Vertebrate Paleontology

Il sito di Superficie di Montello conferma l’importanza del territorio pontino, con frequenti rinvenimenti del paleolitico medio e superiore associati a fauna fossile. Questo sito permette di tracciare una linea di continuità territoriale tra le grotte del Circeo, sede di importanti scoperte preistoriche, ed i vari giacimenti di superficie segnalati nella Pianura pontina tra gli anni ‘60 ed ‘90 (Zei e La Rosa 1990). Importante il rinvenimento di ossa scheggiate. Merita scavo stratigrafico di approfondimento.

Precise dates are helpful in tracking changes in paleoenvironment and faunal distribution through the Pleistocene. The ages of Paleoindian archaeological sites in the American Southwest with faunal remains are often precise. They have a specific date with a margin of error. This precision allows for the distinction between warm and cold periods. However, paleontological sites, while more abundant in the Southwest, are not as precise. They are often somewhere within a land mammal age (often Irvingtonian or Rancholabrean, each spanning hundreds of thousands of years) without a specific date. It is thus more difficult to assess changes in distribution through time of animal taxa. It is also more difficult to assess whether or not said changes align with known cold and warm periods.

The extinction of Pleistocene megafauna and the role played by humans have been subjects of constant debate in American archeology. Previous evidence from the Pampas region of Argentina suggested that this environment might have provided a refugium for the Holocene survival of several megamammals. However, recent excavations and more advanced accelerator mass spectrometry radiocarbon dating at Campo Laborde site in the Argentinian Pampas challenge the Holocene survival of Pleistocene megamammals and provide original and high-quality information documenting direct human impact on the Pleistocene fauna. The new data offer definitive evidence for hunting and butchering of Megatherium americanum (giant ground sloth) at 12,600 cal years BP and dispute previous interpretations that Pleistocene megamammals survived into the Holocene in the Pampas.

В работе описаны фрагменты скелетов двух особей, а также отдельные материалы по ископаемому сурку с террито-рии Минусинской котловины. Изучение остатков позволило уверенно отнести их к одному виду Marmota baibacina. Представители рода Marmota непрерывно населяли регион как минимум со второй половины позднего неоплейстоцена до позднего голоцена, но к современности полностью исчезли. Точное время и причины вымирания сурков в регионе пока неизвестны и требуют дальнейшего изучения.

Fossil rodents are generally scarce in the Miocene of Japan. However, as much as three taxa of eomyid rodents had been reported from the early Miocene Nakamura Formation (ca. 18.5 Ma) in Gifu Prefecture, central Japan. In this study, we revisit one of them-the small-sized taxon-and assign this material to a new genus, Japaneomys, which is so far known only from the type locality. The new genus is closely related to but distinguished from Asianeomys, which is more widely distributed in Central and East Asia, by having: (i) more bunodont cheek teeth with lower lophids, yet complete transverse lophids; (ii) two-rooted p4; (iii) anterior lobe narrower than posterior lobe on m1, correspondingly synclinid I shorter and shallower than synclinid IV; (iv) hypolophid anteriorly concave on m1. Japaneomys shows a derived but peculiar four-layered enamel microstructure with longitudinally oriented Hunter-Schreger bands, compared to three-layered microstructure in typical eomyid rodents. A phylogenetic analysis indicates that Japaneomys is more basal than Asianeomys and likely diverged in the late Oligocene when Japan was still part of the eastern margin of continental Asia, suggesting that certain small mammal populations could have undergone allopatric speciation isolated from inner-continental regions of Asia.

