Pleistocene Holocene Transition

Presentamos un sumario de los trabajos arqueológicos realizados en la Quebrada Tacahuay, ubicada en el extremo sur de la costa peruana. Luego de una catastrófica inundación a consecuencia de un evento de El Niño que selló el primer nivel cultural fechado ca. 10.700 años a.p., se descubrieron reocupaciones menores del sitio, indicadas por desechos de moluscos acumulados en tres depósitos de poca profundidad. Eventos subsecuentes de inundaciones y depósitos geológicos de arena eólica sellaron los depósitos culturales. Tres temporadas de trabajo de campo han producido abundantes restos de subsistencia de la ocupación de 10.700 años a.p., instrumentos líticos, desechos de talla y rasgos relacionados con la preparación de alimentos, particularmente fogones. Estos contextos materiales indican una especialización en el procesamiento de aves marinas, principalmente cormoranes y piqueros, que fueron procesados, preparados y desechados. Otros tipos de restos de alimentos marinos incluyen huesos de pescado y conchas, que fueron también recolectados. No se ha encontrado evidencias de caza terrestre ni de la adquisición de material lítico de fuentes externas a la zona. El sitio provee datos sobre la antigüedad de las adaptaciones costeras de la región y el papel que jugó el fenómeno de El Niño en los asentamientos tempranos y colonización andina. Palabras claves: economía marítima, inundaciones de El Niño, aves marinas. We present a summary of the archaeological work that has been completed at Quebrada Tacahuay located on the far southern coast of Peru. Following a catastrophic El Niño flood event that sealed the earliest cultural layer dated to more than 10,700 years ago, there was minor reoccupation of the site as indicated by shellfish refuse and thin midden deposits. Subsequent flood events and geological deposits of aeolian sand sealed the cultural deposits. Three seasons of field work have produced abundant subsistence remains, lithic tools and debitage, and features related to food preparation, particularly hearths. These excavations indicate that the site was a specialized marine bird processing locale where large numbers of seabirds, primarily cormorants and boobies, were processed, prepared, and discarded. Some other marine foods including bony fishes and shellfish were also collected. There is no indication of terrestrial hunting nor of the acquisition of lithic material from non-local sources. The site provides data on the antiquity of coastal adaptations in the region and probable role of El Niño phenomena in early Andean colonization and settlement.

En este trabajo, se presentan los resultados del análisis palinológico de las muestras tomadas en uno de los perfiles del sondeo estratigráfico de la Cueva de San Bartolomé (Sierra de Cameros, La Rioja). Los niveles estudiados coinciden con una ocupación de la Edad del Bronce, en la que se aprecia, a diferencia el paisaje actual, un predominio de vegetación de clara influencia mediterránea.

Menée sur une superficie de 34 000 mètres carrés, sur un rebord de plateau dominant un méandre de l'Aulne, une fouille préventive sur le site de Penn ar Roz à Châteaulin (Finistère) a livré une quantité importante de données archéologiques couvrant une large chronologie. Parmi celles-ci, la mise au jour d'un assemblage lithique attribuable à une occupation post-azilienne documente ainsi la préhistoire, dans un secteur géographique peu étudié jusqu'ici. Malgré un contexte pour partie remanié et la dispersion spatiale de la collection, des pièces caractéristiques (armatures, grattoirs sur lame...), mais surtout la constance dans le mode de débitage (production à la pierre tendre de lames régulières au profil rectiligne et de section plate à partir de deux plans de frappe opposés), sont en effet des éléments suffisamment diagnostiques pour éclairer la question de l'attribution chronoculturelle. Le site de Penn ar Roz alimente ainsi un peu plus la connaissance de cette période charnière entre Pléistocène et Holocène, aujourd'hui au coeur d'une importante dynamique de recherche dans le Grand Ouest de la France, en nous renseignant sur l'occupation de l'extrémité occidentale de la péninsule armoricaine par ces derniers groupes paléolithiques.

Menée sur une superficie de 34 000 mètres carrés, sur un rebord de plateau dominant un méandre de l'Aulne, une fouille préventive sur le site de Penn ar Roz à Châteaulin (Finistère) a livré une quantité importante de données archéologiques couvrant une large chronologie. Parmi celles-ci, la mise au jour d'un assemblage lithique attribuable à une occupation post-azilienne documente ainsi la préhistoire, dans un secteur géographique peu étudié jusqu'ici. Malgré un contexte pour partie remanié et la dispersion spatiale de la collection, des pièces caractéristiques (armatures, grattoirs sur lame...), mais surtout la constance dans le mode de débitage (production à la pierre tendre de lames régulières au profil rectiligne et de section plate à partir de deux plans de frappe opposés), sont en effet des éléments suffisamment diagnostiques pour éclairer la question de l'attribution chronoculturelle. Le site de Penn ar Roz alimente ainsi un peu plus la connaissance de cette période charnière entre Pléistocène et Holocène, aujourd'hui au coeur d'une importante dynamique de recherche dans le Grand Ouest de la France, en nous renseignant sur l'occupation de l'extrémité occidentale de la péninsule armoricaine par ces derniers groupes paléolithiques.

