(palaeoloxodon) antiquus sites of the late middle pleistocene in italy

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M. R. Palombo1, A.P.Anzidei 2 & A.Arnoldus-Huyzendveld 3

1Università degli Studi di Roma ‘La Sapienza’, Rome2 Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma3 Rocca di Papa

Palombo, M.R., Anzidei, A.P. & Arnoldus-Huyzendveld, A., 2003 - La Polledrara di Cecanibbio:one of the richest Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus sites of the late Middle Pleistocene in Italy -in: Reumer, J.W.F., De Vos, J. & Mol, D. (eds.) - ADVANCES IN MAMMOTH RESEARCH (Proceedingsof the Second International Mammoth Conference, Rotterdam, May 16-20 1999) - DEINSEA 9:317-330 [ISSN 0923-9308] Published 24 May 2003

La Polledrara di Cecanibbio site, together with the Castel di Guido site, is one of the richest depo-sits with Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus of the Italian late Middle Pleistocene (= EarlyAurelian Land Mammal Age). The deposit, located NW of Rome at an elevation of about 83 m aslwas discovered in 1984. About 750 m2 of a paleosurface belonging to an ancient stream bed wereuncovered, with a high concentration of large mammal bone remains associated with lithic andbone industry. The site is included in the terminal series of the pyroclastic deposits of the´Sabatino´ volcanic complex, up to now correlated with the Aurelia Formation and correlated withOIS 9. Recent stratigraphical research seems to indicate an erosive contact between the layersincluding La Polledrara di Cecanibbio site and the deposits of the Aurelia Formation. Therefore,La Polledrara might be older and can be correlated with a terminal phase of OIS 10. Among themost common species (Bos primigenius, Elephas antiquus, Cervus elaphus, Equus caballus, Canisaff. Canis lupus, Stephanorhinus sp.) Elephas bones are the most interesting, especially for thepresence of two well preserved skulls. They offer a broader knowledge on the morphology of theItalian specimens of Elephas antiquus, up to now often studied on incomplete or deformed skulls.All skeletal elements are represented: numerous tusks, mandibles, isolated molar teeth and post-cranial bones (some of them in anatomical connection), belonging at least to twenty-five indivi-duals. The studies, presently in progress, may contribute to the knowledge of the morphologicaland biometrical variability of the Elephas antiquus populations of the late Middle Pleistocene andtest the variability of some characters considered useful for gender determination.

Correspondence: M.R. Palombo, Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra Università degli Studi diRoma ‘La Sapienza’, CNR Institito di Geologia Ambientale e Geoingegneria, Piazzale Aldo Moro,5 - 00185 Roma, Italy, e-mail: [email protected]; A.P. Anzidei, SoprintendenzaArcheologica di Roma, Piazza delle Finanze 1, 00185 Roma, Italy, e-mail:[email protected]; A. Arnoldus-Huyzendveld, Rocca di Papa(RM), Italy, e-mail: [email protected]

Keywords: Elephas (Palaeloxodon) antiquus, late Middle Pleistocene, Italy

La Polledrara di Cecanibbio: one of the richestElephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus sites of the lateMiddle Pleistocene in Italy

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ADVANCES IN MAMMOTH RESEARCH DEINSEA 9, 2003

INTRODUCTIONMammal faunas referred to the late MiddlePleistocene are known since a long time fromLatium, especially from the ‘Bassa CampagnaRomana’, where eruptive products of theSabatinian and Alban volcanic districts areinterbedded with sedimentary cycles thatrepresent alluvial fills. La Polledrara diCecanibbio site, together with the Castel diGuido site (Sala & Barbi 1996), is one of therichest deposits with Elephas (Palaeloxodon)antiquus FALCONER & CAUTLEY, 1847 in thelate Middle Pleistocene (= Early AurelianLand Mammal Age, sensu Gliozzi et al.1997) of Italy. The deposit, located on thehighest terrace of the northwestern surroun-dings of Rome (Fig. 1), at an elevation ofabout 83 m asl (above sea level), was disco-vered in 1984 during a survey organised bythe Soprintendenza Archeologica di Roma(Anzidei et al. 1989; Anzidei & Arnoldus-Huyzendveld 1992; Anzidei et al. in press).

