The challenge of pollen analysis in palaeoenvironmental studies of hominid beds: the record from Sterkfontein caves

Carrión, José S.; Scott, Louis

doi:10.1006/jhev.1998.0276

Cited by 31 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…Pollen is generally considered in the class of coarse particles (PM 10 to PM 2.5 ; Kelly and Fussell 2012). Although we cannot know the species or pollen load (Carrión and Scott 1999), major variations in pollen density are documented during Phase I (Potts 1998;Domínguez-Rodrigo et al 2001).…”

Section: Bipedality Lung Evolution and Aerosol Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Exposome in Human Evolution: From Dust to Diesel

Trumble¹,

Finch²

2019

The Quarterly Review of Biology

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Global exposures to air pollution and cigarette smoke are novel in human evolutionary history and are associated with about 16 million premature deaths per year. We investigate the history of the human exposome for relationships between novel environmental toxins and genetic changes during human evolution in six phases. Phase I: With increased walking on savannas, early human ancestors inhaled crustal dust, fecal aerosols, and spores; carrion scavenging introduced new infectious pathogens. Phase II: Domestic fire exposed early Homo to novel toxins from smoke and cooking. Phases III and IV: Neolithic to preindustrial Homo sapiens incurred infectious pathogens from domestic animals and dense communities with limited sanitation. Phase V: Industrialization introduced novel toxins from fossil fuels, industrial chemicals, and tobacco at the same time infectious pathogens were diminishing. Thereby, pathogen-driven causes of mortality were replaced by chronic diseases driven by sterile inflammogens, exogenous and endogenous. Phase VI: Considers future health during global warming with increased air pollution and infections. We hypothesize that adaptation to some ancient toxins persists in genetic variations associated with inflammation and longevity.

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Section: Bipedality Lung Evolution and Aerosol Exposuresmentioning

confidence: 98%

The Exposome in Human Evolution: From Dust to Diesel

Trumble¹,

Finch²

2019

The Quarterly Review of Biology

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“…Turner & Hannon, 1988), but this issue has been discussed elsewhere (Davis, 1990;Carrión & Scott, 1999;Carrión et al, 1999a). Turner & Hannon, 1988), but this issue has been discussed elsewhere (Davis, 1990;Carrión & Scott, 1999;Carrión et al, 1999a).…”

Section: Palaeoecological Value Of the Cave Pollen Spectra Studiedmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Doubts have been raised about the palaeoecological value of palynological information obtained from archaeological studies from caves and rock-shelters (e.g. Turner & Hannon, 1988), but this issue has been discussed elsewhere (Davis, 1990;Carrión & Scott, 1999;Carrión et al, 1999a). Four palaeopalynological aspects need stressing with regard to our region.…”

Section: Palaeoecological Value Of the Cave Pollen Spectra Studiedmentioning

confidence: 99%

Glacial refugia of temperate, Mediterranean and Ibero‐North African flora in south‐eastern Spain: new evidence from cave pollen at two Neanderthal man sites

Carrión

Yll

Walker

et al. 2003

Global Ecology and Biogeography

174

107

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Aim To locate glacial refugia of thermophilous plant species in Spain. Location Two south‐eastern Spanish Neanderthal man sites in Murcia; namely, the inland Cueva Negra del Estrecho del Río Quípar and the coastal Sima de las Palomas del Cabezo Gordo. Methods We use pollen found in cave sediments as a source of palaeobotanical and palaeoecological information. The findings are discussed with regard both to animal remains from both sites, and also to other refugia in south‐eastern Spain and elsewhere in the Iberian Peninsula. Results Both sequences show persistence of abundant mesothermophilous trees during the last glacial stage, suggesting both localities were reservoirs of phytodiversity and woodland species. At both sites, deciduous and evergreen oaks are the most abundant components, followed by a wide variety of deciduous trees and sclerophyllous shrubs, including Ibero‐North African xerothermic scrub near the coast. Conclusions Incomplete information underlies a common misapprehension that Iberian glacial refugia were confined to southernmost parts of the peninsula. A rather different picture of Quaternary refugia emerges from consideration of pollen sequences from caves (and other inputs such as macroscopic charcoal, spatial genetic structure of present‐day populations, faunal remains, and present‐day distribution of thermophilous species). This picture offers a view of numerous viable areas for woodland species in southern Spain, in addition to others in the mountain ranges, both in continental central Spain and those of northern Spain: these stretch from the Mediterranean coast of Catalonia to the westernmost extent of the Bay of Biscay.

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“…Although there are extensive reviews concerning the palynology of cave sediments (Bastin, 1978;Turner, 1985;Carri on, 1992;Carri on & Scott, 1999;Carri on et al, 1999aCarri on et al, ,b, 2003Navarro et al, 2000), and in particular speleothems (e.g. McGarry & Caseldine, 2004), there is still poor knowledge about taphonomic processes of pollen accumulation in travertine and calcareous tufa.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Palynological approach in upper Quaternary terrestrial carbonates of central Italy: Anything but a ‘mission impossible’

2013

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A palynological survey has been carried out on two late Quaternary travertine s.l. deposits of central Italy at Serre di Rapolano and Bagnoli (Tuscany region). The principal aim was to improve the understanding of factors that affect the accumulation and preservation of pollen grains in thermal (i.e. travertine) and ambient temperature (i.e. calcareous tufa) terrestrial carbonates. For this purpose, 52 526 pollen grains belonging to 118 pollen taxa from local to extra‐regional sources were analysed in 200 samples from different travertine and calcareous tufa lithofacies. Of these, 97 samples, generally from thermal travertines, were barren in palynomorphs. By contrast, pollen grains in the remaining samples were well‐preserved and did not show differential preservation features. These observations suggest that the pH of the solutions from which travertine or tufa precipitate is not a limiting factor in causing corrosion and/or destruction of pollen grains. Rather, the barrenness recorded in many samples appears to reflect a paucity of pollen rather than post‐depositional destruction. Results suggest that the depositional energy of the environment during the deposition of travertine plays an important role in controlling pollen concentration, as verified in both depressions (lower energy to higher pollen concentration) and slopes (higher energy to lower pollen concentration), respectively. Analysis of pollen data suggests that relatively high depositional temperatures and rates of carbonate deposition are also major limiting factors for efficient accumulation of pollen grains. Results of this study reveal that understanding pollen taphonomy processes in travertine and calcareous tufa is critical to developing accurate palaeoenvironmental and palaeoclimatic reconstructions.

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The challenge of pollen analysis in palaeoenvironmental studies of hominid beds: the record from Sterkfontein caves

Cited by 31 publications

References 21 publications

The Exposome in Human Evolution: From Dust to Diesel

The Exposome in Human Evolution: From Dust to Diesel

Glacial refugia of temperate, Mediterranean and Ibero‐North African flora in south‐eastern Spain: new evidence from cave pollen at two Neanderthal man sites

Palynological approach in upper Quaternary terrestrial carbonates of central Italy: Anything but a ‘mission impossible’

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