The Holocene human occupation of Grotta della Cala is attested only within the sonamed “internal series” (and not in the “Atrio series”) and starts with Mesolithic layer 7, dating back to the time span between 7579 and 6687 (cal BC). This layer, which was excavated by Paolo Gambassini in 2004, is possibly the same as layer F investigated by Palma di Cesnola in the sixties, and is directly superimposed onto stalagmite α sealing the Pleistocene stratigraphical sequence. Layer 7 produced a lot of large and middle sized mammal remains. It also yielded a lot of malacofauna, both of terrestrial and, above all, marine types, as well as a number of chipped stone artefacts, a painted pebble, and a grindstone used for ochre processing. Outcomes from archaeozoological, malacological and anthracological studies have provided a detailed framework of the surrounding landscape and of the subsistence strategies adopted by the Mesolithic groups at Grotta della Cala during the Boreal.

Benthic foraminifera, ostracods and pteropods are reliable paleoenvironmental indicators in Quaternary deposits. However, in the Ceará Basin, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, these microfossils are poorly studied. This paper investigates environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the Icaraí subbasin based on micropaleontological analysis of the core ANP 1011. Seventy-four taxa of benthic foraminifera, represented predominantly by Globocassidulina, Uvigerina, Pyrgo and Melonis, have been identified. The ostracod assemblages are composed mainly by the families Macrocyprididae, Cytheruridae, Trachyleberididae, Pontocyprididae and Krithidae, of which the genus Krithe was the most abundant. The composition of the ostracod assemblages identified in this study area differs somewhat from other regions of the Brazilian Margin. The assemblages of foraminifera and ostracod characterize a typical bathyal paleoenvironment. The occurrence of pteropods and dominance of epifaunal foraminifera taxa, mainly Pyrgo sp. and Miliolinella sp. in the lower portion of the core (Pleistocene), indicates higher phytodetritus input and oxygen concentration. A conspicuous environmental change was observed in the upper portion of the core, which corresponds to the Holocene, where the increase of infaunal foraminifera (e.g., Uvigerina, Globocassidulina and Melonis) suggests reduction in the organic matter input and, probably, increased bacterial density and depletion in dissolved oxygen in the sediment.

Here we investigate the timing of the last glacial loess (L1)-Holocene soil (S0) transition recorded in loesspaleosol sequences from SE Europe (Ukraine, Romania, Serbia) by applying comparative luminescence dating techniques on quartz and feldspars. Equivalent dose measurements were carried out using the single-aliquot regenerative-dose (SAR) protocol on silt (4-11 μm) and sand-sized (63-90 μm and coarser fraction when available) quartz. Feldspar infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) emitted by 4-11 μm polymineral grains was measured using the post IR-IRSL 290 technique. The paleoenvironmental transition from the last glacial loess to the current interglacial soil was characterized using magnetic susceptibility and its frequency dependence. SAR-OSL dating of 4-11 μm, 63-90 μm and 90-125 μm quartz provided consistent ages in the loess-paleosol sites investigated, while the post-IR IRSL 290 protocol proved unreliable for dating such young samples. Based on these ages and the threshold of the magnetic signal enhancement the onset of soil formation has been placed around 16.6 ± 1.1 ka at Roxolany (Ukraine), 13.5 ± 0.9 ka at Mošorin (Serbia) and between 17.6 ± 1.4 ka and 12.4 ± 1.0 ka at Râmnicu Sărat (Romania). The trend observed in the magnetic parameters reflects the intensity of pedogenesis induced by regional climate amelioration during the Late Glacial, but the onset of magnetic susceptibility enhancement precedes the stratigraphic boundary of Pleistocene-Holocene dated at 11.7 ka in ice core records. Thus, magnetic susceptibility indicates a gradual increase in pedogenesis after Termination 1 (∼17 ka in the North Atlantic) at the sampling sites. Based on current data, it is not possible to define a synchronous threshold of change for all sections. However, the trend in the magnetic susceptibility data closely reflects the gradual transition from Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) towards the Holocene, with the onset of humus accumulation (A1 horizon) possibly linked to the prevalence of full interglacial conditions.

Significance We present detailed geochemical and morphological analyses of nearly 700 spherules from 18 sites in support of a major cosmic impact at the onset of the Younger Dryas episode (12.8 ka). The impact distributed ∼10 million tonnes of melted spherules over 50 million square kilometers on four continents. Origins of the spherules by volcanism, anthropogenesis, authigenesis, lightning, and meteoritic ablation are rejected on geochemical and morphological grounds. The spherules closely resemble known impact materials derived from surficial sediments melted at temperatures >2,200 °C. The spherules correlate with abundances of associated melt-glass, nanodiamonds, carbon spherules, aciniform carbon, charcoal, and iridium.