The preliminary excavation pointed out theparticular interest of the deposit because ofthe wealth of archaeological and paleontolo-gical material. During numerous excavationcampaigns, about 750 m2 of a paleosurfacebelonging to an ancient stream bed wereuncovered, with a high concentration of largemammal bone remains (over 8.000) associa-ted with lithic and bone industry (Fig. 2).Excavation, recovery and restoration is stillin progress. Part of the bones has been remo-ved and is presently preserved in the depositsof the Soprintendenza Archeologica of Rome,another part is still preserved at the site,which is destined to become a museum.

Mammal faunaThe mammal fauna consists of: Bos primige-nius BOJANUS, 1827, very abundant; Elephas(Palaeloxodon) antiquus FALCONER &CAUTLEY, 1847, very abundant; Cervus ela-phus LINNAEUS, 1758 advanced form, less

Figure 1 Location map of late Middle Pleistocene (Early Aurelian Mammal Age,Torre in Pietra Faunal Unit) sites in theNorth and north-western area of Rome. 1: La Polledrara di Cecanibbio, 2: Castel di Guido, 3: Malagrotta, 4:Torre inPietra, 5: Collina Barbattini, 6: Riano Flaminio.

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frequent; Equus caballus ssp., very rare;Stephanorhinus sp., very rare; Canis aff. C.lupus LINNAEUS, 1758, only one largelyincomplete skeleton;?Bison priscus

(BOJANUS, 1827);?Hippopotamus ex group ofHippopotamus amphibius LINNAEUS, 1758.With respect to taxonomical composition andevolutive degree, this fauna may be included

Figure 2 Excavation plane of the squares L14 (partim) and I14.

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in the Torre in Pietra Faunal Unit (Caloi &Palombo 1990; Gliozzi et al. 1997), it can becorrelated with the oxygen isotopic stages(OIS) 10-8. Various associations in the Cam-pagna Romana originating from the layers ofthe Aurelia Formation (Conato et al. 1980),(or correlated with it) can be referred to thisUnit. The more representative sites are thoseof Torre in Pietra, Collina Barbattini, RianoFlaminio, as well as Polledrara di Cecanibbio(Fig. 1; Anzidei et al. 1989; Caloi & Palombo1995; Caloi et al. 1998). The mammalianassemblages are generally characterised bythe association of Elephas (Palaeoloxodon)antiquus with large Bos primigenius accom-panied by cervids. The cervids are represen-ted by the yet persistent Galerian form Damaclactoniana (FALCONER, 1868), by the archaicform of red deer Cervus elaphus 'rianensis'LEONARDI & PETRONIO, 1974, as well as byMegaloceros giganteus BLUMENBACH, 1803(here occurring for the fist time in Italy) androe deer, which are less frequent. Horse maybe present, at times abundantly, as may rhino-ceros [Stephanorhinus cf. S. hundsheimensis(TOULA, 1902), S. hemitoechus (FALCONER,1868) and S. kirchbergensis (JAGER, 1839)],Hippopotamus, wild boar, small carnivores,whilst the big carnivores (bears, lions andleopards) are rarer. The overall compositionof the fauna varies at the different sites.

The horse is particularly abundant at Torrein Pietra, whereas the urus and the elephantare the dominant forms at La Polledrara. TheClacton fallow deer, absent in La Polledrara,Torre in Pietra and Castel di Guido, is, how-ever, abundant in Collina Barbattini. The reddeer Cervus elaphus is always present, but itspercentage varies from site to site (it is forexample abundant in Torre in Pietra and inRiano, scarce in La Polledrara and in CollinaBarbattini; the giant deer is present in Torrein Pietra and in Castel di Guido). The occur-rence of Hippopotamus is noteworthy withsparse remains in Via Aurelia, in Castel diGuido and in Malagrotta; the urus Bos primi-genius is generally abundant in all the asso-ciations (Caloi and Palombo 1995, Caloi et

al. 1998). The composition of CampagnaRomana large mammal assemblages belon-ging to the Torre in Pietra F.U., suggess cool-temperate climate conditions, correspondingto the positive oscillations of OIS 9, or of aterminal phase of OIS 10, as well as the pre-sence of an open environment along thecoast, whereas, inland, deciduous forests,widespread in moister temperate conditions.

