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Marra F, Rolfo MF, Gaeta M, Florindo F. Anomalous Last Interglacial Tyrrhenian sea levels and Neanderthal settling at Guattari and Moscerini caves (central Italy). Sci Rep 2020; 10:11929. [PMID: 32681013 PMCID: PMC7368079 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68604-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
We present a geological-stratigraphical study aimed to provide chronologic constraints to the sea-level markers occurring at two coastal caves of central Italy (Grotta Guattari and Grotta dei Moscerini) and to the Neanderthal frequentation of these caves, in the light of recent archaeological and geomorphological-geochronological studies suggesting similar sea levels during MIS 5.5 and MIS 5.3, and only few m below the Present during MIS 5.1 in this region. Based on the review of previous literature data, combined with new stratigraphic observations at Grotta Guattari and re-analysis of archive material including unpublished field notes from Grotta dei Moscerini, we reconstruct a plausible sea-level history accounting for the lithological and paleoenvironmental features of their sedimentary fillings. In particular, we outline the abundant occurrence of well-rounded pumice clasts within the sedimentary deposits of Moscerini Cave, attesting for the proximity to the beach where this pumice was gathered by wave action. Through the petrographic and geochemical analysis of this pumice we evidence provenance from Phlegraean Fields and Ischia Island volcanic districts, framing their chronology in the time span 118–40 ka, consistent with literature ESR-U/Th dates providing ages ranging 101 ± 5–74 ± 7 ka for the sedimentary filling of both Moscerini and Guattari caves.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Marra
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy.
| | - M F Rolfo
- Department of History, Humanities and Society, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", Via Columbia 1, 00133, Rome, Italy
| | - M Gaeta
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, "Sapienza" Università di Roma, Piazzale Aldo Moro 5, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | - F Florindo
- Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, Via di Vigna Murata 605, 00143, Rome, Italy.,Institute for Climate Change Solutions, via Sorchio, 61040, Frontone, Pesaro e Urbino, Italy
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Festa G, Andreani C, Baldoni M, Cipollari V, Martínez-Labarga C, Martini F, Rickards O, Rolfo MF, Sarti L, Volante N, Senesi R, Stasolla FR, Parker SF, Vassalo AR, Mamede AP, Batista de Carvalho LAE, Marques MPM. First analysis of ancient burned human skeletal remains probed by neutron and optical vibrational spectroscopy. Sci Adv 2019; 5:eaaw1292. [PMID: 31259242 PMCID: PMC6598762 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw1292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/17/2019] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Burned skeletal remains are abundant in archaeological and paleontological sites, the result of fire or of ancient funerary practices. In the burning process, the bone matrix suffers structural and dimensional changes that interfere with the reliability of available osteometric methods. Recent studies showed that these macroscopic changes are accompanied by microscopic variations are reflected in vibrational spectra. An innovative integrated approach to the study of archaeological combusted skeletal remains is reported here, where the application of complementary vibrational spectroscopic techniques-INS (inelastic neutron scattering), FTIR (Fourier transform infrared), and micro-Raman-enables access to the complete vibrational profile and constitutes the first application of neutron spectroscopy to ancient bones. Comparison with data from modern human bones that were subjected to controlled burning allowed identification of specific heating conditions. This pioneering study provides archaeologists and anthropologists with relevant information on past civilizations, including regarding funerary, burial, and cooking practices and environmental settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- G. Festa
- CENTRO FERMI–Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy
| | - C. Andreani
- CENTRO FERMI–Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Fisica, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Centro NAST, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome Italy
| | - M. Baldoni
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Biologia, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Biomedicina e Prevenzione, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - V. Cipollari
- Soprintendenza Archeologica, Belle Arti e Paesaggio per l’area metropolitana di Roma, la provincia di Viterbo e l’Etruria meridionale, Via Cavalletti 2, 00186 Rome, Italy
| | - C. Martínez-Labarga
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Centro NAST, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Biologia, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - F. Martini
- Università degli Studi di Firenze–Dipartimento di Storia, Archeologia, Geografia, Arte e Spettacolo, Via S. Gallo 10, 50129 Florence, Italy
| | - O. Rickards
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Centro NAST, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Biologia, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - M. F. Rolfo
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Storia, Patrimonio culturale, Formazione e Società, Via Columbia 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - L. Sarti
- Università di Siena–Dipartimento di Scienze Storiche dei Beni Culturali, Via Val di Montone 4–Via Roma 56, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - N. Volante
- Università di Siena–Dipartimento di Scienze Storiche dei Beni Culturali, Via Val di Montone 4–Via Roma 56, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | - R. Senesi
- CENTRO FERMI–Museo Storico della Fisica e Centro Studi e Ricerche “Enrico Fermi”, Piazza del Viminale 1, 00184 Rome, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Dipartimento di Fisica, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
- Università degli Studi di Roma “Tor Vergata”–Centro NAST, Via della Ricerca Scientifica 1, 00133 Rome Italy
| | - F. R. Stasolla
- Sapienza Università di Roma–Dipartimento di Scienze dell’Antichità, Piazzale A. Moro 5, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - S. F. Parker
- ISIS Facility, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot OX11 0QX, UK
| | - A. R. Vassalo
- University of Coimbra–Unidade de I&D “Química-Física Molecular”, Department of Chemistry, Coimbra 3004-535, Portugal
| | - A. P. Mamede
- University of Coimbra–Unidade de I&D “Química-Física Molecular”, Department of Chemistry, Coimbra 3004-535, Portugal
| | - L. A. E. Batista de Carvalho
- University of Coimbra–Unidade de I&D “Química-Física Molecular”, Department of Chemistry, Coimbra 3004-535, Portugal
| | - M. P. M. Marques
- University of Coimbra–Unidade de I&D “Química-Física Molecular”, Department of Chemistry, Coimbra 3004-535, Portugal
- University of Coimbra–Department of Life Sciences, Coimbra 3000-456, Portugal
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