We established a database of 14C dates from archaeological sites of the Central Andes region of Peru, Ecuador and Bolivia on an IBM PC-compatible microcomputer running on an MS-DOS operating system using software package dBASE IV, version 1.1. Relevant data are stored in three DBF-type database files. The file ANDY.DBF contains information on dates and samples; REFERENC.DBF contains references to relevant publications and CALAND.DBF contains calibrated dates. The total number of records of the ANDY database slightly exceeds 2650.

Sudamérica cuenta con evidencias de ocupación humana desde los 14.600 años calibrados a.p. (14,6 ka). Sin embargo, en el desierto de Atacama existe una notoria ausencia de ocupaciones pre-11,5 ka entre las latitudes 17° a 21° S (Atacama Norte). Esto debido, en parte, a que se ha desestimado como territorio atractivo para poblaciones de la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno, dadas sus condiciones actuales de extrema aridez. Sobre la base de ciertos datos paleoecológicos generales, que sugerían condiciones de mayor disponibilidad de agua en la vertiente occidental de los Andes desde los 17 a 9,5 ka, se realizaron búsquedas sistemáticas de paleomadrigueras de roedores y paleohumedales en ambientes de precordillera y quebradas (1.000 a 3.000 msm). Esto permitió identificar hábitat específicos que presentaran condiciones favorables para el asentamiento humano temprano y de esta manera buscar sitios arqueológicos en forma dirigida. El modelo metodológico interdisciplinario de carácter predictivo, que se resume en este artículo, permitió identificar un conjunto de sitios entre los que destaca Quebrada Maní 12, donde se constataron las primeras evidencias de ocupaciones pleistocénicas tardías (~11,9 a 12,7 ka) en el desierto de Atacama Norte. Palabras claves: transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno, poblamientos tempranos, paleoambiente, Desierto de Atacama. In South America, evidence of human occupation dates back to 14,600 calibrated years BP (14.6 ka). Yet, important areas such as the Atacama Desert, between latitude 17° to 21° S (northern Atacama), lack occupations older than 11,5 ka. Current hyperarid conditions in the Atacama have dissuaded many researchers from considering this region as a possible territory for Pleistocene-Holocene peoples. Paleoecological data, however, have suggested increased availability of water along the western slope of the Andes from 17.5-9.5 ka. Thus, we systematically searched for rodent middens and paleowetlands in the large canyons of the Andean Precordillera as well as the interfluves (1,000-3,000 masl). As a result, we identified specific habitats favorable for early human settling. This interdisciplinary and predictive methodological model, summarized in this paper, allowed us to identify several sites. Among these, Quebrada Maní 12 is the first Pleistocene-Holocene human occupation (~11.9 a 12.7 ka) known from the northern Atacama.

Resumen: El objetivo de esta tesis doctoral es el análisis de las preferencias en la selección de los lugares de asentamiento por parte de las sociedades de cazadores-recolectores de la transición Pleistoceno Final - Holoceno (es decir, Magdaleniense y Aziliense) de la mitad ...

Between 1966 and 1972, Richard MacNeish led the "Ayacucho Archaeological-Botanical Project" in the Ayacucho Basin, south-central Peru. Over the last decade, we reappraised the lithics recovered in this endeavor. As part of this research, we carried out a detailed review of the lithic remains from the lowest strata of Pikimachay Cave. We concluded that the lithics from layers tentatively dated at about 14,000 uncalibrated yr BP are human-made artifacts, while those from the underlying levels are not. Because of the anthropic nature of the flaked artifacts, their stratigraphic position, chronology, and similarities with other likely coeval lithic assemblages, the Pikimachay record seems to be a good candidate for witnessing possible Paleoamerican foragers living in Ayacucho during the Late Pleistocene.

The Holocene human occupation of Grotta della Cala is attested only within the sonamed “internal series” (and not in the “Atrio series”) and starts with Mesolithic layer 7, dating back to the time span between 7579 and 6687 (cal BC). This layer, which was excavated by Paolo Gambassini in 2004, is possibly the same as layer F investigated by Palma di Cesnola in the sixties, and is directly superimposed onto stalagmite α sealing the Pleistocene stratigraphical sequence. Layer 7 produced a lot of large and middle sized mammal remains. It also yielded a lot of malacofauna, both of terrestrial and, above all, marine types, as well as a number of chipped stone artefacts, a painted pebble, and a grindstone used for ochre processing. Outcomes from archaeozoological, malacological and anthracological studies have provided a detailed framework of the surrounding landscape and of the subsistence strategies adopted by the Mesolithic groups at Grotta della Cala during the Boreal.

