ABSTRACT - A multidisciplinary methodological approach (palaeontological, sedimentological and stable isotope analyses) was performed to analyse the fossiliferous sequence exposed in the “Grotta dei Fiori” cave (South Western Sardinia, Italy), where several small mammal remains (Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli, Rhagamys orthodon, “Nesiotites” similis and Prolagus sardus) were discovered together with scanty remains of the endemic canid Cynotherium, and birds. Morphology and morphometry of first lower molars (M1) of Microtus (Tyrrhenicola)henseli from Grotta dei Fiori show that primitive and advanced morphotypes are present in each fossiliferous level. The relative frequency of morphotypes indicates that the population from “Grotta dei Fiori” might be regarded as more advanced than Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) sondaari from Xg3 fissure of Monte Tuttavista (Eastern Sardinia, late Early Pleistocene) and more primitive than the most of ?Middle and Late Pleistocene populations of Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli from Sardinia. All in all, the data thus far provided by sedimentology and geochemistry indicate that the fossiliferous sequence of “Grotta dei Fiori” was deposited under climatic conditions characterized by an alternation of wet and dry periods. Taking into account the evolutionary degree of voles, 13C/12C and 16O/18O ratio and micromorphology of sediments, the hypothesis that the “Grotta dei Fiori” succession would be not older than the marine isotope stage (MIS) 11 cannot be ruled out. The results obtained stress once more the difficulty of a precise chronologic setting for deposits filling caves when no absolute date is available, and highlight the usefulness of a multidisciplinary approach to define environmental context and, perhaps, constrain chronology.
THE MIDDLE PLEISTOCENE FOSSILIFEROUS SEQUENCE OF GROTTA DEI FIORI (SARDINIA, ITALY): MULTIDISCIPLINARY ANALYSIS
MELIS, RITA TERESA
2010-01-01
Abstract
ABSTRACT - A multidisciplinary methodological approach (palaeontological, sedimentological and stable isotope analyses) was performed to analyse the fossiliferous sequence exposed in the “Grotta dei Fiori” cave (South Western Sardinia, Italy), where several small mammal remains (Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli, Rhagamys orthodon, “Nesiotites” similis and Prolagus sardus) were discovered together with scanty remains of the endemic canid Cynotherium, and birds. Morphology and morphometry of first lower molars (M1) of Microtus (Tyrrhenicola)henseli from Grotta dei Fiori show that primitive and advanced morphotypes are present in each fossiliferous level. The relative frequency of morphotypes indicates that the population from “Grotta dei Fiori” might be regarded as more advanced than Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) sondaari from Xg3 fissure of Monte Tuttavista (Eastern Sardinia, late Early Pleistocene) and more primitive than the most of ?Middle and Late Pleistocene populations of Microtus (Tyrrhenicola) henseli from Sardinia. All in all, the data thus far provided by sedimentology and geochemistry indicate that the fossiliferous sequence of “Grotta dei Fiori” was deposited under climatic conditions characterized by an alternation of wet and dry periods. Taking into account the evolutionary degree of voles, 13C/12C and 16O/18O ratio and micromorphology of sediments, the hypothesis that the “Grotta dei Fiori” succession would be not older than the marine isotope stage (MIS) 11 cannot be ruled out. The results obtained stress once more the difficulty of a precise chronologic setting for deposits filling caves when no absolute date is available, and highlight the usefulness of a multidisciplinary approach to define environmental context and, perhaps, constrain chronology.
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