GEOLOGICAL AND PALEO-ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGLa Polledrara di Cecanibbio is located nearRome, upon a relict of the lower footslopesof the Sabatini volcanic structure, dated tothe Middle Pleistocene (Di Filippo 1993).The absolute level of the site is 83 m asl,whereas the local morphology is gently un-dulating. Stratigraphy at the site has becomeexposed through Holocene slope erosion, andwas partly disturbed by modern ploughing.The regional geology is made up of the follo-wing formations (Dragone et al. 1967;Servizio Geologico d’Italia 1963; ServizioGeologico d’Italia 1986; Compagnoni et al.1986): (1) at the base, the ‘Ponte Galeria’ for-mation, age about 0.9-0.7 My, composed ofsands, pebbly sands and clays of deltaic andlagoonal facies, preceeding the volcanic acti-vity; (2) pyroclastic fall products from theSacrofano and local scoria cones, locally rew-orked, composed of graded alternating scoria-lapilli layers, rich in pumiceous elementstowards the top. The uppermost part of thepyroclastic fall deposits is dated generally at0.26 My. Local top level: 88 m asl. (3) inter-calated within the former sequence: the ‘Redtuff with black scorias’ pyroclastic flow unit,dated 0.49-0.43 My. This ignimbrite has analkaline-trachytic composition and is madeup of a micro-pumiceous matrix, locally lithi-fied, containing large black pumices. Localtop-level 80 m asl. (4) at the top: travertineand clay deposits of lacustrine facies; localtop level 91 m asl.

The La Polledrara archaeological remainsare embedded within the thin lacustrine lay-ers belonging to the ‘Cornazzano-Valle

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Santa’ basin, intercalated in the terminalpyroclastic fall series (Bottino 1976; Corda etal. 1978; Locardi & Orsini 1990). The lacu-strine environment has been linked to subsi-dence along faults, known to have occurredduring the late Middle Pleistocene (De Rita etal. 1996). The sediments are made up mainlyof light grey ashy tuffites, locally sandy atthe base. Often they overly directly a medi-um-grained granular tuffite, rich in analcimi-sed leucite. Within the lacustrine sedimentsthere may occur whitish layers, composedmainly of fluorite. Geological survey hasrevealed the spatial distribution of the latterones, as limited to a narrow N-S belt crossingexactly the archaeological site (Arnoldus-Huyzendveld & Anzidei 1993) (Fig. 3). Onthe base of the excavation data, the LaPolledrara site has been associated with asmall ephemeral river, having cut various

Figure 3 La Polledrara di Cecannibio, reconstruction of thestream course, on the basis of soil survey in the surroundingareas: 1: red tuff with black scorias; 2: granular tuffite; 3: fluorite;4: grey ashy tuffite; 5: presence of fossil bones; 6: reconstructionof the course; 7: outer curve, rather steep; 8: inner curve,gradual and terraced.

Figure 4 Scheme of a braiding river landscape type, with indicated the presumed position of the site (*) (after Williams& Rust 1969, in: Reineck & Singh 1980: 283, modified).

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bends into the granular tuffite (Anzidei &Arnoldus-Huyzendveld 1992) (Fig. 4). Theinfill as found, was composed of light greyashy tuffite. Bone remains were found, bothembedded in the valley fill as well as scatte-red along the stream borders. They are fre-quently associated with small fluoritic aggre-gates, covering the paleosurface and, morerarely, with large imprints of radial gypsumcrystals (Anzidei et al. 1989). The depth ofthe encountered fluvial incision did notexceed 1.5 m, and total valley width rangedup to 40 m. Bend radius was supposedly 120- 200 m. Lateral bed-displacement signs wereencountered. The longitudinal profile of thewater stream must have been smoothly gra-ded, with a general current direction to thesouth.