El Desierto de Atacama (Arica a Taltal, 18°-25° S), uno de los ambientes más áridos del planeta, ha sido considerado un hábitat inhóspito y, por ende, una barrera importante para los grupos de cazadores- recolectores que migraron a Sudamérica a fines delPleistoceno. Recientes datos paleocológicos y geomorfológicos, resumidos aquí, evidencian que durante la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno (c. 17.500-9500 cal AP) algunos sectores del Atacama fueron mucho más húmedos y tuvieron mayor bioproductividad que hoy, lo que incrementa las posibilidades de encontrar sitios tempranos. Aquí, en primer lugar, describimos el ambiente actual del Atacama y lo comparamos con sus condiciones ambientales pasadas. En segundo lugar, presentamos las evidencias arqueológicas que dan cuenta de la colonización humana de la costa hiperárida (0-900 metros sobre el nivel del mar), la Depresión Intermedia (900-2200 metros sobre el nivel del mar), la precordillera (2200-3500 metros sobre el nivel del mar) y el alt...

La diversidad cultural de los primeros cazadores-recolectores suramericanos ha sido menos investigada por los arqueólogos debido al énfasis otorgado a los aspectos cronológicos relacionados con el proceso de ocupación territorial. El registro arqueológico de Brasil en la transición pleistoceno-holoceno (12.000- 8.000 años AP) indica una ocupación poblacional estable caracterizada por una subsistencia generalista. Las diferencias regionales son claras desde el primer momento, tanto en términos de la variabilidad de las industrias líticas como por los temas y estilos del arte rupestre, lo que sugiere una diversidad de elecciones adaptativas a las transformaciones climáticas que moldearon el mosaico ambiental brasileño de esa época.The cultural diversity of the first South American hunter-gatherers has been little researched by archaeologists due to the emphasis placed on chronological issues. The archaeological record from Brazil from the Pleistocene-Holocene transition (12.000-8.000 ...

Significance We present detailed geochemical and morphological analyses of nearly 700 spherules from 18 sites in support of a major cosmic impact at the onset of the Younger Dryas episode (12.8 ka). The impact distributed ∼10 million tonnes of melted spherules over 50 million square kilometers on four continents. Origins of the spherules by volcanism, anthropogenesis, authigenesis, lightning, and meteoritic ablation are rejected on geochemical and morphological grounds. The spherules closely resemble known impact materials derived from surficial sediments melted at temperatures >2,200 °C. The spherules correlate with abundances of associated melt-glass, nanodiamonds, carbon spherules, aciniform carbon, charcoal, and iridium.

Sudamérica cuenta con evidencias de ocupación humana desde los 14.600 años calibrados a.p. (14,6 ka). Sin embargo, en el desierto de Atacama existe una notoria ausencia de ocupaciones pre-11,5 ka entre las latitudes 17° a 21° S (Atacama Norte). Esto debido, en parte, a que se ha desestimado como territorio atractivo para poblaciones de la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno, dadas sus condiciones actuales de extrema aridez. Sobre la base de ciertos datos paleoecológicos generales, que sugerían condiciones de mayor disponibilidad de agua en la vertiente occidental de los Andes desde los 17 a 9,5 ka, se realizaron búsquedas sistemáticas de paleomadrigueras de roedores y paleohumedales en ambientes de precordillera y quebradas (1.000 a 3.000 msm). Esto permitió identificar hábitat específicos que presentaran condiciones favorables para el asentamiento humano temprano y de esta manera buscar sitios arqueológicos en forma dirigida. El modelo metodológico interdisciplinario de carácter predictivo, que se resume en este artículo, permitió identificar un conjunto de sitios entre los que destaca Quebrada Maní 12, donde se constataron las primeras evidencias de ocupaciones pleistocénicas tardías (~11,9 a 12,7 ka) en el desierto de Atacama Norte. Palabras claves: transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno, poblamientos tempranos, paleoambiente, Desierto de Atacama. In South America, evidence of human occupation dates back to 14,600 calibrated years BP (14.6 ka). Yet, important areas such as the Atacama Desert, between latitude 17° to 21° S (northern Atacama), lack occupations older than 11,5 ka. Current hyperarid conditions in the Atacama have dissuaded many researchers from considering this region as a possible territory for Pleistocene-Holocene peoples. Paleoecological data, however, have suggested increased availability of water along the western slope of the Andes from 17.5-9.5 ka. Thus, we systematically searched for rodent middens and paleowetlands in the large canyons of the Andean Precordillera as well as the interfluves (1,000-3,000 masl). As a result, we identified specific habitats favorable for early human settling. This interdisciplinary and predictive methodological model, summarized in this paper, allowed us to identify several sites. Among these, Quebrada Maní 12 is the first Pleistocene-Holocene human occupation (~11.9 a 12.7 ka) known from the northern Atacama.

