galerian mammal age.…”

Section: Large Non-hominin Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Recent proposed changes to the mammal-age terminology require some clarification. The Epivillafranchian Mammal Age has been proposed by Bellucci et al (2015) as a formal biochron to represent the Villafranchian-Galerian transition (1.2-0.9 Ma). It comprises the Colle Curti and superjacent Slivia Italian faunal units, the latter occurring just below the Matuyama-Brunhes boundary.…”

Section: Large Non-hominin Mammalsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Early–Middle Pleistocene transitions: Linking terrestrial and marine realms

Head

Gibbard

2015

Quaternary International

226

123

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Marked by a progressive increase in the amplitude of climate oscillations and a shift towards a quasi-100 kyr frequency, the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition (EMPT), previously known as the Mid-Pleistocene Transition (or Mid-Pleistocene Revolution) (1.4-0.4 Ma), represents a fundamental shift in the Earth's climate state. The physical and biotic responses to this transition, amplified by the growth of Northern Hemisphere ice sheets, have been profound. Two important paleomagnetic episodes characterize the EMPT, the Jaramillo Subchron (1.07-0.99 Ma) and the Matuyama-Brunhes Chron boundary (~773 ka). The latter has been chosen as the primary guide for the Lower-Middle Pleistocene Subseries boundary, as it lies at the approximate midpoint of the EMPT and aids in global recognition both in marine and terrestrial deposits. The Jaramillo Subchron has received less attention, but the late Early Pliocene is important in Europe because it saw the progressive transition from the Villafranchian to Galerian mammal faunas, and expansion of hominins into western and northern Europe. The Jaramillo Subchron is represented by Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 31 to 28, with MIS 30 already showing the asymmetrical (saw-tooth) pattern characteristic of the Middle Pleistocene. Indeed, while variation in the 40-kyr band (obliquity) remains strong throughout the EMPT, low frequency variability begins at around 1250-1200 kyr, which coincides with a progressive increase in global ice volume. The early phase of the EMPT is characterized by important glaciations beginning with MIS 36 and continuing to MIS 22, a major intensification of the East Asian monsoon system, intensification of loess deposition in northern Europe, development of open landscapes in western Siberia, increased fluvial incision, higher amplitude sea-level change, and spread of large mammals across northern Eurasia, and a strong reduction in the North Atlantic thermohaline circulation. In Europe, the loss of thermophilous plant taxa during the EMPT and indeed throughout the Quaternary is a reminder of the progressive cooling that took place in this region.

show abstract

“…The term Epivillafranchian has been proposed as a biochronological or sub-biochronological unit, expressing the time span from 1.5-1.3 to 0.9-0.8 Ma [84][85][86]. According to recent publications, the Epivillafranchian is considered as a biochron included within the Praemegaceros verticornis-Bison menneri first occurrences and Crocuta crocuta first occurrence, corresponding to the time span between 1.2-0.9 Ma [87]. However, the validity of the Epivillafranchian is disputed, as there are several factors (taxonomical, palaeoecological, diachrony/asynchrony) that do not allow for accepting it as a typical biochronological unit [88].…”

Section: Biochronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

New Material and Revision of the Carnivora, Mammalia from the Lower Pleistocene Locality Apollonia 1, Greece

Koufos

2018

Quaternary

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

During the last field campaigns in the mammal fossiliferous site Apollonia 1 (Macedonia, Greece), new carnivoran material has been discovered. The new collection added two new carnivoran taxa, Homotherium latidens and Panthera gombaszögensis. The new canid material and the revision of the old one (a) suggest the presence of two Canis species, C. etruscus and C. apolloniensis; (b) confirm the presence of the hypercarnivore Lycaon lycaonoides, and (c) allow for re-classifying the vulpine material to Vulpes praeglacialis. The taxonomic status of the species C. apolloniensis and Meles dimitrius is discussed. The composition and diversity of the Apollonia carnivoran assemblage are estimated and compared to those of various Greek and European Villafranchian ones. The results suggest close similarity to the Venta Micena (Spain) and Dmanisi (Georgia) carnivoran assemblages. The biochronological evidence indicates that Apollonia 1 is younger than Venta Micena and older than Untermassfeld (Germany), suggesting an age of 1.3-1.0 Ma. The study of the carnivoran guild structure of Apollonia 1 in comparison to the modern ones from known environments, as well as their functional morphology, suggest an open habitat, agreeing with previous interpretations.

show abstract

Large mammal biochronology framework in Europe at Jaramillo: The Epivillafranchian as a formal biochron

Cited by 58 publications

References 19 publications

New dating evidence of the early presence of hominins in Southern Europe

New dating evidence of the early presence of hominins in Southern Europe

Early–Middle Pleistocene transitions: Linking terrestrial and marine realms

New Material and Revision of the Carnivora, Mammalia from the Lower Pleistocene Locality Apollonia 1, Greece

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About