The pyroclastic fall deposition still activeduring the lifetime of the site, with a conse-quential high sediment charge of the riversystem, points to the existence of a typical

‘young’ paleo-landscape, characterised byfluvial-marshy environmental features, suchas stagnant waters and braiding stream chan-nels (Arnoldus-Huyzendveld & Anzidei1993). Final fossilisation of the animal bonestook place by their transformation into fluo-ro-apatite. The formation of this highly resi-stant material is linked to the occurrence ofpost-volcanic, highly mineralised, fluids,rising upward along fractures and then for-ming ‘fumaroles’ (Mastrangelo 1976). Thisphenomenon can be linked directly to theknown N-S direction of the neotectonic struc-tural alignments. The state of conservation ofthe bones points to a moment of fossilisationrather soon after (or even before) their com-plete burial.

The age of the La Polledrara site has beenassociated with the ‘Aurelia’ formation (ois9; age 0.37-0.27 My), together with ‘Casteldi Guido’ and related sites (Anzidei et al.1989). The latter formation fills up the fluvial

Figure 5 La Polledrara di Cecanibbio: detail of the paleosurface excavated in 1985/86. Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus bones arevisible: at the lower right a jaw, at the centre a tusk, a femur and a humerus.

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incisions created during the marine low-stand, associated to OIS 10 (Conato et al.1980; Malatesta & Zarlenga 1988). Recentfield work on stratigraphical sections led tothe conclusion that the contact between thelacustrine deposits and the Aurelian forma-tion may not be heteropical, but instead erosi-ve. Thus, the La Polledrara site might beslightly older than the Aurelian Formationsites, and eventually belong to a finalmoment of OIS 10 (Anzidei et al. in press).

THE ELEPHANTElephas bones are very abundant in the faunaof La Polledrara, especially in the levels thatoriginated in a phase of river flooding, lead-ing to the bone deposition along the marginsof the channel and in a last phase of overalldeposition of lake and marshy sedimentsoutside the former streambed. Until now1,411 remains have been examined, makingup a significant sample, but not including allelephant remains encountered. In fact, somebones removed from the site still await resto-ration, whereas others have been identified inonly partially excavated portions of the site.The taxonomic and taphonomic study of thedeposit, the fauna and the industry is still inprogress. The study of the Elephas antiquusremains may contribute to a better knowledgeof the morphological and biometrical variabi-lity of the late Middle Pleistocene Elephasantiquus populations of of Italy. Bone preser-vation varies greatly because of the largenumber of intervening factors. It ranges frombones in partial anatomical connection to iso-lated whole bones with a very fresh surface,or fragmented bones with sharply fracturededges, to bones and bone fragments with avariable degree of rolling, differential erosionand epiphiseal or cancellous bone abrasion(Fig. 5). All skeletal elements are represen-ted: six quite complete skulls, numeroustusks (many almost complete), mandibles,isolated molar teeth and postcranial bones(some of them in anatomical connection),belonging at last to twenty-five individuals.

The partial articulated remains of two ele-

phant skeletons have been recovered and, inaddition, one complete foreleg, one hand, twopartial hind legs, some dorsal vertebrae andribs of two disarticulated vertebral column(Figs. 6 and 7). Very recently, another skele-ton has been found at the top of the fossilife-rous levels, near the margin of the fluvial-marshy landscape. The remains, very wellpreserved, consist of the almost completevertebral column (only sacral and caudal ver-tebrae lack, the cervical vertebrae are in ana-tomical connection, the dorsal and the lumbarare slightly disarticulated), several ribs, onefragment of scapula and one humerus, exhibi-ting fracture traces typical of fresh bones.Close to the skeleton, three implements wereencountered: one of bone and two of flint notshowing any fluvial reworking marks. Theexcavation of this area is still in progress.

In the partial sample examined, the remains

Figure 6 La Polledrara di Cecanibbio: detail of the paleo-surface excavated in 1985/86. Elephas (Palaeoloxodon)antiquus cervical and dorsal vertebrae and some ribs of adisarticulated axial skeleton.

of large adult individuals are clearly prevail-ing, whereas the remains of young or veryyoung individuals are but scarce. The best-represented parts are the axial skeleton, inparticular vertebrae and long bones, presentin a high percentage not only with diaphysalfragments, but also with more or less comple-

te bones (Fig. 7). When comparing the LaPolledrara sample with the data of the elep-hant remains from Castel di Guido (Fig. 8),one may observe how the only notable diffe-rences concern the axial skeleton, and parti-cularly the vertebrae. Though it is prematureto forward hypotheses in this study phase, itis not to be excluded that the higher percenta-ge of axial skeleton remains at the LaPolledrara site may be partly linked to a hig-her presence of only partially disarticulatedskeletons.