Se exponen los resultados preliminares de los trabajos arqueológicos realizados en la Cueva Alí Mustafá. Este sitio se suma a otros reparos rocosos usados por grupos de cazadores-recolectores bajo la modalidad de ocupaciones de corta duración ocurridas durante la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno. La información que incorpora este nuevo sitio temprano apoya la propuesta anterior sobre el valor arqueológico que tuvieron los reparos rocosos que poseen ocupaciones efímeras. En algunos casos presentan ocupaciones redundantes y se localizan en relación estratégica con el paisaje serrano. Por su localización con alta visualización del valle de San Pedro, este sitio fue utilizado como paradero durante las travesías por los valles serranos.

The Holocene human occupation of Grotta della Cala is attested only within the sonamed "internal series" (and not in the "Atrio series") and starts with Mesolithic layer 7, dating back to the time span between 7579 and 6687 (cal BC). This layer, which was excavated by Paolo Gambassini in 2004, is possibly the same as layer F investigated by Palma di Cesnola in the sixties, and is directly superimposed onto stalagmite α sealing the Pleistocene stratigraphical sequence. Layer 7 produced a lot of large and middle sized mammal remains. It also yielded a lot of malacofauna, both of terrestrial and, above all, marine types, as well as a number of chipped stone artefacts, a painted pebble, and a grindstone used for ochre processing. Outcomes from archaeozoological, malacological and anthracological studies have provided a detailed framework of the surrounding landscape and of the subsistence strategies adopted by the Mesolithic groups at Grotta della Cala during the Boreal.

We report on a virtual workshop aimed at advancing a new synthesis of techno-cultural patterns at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary in Europe. We respond to the growing need of developing meta-analytical frameworks for comparing and eventually integrating disparate regional datasets and stress the opportunities of collaborative approaches. We propose that expert-sourced lithic data is a promising means of conducting systematic archaeological meta-analyses, and that the compilation and examination of similar continental-scale datasets may be an important research goal in the future.Wir berichten über den 2. Workshop im Rahmen des CLIOARCH-Projekts, der darauf abzielte, auf eine neue Synthese technokultureller Langzeitentwicklungen an der Pleistozän/Holozän-Grenze in Europa hinzuarbeiten. Wir reagieren damit auf den wachsenden Bedarf nach einem metaanalytischen Fundament für den Vergleich und die eventuelle Integration von heterogenen regionalen Datensätzen in der Archäologie des Spät...

Presentamos los resultados del estudio de la industria lítica del nivel d del abrigo de Peña-14 (Biel, Zaragoza). El análisis tecnológico y de materias primas efectuado permite una reconstrucción completa del sistema de producción lítica. Los resultados remiten a dinámicas tecnológicas propias del Epipaleolítico (aprovisionamiento local, simplificación tecnológica, predominancia del utillaje microlaminar…), adscribiéndose más concretamente al Sauveterriense. En este sentido, el presente trabajo ofrece nuevos datos sobre el desarrollo de este complejo en el noreste de la península ibérica, planteando nuevas cuestiones sobre su enmarque cronológico, características industriales, y su vinculación con las tradiciones previas y vecinas.

La citation est une reproduction d'un extrait de la publication, respectant le droit moral de l'auteur par l'indication de son nom et de la source. Habitats et peuplements tardiglaciaires du Bassin parisien Sommaire 3 SOMMAIRE INTRODUCTION 1 B. Valentin 3 ACTUALITES 7 J.-P. Pastre-Actualité des recherches à Merlemont et sur quelques autres séquences naturelles du Bassin parisien. 9 O. Bignon-Analyse archéozoologique du site magdalénien de Ville-Saint-Jacques-sondage « Brézillon » de 1970. B. Valentin-Quelques commentaires à propos d'une datation 14 C sur l'Habitation Habitats et peuplements tardiglaciaires du Bassin parisien Sommaire

Chungara Revista de Antropología Chilena The social groups that initially inhabited the hyper arid core of the Atacama Desert of northern Chile during the late Pleistocene integrated a wide range of local, regional and supra regional goods and ideas for their social reproduction as suggested by the archaeological evidence contained in several open camps in Pampa del Tamarugal (PdT). Local resources for maintaining their everyday life, included stone raw material, wood, plant and animal fibers, game, and fresh water acquired within a radius of ∼30 km (ca. 1-2 days journey). At a regional scale, some goods were introduced from the Pacific coast (60-80 km to the west, ca. 3-4 days journey), including elongated rounded cobbles used as hammer stones in lithic production, and shells, especially from non-edible species of mollusks. From the Andes (ranging 80-150 km to the east, ca. 5-8 days of journey), they obtained camelid fiber, obsidian and a high-quality chalcedony, in addition to sharing knowledge on projectile point designs (Patapatane and Tuina type forms). Pieces of wood of a tropical forest tree species (Ceiba spp.) from the east Andean lowlands (600 km away, ca. 30 days of journey) were also brought to the PdT. While local goods were procured by the circulation of people within the PdT, the small number of foreign items would have been acquired through some sort of exchange networks that integrated dispersed local communities throughout several ecosystems. These networks may have been a key factor behind the success exhibited by these early huntergatherers in the hyper arid ecosystems of the Atacama Desert at the end of the Pleistocene. Different lines of archaeological evidence including open camps, workshop-quarries, lithic artifacts, archaeofaunal remains, plant and animal fibers and textiles, archaeobotanical remains, and paleoecological data show that people of the PdT managed a wide range of cultural items from the Pacific coast, the Andean highland and the tropical forest, that were integrated with resources

