Reassessing the sedimentary deposits and vertebrate assemblages from Ponte Galeria area (Rome, central Italy): an archive for the Middle Pleistocene faunas of Europe

摘要: Abstract The Ponte Galeria area is part of the larger “Campagna Romana” and hosted inner delta Tiber River since beginning Middle Pleistocene, allowing deposition a series glacio-eustatically controlled fluvial–lacustrine sedimentary successions very rich in fossil mammal remains. Due to its richness fossiliferous sites, this represents an exceptional archive for study understanding biochronological, paleobiogeographical paleoenvironmental evolution during Pleistocene Europe. A recent studies, using 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages tephra intercalated within deposits, provided large amount geochronological data linking these aggradational different Marine Isotopic Stages. In present paper we complete review faunal assemblages identified so far area, constrain units by placing them new chronostratigraphic scheme. By means interdisciplinary approach, re-calibrate collected reconstruct biochronological paleobiogeographic framework Italian peninsula Pleistocene. particular, distinguish six well-defined (Slivia, Galeria, Isernia, Fontana Ranuccio, Torre Pietra, Vitinia) studied covering time span ca 0.6 Myr, from Early transition at least marine isotope stage 7. This period characterized Europe Mid-Pleistocene Revolution (global climate change) first between Villafranchian Galerian taxa later Aurelian ones. According reviewed data, persistence recorded Italy probably due favorable climatic conditions or delay dispersal competitive species, while turnover species was completed around 0.6–0.5 Ma. During time, Bos primigenius other temperate-warm were widespread Peninsula earlier than Western contrast, typical taxa, usually related with temperate-cold ( Ursus spelaeus , Megaloceros giganteus ), occurred European areas.