The elephant skulls of la Polledrara arevery interesting and offer a broader knowled-ge on the morphology of the Italian speci-mens of Elephas antiquus, up till now oftenstudied on incomplete or deformed skulls.The better preserved skulls are those of twofully grown elephants (Figs. 2 and 9) whichexhibit a short and broad brow with a trans-verse occipito-frontal torus, very prominentand reaching the posterior border of the nasalchoanae, as in females and males of E. nama-dicus FALCONER & CAUTLEY, 1846. The ante-rior margin of the torus is high, robust, withstrong crests for the insertion of the trunkmuscles. A less developed occipito-frontaltorus is also present in the Italian specimensof Viterbo (Trevisan 1949) and Pian dell’Olmo

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Figure 7 La Polledrara di Cecanibbio: detail of the paleo-surface excavated in 1985/86. Elephas (Palaeoloxodon)antiquus connected bones of complete left manus, in pos-terior view.

Figure 8 Diagrams showing the distribution of total number (left) and percentages (right) of Elephas (Palaeoloxodon)antiquus different skeletal bones in the samples of la Polledrara di Cecanibbio and Castel di Guido.

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(Maccagno 1962), whereas in the Germanskull kept in the Stoccarda Museum (Osborn1942) the torus is very little developed. Thepraemaxillary bones are very enlarged alsoproximally; the incisive alveoli are swollen,and a broad, almost triangular shallowdepression occupies their centre.However, theparietal-occipital region is more transversallyenlarged than the distal edge of the fan. Inposterior view, the occipital exhibits anapproximately oval contour; a great distanceseparates the deep occipital fossa from theforamen magnum; in lateral view, the occipi-tal passes into the parietal and frontal sur-faces by an almost rectangular bend.

In the examined sample (Figs. 10, 11 and12), the penultimate and ultimate molars pre-vail, whereas the first three teeth are lessrepresented. Taking into account the morpho-logical variability related to ontogeneticgrowth, two morphotypes have been recogni-sed: the first has thick and less folded enamelloops; in the second one, the enamel is relati-vely thin, densely and regularly folded, the

laminae are more closely packed. However,the differences are not very important. Theworn lamina exhibit more or less stronglyfolded enamel surfaces, from initial to medi-um wear, in the M3. The plication rangesfrom relatively regular to more sharpened, inboth cases it extends until the lingual andbuccal side. An accentuated plication (medial

Figure 9 Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus Falconer &Cautley, 1847, skull (specimen no. 3412) in frontal view.

Figure 10 La Polledrara di Cecanibbio: Elephas(Palaeoloxodon) antiquus left incomplete hemi-mandible(specimen no. 2712) with d4 and the alveolus of d3.

Figure 11 Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus right M3 of amale individual (specimen no. 606). Upper photo: occlusalsurface; lower photo: buccal view.

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pillar) is frequently present on the posteriorside of the lamina. This fold is generally ‘C’-shaped, as has frequently been recorded innot very advanced E. antiquus samples fromthe Middle Pleistocene of Italy (Palombo1986). The pillar is in some cases flanked bytwo or (rarely) four large and sharper folds.Plications became more regular in the veryworn laminae. The average enamel thicknessrange from 1.5 mm in the first tooth, to 2.8mm in the last molar. The lamellar frequencyrange from 8 to 5. The enamel thicknesses,lamellar frequency, hypsodontia index of theelephant teeth of La Polledrara, fall in therange of variability of E. antiquus of lateMiddle Pleistocene of Italy (Palombo 1986,1995).

