Micromammals from the 1995 Mammoth Excavation at West Runton, Norfolk, UK: Morphometric data, biostratigraphy and taxonomic reappraisal

Abstract

In this paper, the small mammals recovered from sediments associated with the West Runton Elephant has been analysed and compared with sites in other parts of Europe. Major taxonomical problems are indicated and we suggest ways of utilising such morphological complexity to refine biostratigraphical and chronostratigraphic attributions.The micromammal assemblage from the West Runton Elephant Site so far totals 16 species from the West Runton Forest Bed (WRFB). There are strong similarities with the arvicoliG VSHFWUXP RI EDVDO OD\HU + LQ WKH .RQČSUXV\ & SURILOH &]HFK Republic), which accumulated under cooler conditions preceding the thermal maximum of an early Middle Pleistocene interglacial. Rare steppic indicators (e.g. Cricetus) at West Runton also imply a somewhat cooler and more continental climate than the present day, but overall the fauna is fully temperate in character. West Runton shares several stratigraphically significant small mammal taxa with Voigtstedt (Central Germany) and morphometric comparisons suggest that Voigtstedt may be slightly younger than West Runton. The presence of Mimomys savini, with a latest occurrence in the early part of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 15, together with the palaeomagnetic evidence suggests the WRFB may have been emplaced during the early part of MIS 17. However, given the complexity of the marine isotope curve during the early part of the Brunhes Chron and differences between global and A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t A c c e p t e d m a n u s c r i p t -2 -25.10.2008 regional climatic evolution, it is difficult to assign the normally magnetized WRFB to a particular Marine Isotope Stage (MIS).

Extended-range luminescence chronologies suggest potentially complex bone accumulation histories at the Early-to-Middle Pleistocene palaeontological site of Huéscar-1 (Guadix-Baza basin, Spain)

“…However, Cuenca-Besc os et al (2013) indicate that three of the four M 1 assigned to M. gregaloides by Mazo et al (1985) were later classed as I. huescarensis by Ruiz Bustos (1988). Notably, the small mammal assemblage at Hu escar-1 includes numerous teeth of M. savini e a well-documented rodent species that has been extensively used to construct temporal frameworks of Early and Middle Pleistocene archaeological and palaeontological records across Europe (Maul et al, 2000;Cuenca-Besc os et al, 2010;Maul and Parfitt, 2010;Westaway, 2011) e and several teeth of the Early to early Middle Pleistocene species I. huescarensis (CuencaBesc os et al, 2013). As with Stephanorhinus etruscus, the last appearances of both M. savini and I. huescarensis in southwestern Europe are recorded in levels TD4 to TD8 at Gran Dolina (CuencaBesc os et al, 2010).…”

“…The replacement of Mimomys savini by the genus Arvicola in southern Europe has been radiometrically dated using 40 Ar/ 39 Ar dating tõ 610 ka (prior to MIS 15-16; Coltorti et al, 2005) at the site of Isernia La Pineta (Italy), where the transitional form A. cantiana is present. For many authors (e.g., Maul and Parfitt, 2010), the 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age for this transitional species effectively marks the time of disappearance of M. savini from Europe. All of our Hu escar-1 luminescence ages are systematically younger than the estimated timeframe of the M. savini-Arvicola transition in Italy, and only the corrected single-grain TT-OSL ages lie within 2s of the Isernia 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages (610 ± 10 ka and 606 ± 2 ka; 2s errors).…”

The oldest beaver from the Netherlands

“…The amount of cement on the lowermost part of the molar increases in age strongly and age determination of the individual can be made by the counting of annual cement layers (Klevezal, 1996). Kretzoi (1977), and later Heinrich (1989), argue that the distance between the base of the molar and the base of the striae changes through time (especially in the p4), and could be used to indicate relative age (Maul 2009). Stirton, 1935;Kretzoi, 1977;Mayhew, 1978a;Van de Weerd, 1978;Heinrich, 1991;Stefen, 2005).…”

Sorex (Mammalia, Soricidae) remains from the late Early Pleistocene Somssich Hill 2 locality (Villány Hills, Southern Hungary)

“…Sorex minutus is the only recent species of the locality; it has a preference for wooded and bushy areas, where they spend part of their time burrowing or on the surface (Reumer 1984;Rzebik-Kowalska 1995 (Kormos 1935;Reumer 1984;Maul & Parfitt 2010) or an opportunistic form.…”