Paleoenvironmental reconstructions in mountainous regions of central Argentina are commonly limited by discontinuous sedimentary successions and strong local geomorphic control. This study presents the first stable carbon (δ13C) and oxygen (δ18O) isotope data from fossil and modern shells of the terrestrial gastropod Plagiodontes daedaleus (Deshayes, 1851) at the Cerro Colorado geoarchaeological site, providing an initial local geochemical reference. Two fossil shells were analyzed from the level immediately underlying a tephra layer correlated with the Cerro Blanco Volcanic Complex eruption at ca. 4200 cal BP, whereas seven modern shells were collected from surface soils in the study area. Fossil shells yielded δ13C values of −9.50‰ and −7.98‰, and δ18O values of +1.42‰ and +0.47‰. Modern shells showed δ13C values from −12.47‰ to −9.80‰ and δ18O values from −2.25‰ to −0.23‰. The fossil shells plot toward less negative δ13C and higher δ18O values than modern specimens, with the clearest offset observed in δ18O. Considering the limited fossil sample size, the observed isotopic pattern suggests broad environmental differences between the fossil and modern contexts, potentially involving changes in effective moisture and vegetation–microhabitat conditions. Thus, the isotopic patterns recorded in the collected specimens provide a pilot stable isotope baseline for the study area. This contribution supports future stable isotope research on terrestrial gastropods and offers a starting point for integrated paleoenvironmental and geoarchaeological studies in the Sierras de Córdoba.
Dental microwear analysis is a widely used non-destructive method that provides insights into the adoption of specific diets, food preparation methods, and the conduction of paramasticatory activities using the mouth through the examination of dental features on the enamel surfaces. Recent methodological trends in the analysis of human dental wear have enriched the possibilities of the discipline, yet scarcely provide insights into the comparability of the values obtained from different microscopes on the same dental features. In this study, we microscopically observe the dental wear patterns of labial and buccal surfaces from 4 populations of the Iberian Late Prehistory, aiming to understand the level of intermicroscopy variability between the values of an optical microscope (ZEISS Axioscope A1 metallographic) and a 3D digital microscope (Hirox KH-8700). Within this framework, we adopt a dual microscopy approach, combining the existing methodological steps of the two microscopes, aiming to explore the level of agreement among the values obtained from both pieces of equipment. In this context, we provide, to our knowledge, the first ground for the quantification of diet-related wear patterns on human teeth using a Hirox KH-8700 3D digital microscope, underscoring its possibilities and observing discrepancies in the methodological implementation of the specific equipment in examining microscopic diet-related dental striations.
Non-destructive geophysical surveys have become mainstream in archaeological exploration due to their ability to map the subsurface and pinpoint anomalies that may be related to ancient features. However, in the urban environment, this can become tricky due to, among other things, interference from buried modern infrastructure and poor access to survey spots. The ancient city of Terracina, Italy, located between Naples and Rome was the location of an important ancient Roman port, thought to have been abandoned and silted up between the 15th and 18th centuries. This left larges areas as grassy wasteland or, more recently, covered with asphalt for parking lots. The current study examined one such area using magnetometry, frequency domain electromagnetics and electrical resistivity tomography. Archaeological remains were not seen in aerial photographs from 1911, 1923 and 1943 and a satellite image from 2023, nor reported in previous archaeological studies in the area. Results of the geophysical surveys show a prominent square anomaly, with a clear magnetic and electrically conductive signal located in the center of the field. While it was tempting to interpret the finding as the foundations of an ancient building, examination of an additional aerial photograph from 1956 shows that this is most likely the remains of a sports facility built between 1943 and 1958 and subsequently demolished. Since it does not appear on any readily available municipal map, this study serves as a stark reminder that all available sources of information must be considered and thoroughly examined in such complex settings.
Cave sediments often preserve discontinuous and taphonomically biased pollen records, complicating the reconstruction of local palaeoenvironments and ecosystem dynamics. Carnivore coprolites represent a potentially valuable, yet still underexplored, palaeoecological archive whose reliability depends on understanding the processes governing pollen incorporation and preservation. Here, we investigate the palaeoecological significance of pollen assemblages preserved in Crocuta crocuta spelaea coprolites recovered from MIS 5b–3 deposits at Biśnik Cave (Poland), one of the best-documented Middle–Upper Pleistocene cave sequences in Central Europe. By integrating palynological, vertebrate, stratigraphic, and archaeological evidence, we evaluate the reliability and environmental representativeness of the coprolite pollen signal and reconstruct local habitat conditions surrounding the cave. Although each coprolite records only a temporally discrete ecological signal, the assemblages collectively reveal marked differences in local habitat composition throughout MIS 5b–3. The landscape surrounding Biśnik Cave was generally dominated by open vegetation, interrupted by phases of increased moisture that promoted the expansion of shrub communities (Betula nana-type) and localised woodland patches. These habitat shifts are broadly consistent with changes in the associated vertebrate assemblages and define the ecological framework within which recurrent cave hyaena activity and Neanderthal occupations took place. Our results demonstrate that, despite their discontinuous nature and complex taphonomic history, cave hyaena coprolites preserve internally coherent ecological signals that contribute to the reconstruction of local habitat conditions and have the potential to complement conventional sedimentary pollen archives, particularly in cave settings where continuous sedimentary pollen records are unavailable or poorly preserved.