According to Maglio (1973), several aut-hors consider Elephas antiquus as a youngersynonym of Elephas namadicus, as a result ofwhich only one species would be present inthe Pleistocene of Eurasia. In effect, Falconerand Cautley named Elephas antiquus, theEuropean straight-tusked elephant, in 1847,while the species Elephas namadicus waserected in 1846 for Pleistocene Indian speci-mens. Consequently, if the two species areidentical, as alleged by several authors, the

name E. namadicus has priority. Never-the-less, there are some reasons for treating thestraight-tusked elephant of Europe as a spe-cies distinct from, although closely allied to,its Asian relative E. namadicus. Firstly, thedifferent routes (towards north-western andtowards north-eastern) of diffusion followedby the ancestral population, which (origina-ting itself in Africa) have colonised theEurasia territories via Anatolia. As a result,the two groups of populations maintain a dif-ferent areal distribution during the Middleand the early Late Pleistocene. This factcould hamper genetic flow between the twogroups, allowing a speciation process.Secondly, in spite of their great variability,some biometrics and morphological charac-ters of the molars seem to differentiate thespecimens of E. antiquus from those of E.namadicus. Additional evidence supplied bythe study of La Polledrara specimens allowsus to hypothesise that both species are proba-bly valid. As a matter of fact, if the two spe-cies resemble each other in basic morphologyof skull, some distinctive biometrics charac-ters are present as is showed by La Polledraraskulls. The skulls exhibit, compared to theaverage morphological and biometrics char-acters of Elephas namadicus, a parieto-occi-pital region which is less strongly convex inthe horizontal direction; consequently thezygomatic process of the temporal are pushedto the front in a minor degree; the distal edgeof the fan (tusk sockets and triangular, flatten-ed area between them) is proportionally lessenlarged. Thus, taking into account the fewavailable data and until additional evidencebecomes available, we prefer to retain bothspecie as valid.

INDUSTRYLithic industry and a some bone industry ofthe Lower Paleolithic type has been recover-ed in association with the faunal remains.Lithic industry, consisting of about 400implements, is made from small flint pebbles.The choppers and chopper-scrapers are thelargest tools (max. dimensions = 80 x 60 x 35

Figure 12 Elephas (Palaeoloxodon) antiquus right M3 of afemale individual (specimen no. 3528). Upper photo: occlusalsurface; lower photo: buccal view.

mm); the other tools, pebbles and flakes, aresmaller. There are various types of scrapers,many of them with a rather thick retouchededge; gradually becoming end-scrapers insome pieces. There are a large number ofnotches, denticulates and multiple tools, bothon pebbles, cores and flakes. Many tools arenot typologically well defined, with a kind ofhalfway form between two types (side scra-per/end scraper; retouched chopper/side scra-per on chopper). The tools with only oneretouched edge are not common; generallythey show two, three or four retouched edges.This intensive exploitation of pebbles wascertainly caused by the difficulty in obtainingraw material: siliceous pebbles do not belongto the volcanic nature of the area and certain-ly were brought to the site by humans. The

lithic industry shows various degrees of rol-ling and soil sheen. The artefacts, almost alllocated in the marginal area of the stream,have been displaced by water and their posi-tion in relation to the bones is fortuituous.Only in the western sector of the excavation,in a small area with stagnant water deposits,where the partially articulated remains of twoelephants have been found, there was a per-fectly preserved lithic industry with use-weartraces (polish and striations) indicatingbutchering activity.

Only six clearly worked bones have beenfound, all made from the diaphysis of ele-phant long bones. Some artefacts are presentedhere: (1) Concave side-scraper on diaphysisfragment, with a direct, continuos, unidirec-tional retouch. Cortical bone is preserved on

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Figure 13 Concave side-scraper on diaphysis fragment, with a direct continuous unidirectional retouch (170 x 139 x 52 mm).

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the dorsal face, while spongy tissue is expo-sed on the ventral face (170 x 139 x 52 mm;Fig. 13). (2) Diaphysis fragment with twolongitudinal unidirectional flake scars, whichpartially removed the cortical surface. On theopposite side, spongy tissue is exposed. Bothextremities have been sharpened by a seriesof contiguous bifacial negative flake scars(240 x 136 x 62 mm; Fig. 14). (3) denticulateside-scraper on diaphysis fragment. The mar-

gin has been sharpened by a few large negati-ve flake scars on the internal part of the bone,were the spongy tissue is preserved. The dis-tal extremity has been reduced and pointedby short bifacial negative flake scars (263 x99 x 49 mm). Other fragments of elephantdiaphysis and bovid epiphyses have beenmodified by multiple scars and probably usedby man; some elephant bone flakes with butt,bulb of percussion and ventral ripples, areprobably due to human activity.