En este artículo se presenta el análisis tecnológico y tipológico de la industria lítica recuperada en el año 1993 en el yacimiento de Picamoixons. Dadas sus características, su estado de conservación diferencial, su distribución espacial y las dataciones radiométricas disponibles, podemos concluir la existencia de dos conjuntos líticos pertenecientes a dos momentos cronológicos y culturales diferentes. El primero es el conjunto patinado (CP) que debería incluirse dentro del Mesolítico macrolítico, y el segundo conjunto es el no patinado (CNP) perteneciente a los momentos finales del Paleolítico superior.

El Desierto de Atacama (Arica a Taltal, 18°-25° S), uno de los ambientes más áridos del planeta, ha sido considerado un hábitat inhóspito y, por ende, una barrera importante para los grupos de cazadores- recolectores que migraron a Sudamérica a fines delPleistoceno. Recientes datos paleocológicos y geomorfológicos, resumidos aquí, evidencian que durante la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno (c. 17.500-9500 cal AP) algunos sectores del Atacama fueron mucho más húmedos y tuvieron mayor bioproductividad que hoy, lo que incrementa las posibilidades de encontrar sitios tempranos. Aquí, en primer lugar, describimos el ambiente actual del Atacama y lo comparamos con sus condiciones ambientales pasadas. En segundo lugar, presentamos las evidencias arqueológicas que dan cuenta de la colonización humana de la costa hiperárida (0-900 metros sobre el nivel del mar), la Depresión Intermedia (900-2200 metros sobre el nivel del mar), la precordillera (2200-3500 metros sobre el nivel del mar) y el alt...

Benthic foraminifera, ostracods and pteropods are reliable paleoenvironmental indicators in Quaternary deposits. However, in the Ceará Basin, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, these microfossils are poorly studied. This paper investigates environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the Icaraí subbasin based on micropaleontological analysis of the core ANP 1011. Seventy-four taxa of benthic foraminifera, represented predominantly by Globocassidulina, Uvigerina, Pyrgo and Melonis, have been identified. The ostracod assemblages are composed mainly by the families Macrocyprididae, Cytheruridae, Trachyleberididae, Pontocyprididae and Krithidae, of which the genus Krithe was the most abundant. The composition of the ostracod assemblages identified in this study area differs somewhat from other regions of the Brazilian Margin. The assemblages of foraminifera and ostracod characterize a typical bathyal paleoenvironment. The occurrence of pteropods and dominance of epifaunal foraminifera taxa, mainly Pyrgo sp. and Miliolinella sp. in the lower portion of the core (Pleistocene), indicates higher phytodetritus input and oxygen concentration. A conspicuous environmental change was observed in the upper portion of the core, which corresponds to the Holocene, where the increase of infaunal foraminifera (e.g., Uvigerina, Globocassidulina and Melonis) suggests reduction in the organic matter input and, probably, increased bacterial density and depletion in dissolved oxygen in the sediment.

Benthic foraminifera, ostracods and pteropods are reliable paleoenvironmental indicators in Quaternary deposits. However, in the Ceará Basin, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, these microfossils are poorly studied. This paper investigates environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the Icaraí subbasin based on micropaleontological analysis of the core ANP 1011. Seventy-four taxa of benthic foraminifera, represented predominantly by Globocassidulina, Uvigerina, Pyrgo and Melonis, have been identified. The ostracod assemblages are composed mainly by the families Macrocyprididae, Cytheruridae, Trachyleberididae, Pontocyprididae and Krithidae, of which the genus Krithe was the most abundant. The composition of the ostracod assemblages identified in this study area differs somewhat from other regions of the Brazilian Margin. The assemblages of foraminifera and ostracod characterize a typical bathyal paleoenvironment. The occurrence of pteropods and dominance of epifaunal foraminifera taxa, mainly Pyrgo sp. and Miliolinella sp. in the lower portion of the core (Pleistocene), indicates higher phytodetritus input and oxygen concentration. A conspicuous environmental change was observed in the upper portion of the core, which corresponds to the Holocene, where the increase of infaunal foraminifera (e.g., Uvigerina, Globocassidulina and Melonis) suggests reduction in the organic matter input and, probably, increased bacterial density and depletion in dissolved oxygen in the sediment.