CONCLUSIONSThe preliminary analysis of the sample ofelephant specimens from La Polledrara diCecanibbio on the one hand confirms themorphological and biometrical characters ofthe late Middle Pleistocene Italian populationof E. antiquus, on the other hand emphasisesthe problems related to the taxonomical iden-tity of E. antiquus versus E. namadicus. Thefeatures of the La Polledrara elephant skullseem to support a separation between thesetwo species, as have been already hypothesi-sed on the basis of their areal distribution.However, the range of morphological andbiometrical variation of European paleo-loxodontine elephants still remains poorlyknown. We need more additional evidenceand analytical data to resolve this question.Concerning the paleo-environmental condi-tions of La Polledrara di Cecanibbio, all avail-able data point to the occurrence, of a flatfluvial-marshy landscape, with open spacesand moderately covered woodlands, even ifthe faunal assemblages recorded from varioussites of the same area are characterised by adifferent frequency - of species inhabitingopen or forest environments (Caloi et al.1998). The indications of a relatively tempe-rate climate inferred by the faunal assembla-ges agree with the oxygen isotope data in theTyrrhenian record, indicating two warmpeaks for the stage 9 (Vergnaud Grazzini etal. 1990). However, in the faunal assembla-ges of La Polledrara very few taxa occur,moreover with wide ecological tolerances,consequently it is difficult to offer a precise


Figure 14 Diaphysis fragment with two longitudinal unidirec-tional flake scars which partially removed the cortical surface.Spongy tissue is exposed (240 x 136 x 62 mm).

paleo-environmental reconstruction for thissite; both dominant taxa indicate open gras-slands at the margin of woody areas. It issurprising to note the scarcity (or absence?)of Hippopotamus remains, frequent in othermammal assemblages of the same area (Sala& Barbi 1996).

The local stratigraphical sequence marks acomplete fluvial cycle of a single river chan-nel; the cycle could be divided into the follo-wing paleo-environmental phases: (1) at first,the occurrence of a small braiding-river chan-nel. In spite of its limited size and the lowslope-angle, the stream was evidently strongenough to rework animal bones, of which theremains were found scattered in a fragmentedand eroded state throughout the central partof the fluvial infill; (2) a probably slightlysuccessive phase of river flooding, leading tothe rearrangement of large animal bonesalong the margins of the channel; and (3) theoccurrence, after the silting up of the channeland marginal areas, of a last phase, characte-rised by the overall deposition of lake andmarshy sediments outside and over the for-mer streambed, thus allowing the preserva-tion of animal bones with no evidence of flu-vial transport, but incidentally carrying thetraces of some human activity.

The inferred fluvial cycle has probablyonly a local meaning, i.e. marking in timeand space a relatively short episode of a singleshifting channel of a braiding system, the lat-ter draining a landscape with a still unmaturegeomorphology. The lifetime of the archaeo-logical site coincides with a phase of the finallocal volcanic activity, the latter probablylimited to pyroclastic ash falls and the outbre-ak of volcanic gases through fractures. Butboth these processes were essential in bonepreservation, through burying and chemicaltransformation.

The studies of the Elephas antiquusremains may improve the knowledge of themorphological and biometrical variability ofthe late Middle Pleistocene Elephas antiquusof Italy and contribute to a better comparisonwith Western and Eastern European speci-

mens, as well as with Elephas namadicus.Moreover, the presence of various pelvic andcarpal bones may help to test the variabilityof some characters considered useful for thegender determination.

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Caloi, L., Palombo, M.R. & Segre A.G., 1989 - Le

gisement Pleistocène de La Polledrara di Cecanibbio

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Anzidei A.P., Arnoldus-Huyzendveld A., Caloi L.,

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Received 09 July 1999


DEINSEA - ANNUAL OF THE NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM ROTTERDAMP. O. B o x 2 3 4 5 2 , N L - 3 0 0 1 K L R o t t e r d a m T h e N e t h e r l a n d s

(palaeoloxodon) antiquus sites of the late middle pleistocene in italy

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