Benthic foraminifera, ostracods and pteropods are reliable paleoenvironmental indicators in Quaternary deposits. However, in the Ceará Basin, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, these microfossils are poorly studied. This paper investigates environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the Icaraí subbasin based on micropaleontological analysis of the core ANP 1011. Seventy-four taxa of benthic foraminifera, represented predominantly by Globocassidulina, Uvigerina, Pyrgo and Melonis, have been identified. The ostracod assemblages are composed mainly by the families Macrocyprididae, Cytheruridae, Trachyleberididae, Pontocyprididae and Krithidae, of which the genus Krithe was the most abundant. The composition of the ostracod assemblages identified in this study area differs somewhat from other regions of the Brazilian Margin. The assemblages of foraminifera and ostracod characterize a typical bathyal paleoenvironment. The occurrence of pteropods and dominance of epifaunal foraminifera taxa, mainly Pyrgo sp. and Miliolinella sp. in the lower portion of the core (Pleistocene), indicates higher phytodetritus input and oxygen concentration. A conspicuous environmental change was observed in the upper portion of the core, which corresponds to the Holocene, where the increase of infaunal foraminifera (e.g., Uvigerina, Globocassidulina and Melonis) suggests reduction in the organic matter input and, probably, increased bacterial density and depletion in dissolved oxygen in the sediment.

As part of the "Botanical Archaeological Project Ayacucho-Huanta" in central Peru, excavations at Jaywamachay rockshelter were performed in 1969-1970. To reevaluate the rockshelter's oldest human occupations, remains from its lower levels (layers J2 and J3) are currently under study. Based on new radiocarbon dates and technological/morphological observations made of tools, we confirm that Jaywamachay is one of the few dated sites with evidence of hunter-gatherers using fishtail points in highland Peru during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition.

Benthic foraminifera, ostracods and pteropods are reliable paleoenvironmental indicators in Quaternary deposits. However, in the Ceará Basin, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, these microfossils are poorly studied. This paper investigates environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the Icaraí subbasin based on micropaleontological analysis of the core ANP 1011. Seventy-four taxa of benthic foraminifera, represented predominantly by Globocassidulina, Uvigerina, Pyrgo and Melonis, have been identified. The ostracod assemblages are composed mainly by the families Macrocyprididae, Cytheruridae, Trachyleberididae, Pontocyprididae and Krithidae, of which the genus Krithe was the most abundant. The composition of the ostracod assemblages identified in this study area differs somewhat from other regions of the Brazilian Margin. The assemblages of foraminifera and ostracod characterize a typical bathyal paleoenvironment. The occurrence of pteropods and dominance of epifaunal foraminifera taxa, mainly Pyrgo sp. and Miliolinella sp. in the lower portion of the core (Pleistocene), indicates higher phytodetritus input and oxygen concentration. A conspicuous environmental change was observed in the upper portion of the core, which corresponds to the Holocene, where the increase of infaunal foraminifera (e.g., Uvigerina, Globocassidulina and Melonis) suggests reduction in the organic matter input and, probably, increased bacterial density and depletion in dissolved oxygen in the sediment.

Benthic foraminifera, ostracods and pteropods are reliable paleoenvironmental indicators in Quaternary deposits. However, in the Ceará Basin, on the Brazilian Equatorial Margin, these microfossils are poorly studied. This paper investigates environmental changes during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition in the Icaraí subbasin based on micropaleontological analysis of the core ANP 1011. Seventy-four taxa of benthic foraminifera, represented predominantly by Globocassidulina, Uvigerina, Pyrgo and Melonis, have been identified. The ostracod assemblages are composed mainly by the families Macrocyprididae, Cytheruridae, Trachyleberididae, Pontocyprididae and Krithidae, of which the genus Krithe was the most abundant. The composition of the ostracod assemblages identified in this study area differs somewhat from other regions of the Brazilian Margin. The assemblages of foraminifera and ostracod characterize a typical bathyal paleoenvironment. The occurrence of pteropods and dominance of epifaunal foraminifera taxa, mainly Pyrgo sp. and Miliolinella sp. in the lower portion of the core (Pleistocene), indicates higher phytodetritus input and oxygen concentration. A conspicuous environmental change was observed in the upper portion of the core, which corresponds to the Holocene, where the increase of infaunal foraminifera (e.g., Uvigerina, Globocassidulina and Melonis) suggests reduction in the organic matter input and, probably, increased bacterial density and depletion in dissolved oxygen in the sediment.

Cette campagne de fouille avait pour objectif de participer à la caractérisation des groupes préhistoriques ayant évolué dans l’ouest de la France durant l’extrême fin du Tardiglaciaire. Ces recherches s’insèrent dans le cadre de deux thèses de doctorat de l’université de Rennes-1 dont les résultats permettent de combler un gros hiatus dans la Préhistoire de l’Europe du nord-ouest. Du fait de ses bonnes conditions de préservation et l’homogénéité de son assemblage, le site de la Fosse joue au..

Significance We present detailed geochemical and morphological analyses of nearly 700 spherules from 18 sites in support of a major cosmic impact at the onset of the Younger Dryas episode (12.8 ka). The impact distributed ∼10 million tonnes of melted spherules over 50 million square kilometers on four continents. Origins of the spherules by volcanism, anthropogenesis, authigenesis, lightning, and meteoritic ablation are rejected on geochemical and morphological grounds. The spherules closely resemble known impact materials derived from surficial sediments melted at temperatures >2,200 °C. The spherules correlate with abundances of associated melt-glass, nanodiamonds, carbon spherules, aciniform carbon, charcoal, and iridium.

Food production is one of the most significant achievements in Andean history. The domestication of plants and animals presented an enormous challenge, relating to changing technologies, settlement patterns, and social organization. This paper aims to assess Atacama Desert population dynamics and their relationship to the domestication of plants and animals through chronological modeling using kernel density estimation on radiocarbon (14 C) dates, assuming that a higher 14 C probability density is related to more intense human occupation. The analysis is based on a 14 C dataset comprising 1003 14 C dates (between 11,000 and 150 BP) from 243 archaeological sites in the Arica and Tarapacá regions of northern Chile, collected from published data. We observed two population-dynamics inflection points for these regions. First, starting at ca. 3000 BP, constant population growth occurred, which was related to horticulture in the Arica region and to agriculture in the Tarapacá region. Second, between ca. 1000 and 400 BP, a general population rise occurred due to the consolidation of intensive agriculture in the lowlands and precordillera altitudinal belts in both regions and the integration of the coast and the altiplano into macro-regional population dynamics.

As part of the "Botanical Archaeological Project Ayacucho-Huanta" in central Peru, excavations at Jaywamachay rockshelter were performed in 1969-1970. To reevaluate the rockshelter's oldest human occupations, remains from its lower levels (layers J2 and J3) are currently under study. Based on new radiocarbon dates and technological/morphological observations made of tools, we confirm that Jaywamachay is one of the few dated sites with evidence of hunter-gatherers using fishtail points in highland Peru during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition.

We report on a virtual workshop aimed at advancing a new synthesis of techno-cultural patterns at the Pleistocene-Holocene boundary in Europe. We respond to the growing need of developing meta-analytical frameworks for comparing and eventually integrating disparate regional datasets and stress the opportunities of collaborative approaches. We propose that expert-sourced lithic data is a promising means of conducting systematic archaeological meta-analyses, and that the compilation and examination of similar continental-scale datasets may be an important research goal in the future.Wir berichten über den 2. Workshop im Rahmen des CLIOARCH-Projekts, der darauf abzielte, auf eine neue Synthese technokultureller Langzeitentwicklungen an der Pleistozän/Holozän-Grenze in Europa hinzuarbeiten. Wir reagieren damit auf den wachsenden Bedarf nach einem metaanalytischen Fundament für den Vergleich und die eventuelle Integration von heterogenen regionalen Datensätzen in der Archäologie des Spät...

Se exponen los resultados preliminares de los trabajos arqueológicos realizados en la Cueva Alí Mustafá. Este sitio se suma a otros reparos rocosos usados por grupos de cazadores-recolectores bajo la modalidad de ocupaciones de corta duración ocurridas durante la transición Pleistoceno-Holoceno. La información que incorpora este nuevo sitio temprano apoya la propuesta anterior sobre el valor arqueológico que tuvieron los reparos rocosos que poseen ocupaciones efímeras. En algunos casos presentan ocupaciones redundantes y se localizan en relación estratégica con el paisaje serrano. Por su localización con alta visualización del valle de San Pedro, este sitio fue utilizado como paradero durante las travesías por los valles serranos.

International audienceLa mise en évidence d'une organisation sociale chez les chasseurs-cueilleurs du Paléolithique supérieur est une entreprise difficile car on sait qu'il s'agit le plus souvent de sociétés mobiles dont les dimensions et la composition varient selon la nature des ressources saisonnières. En dehors des exemples ethnographiques qui nous permettent d 'adapter des modèles généraux, notre approche de ce type de société ne peut se fonder que sur la détermination fonctionnelle des quelques sites, considérés comme contemporains, sur la nature de leur production, et sur l'organisation économique complémentaire qu'on peut en déduire, L'idéal serait de pouvoir y associer des sanctuaires d 'art pariétal et de nombreuses sépultures pour pouvoir ajouter à nos informations socio-économiques liées à la subsistance, une dimension symbolique et cérémonielle. Ces conditions sont rarement réunies. Les recherches collectives que nous menons depuis plus d...