This 13th article  is short but necessary for the next steps of this research way. Therefore It is usefull to be written in the articles shelf. This is also a data for the height of the species.
            “Is  an article necessary for such a small fossil part.”  Yes, It is necessary. İt is small but so rare , and  this is the species who had made the oldest artifacts of the humanity in İstanbul.  And this hominid fossil toe is a part of an individual from this species. Therefore it is so important.
            This is second clear fosil hominid part found in İstanbul. The first fossil hominid fragment found in İstanbul is “ a fossil hominid mandible fragment with a molar tooth” that I found and that was approved by 4-5 specialist in my related researcgate question as a hominid fossil tooth and mandible fragment along 1.5 months concentrated research and work. It has the right to be an article. It should be stable knowledge. It is necessary for next steps of the research. It is also related to determination of the species. It will be used as a data with an important artifact that I can’t explain in this step.
          Soft tissue fossilization is so rare but possible.
1. Ice Mummies/Frozen remains
2. Rapid Undersea Burial
            I am sure that this is a fossilized hominid left big toe.
            Think this "fossilized mandible fragment with a molar tooth". I found both of them at the same place. And This fossil molar tooth was approved by specialists from diffrent countries.
            I think both fossilized parts belongs to the Istanbul hominid  species.                                     
            I brought forward  this fossilized hominid left big toe  in  my 18th Researchgate Question.
            We could see  “this fossilized  hominid left big toe is  completely identical with a human left big toe” in term of geometry,  shape details and also anatomy in chapter 1 of this article.
              We are giving  some samples  and showing that “soft tisue fosilization is  possible” in  chapter 2 of this article. The cover type/encapsulation type “rapid undersea burial”  soft tisue preservation/fossilization  mechanism could be a subject of a Phd thesis.
          Let us summerize the situation.
                    The number of articles that I wrote about Istanbul Maritime PaleoCulture has reached 13 with this article.
          Meanwhile, I completed the first cover of this discovery and research “The Archaeological Discovery of Istanbul Paleolithic Culture I – Arrowheads, Spearheads, Lithic tools and Sculptures” [1] which includes the first 5 articles and 360 artifacts and detailed knowledges and my determinations and solutions.
          Some artifacts were approvad in my Researhgate questions in this period.         
            I made two attempts for Istanbul Archaeology Museum in this stage. But,The research stayed on my shoulders. I researched and studied this paleolithic culture 3 years. This is hard Works and concentrated research.
          Meanwhile, I presented our proposal about “Establishing a Technical
based Inscription Science and Archaeology Research Institute” to İTÜ (Istanbul Technical University) Administration. And I also presented the prepared 4th version of this Research Institute Project in Researchgate to İTÜ Administration.
(Then I wrote 5th version of this Institute Project.) [5]
          I prepared a  36 pages detailed information about the Discovery of Istanbul Maritime PaleoCulture which includes a proposal for Research Institute. And I tried to convey this information/proposal  to The Presidency of The Republic of Turkey. I don’t know that the President read this information/proposal or not.
          So valuable and respectfull academicians are present in this Project.
Establishing this Research Institute in Istanbul is a necessity for Istanbul and for humanity and for the artifacts of Istanbul Maritime PaleoCulture.
          This Institute is a necessity for the future of the researchs of Istanbul Maritime PaleoCulture. Because there are a lot of lack of knowledge in these fields.
          There are approvals of some artifacts in my Researchgate questions on Researchgate.
          With detailed explanations and new close-shot and clear photographs , some important artifacts have been approved as human/homonin made artifacts.
          After my 10th article, a  fossilized tooth that I found in İstanbul approved by speciasits from the World as a fossil hominid tooth in my 15th Researchgate question. This is the first hominid fragment found in İstanbul.
          I think these articles will be resources for Archaeomaterials lectures of related fields such as archaeology, paleontology and archaeomaterials fields.  Infact, these would also be  lecture notes. 
            These articles are huge works.  These articles are  the product of the long concentration, hard works and research of 3 years.  It is filling the Lack of knowledge in this field a little bit.
          We are making the details  visible and stable knowledge.
            I think this is the only one  Research of an archaeological discovery without budget and income which was carried to this approved point at which an archaeological  discovery  approved by means of 12 articles, 19 questions and two books in 3 years.
            İTÜ (İstanbul Technical University) Rectorship hasn’t give an answer about our proposal of “Establishing A Technical based Inscription Science and Archaeology Research Institute”.  The solution  could be a new university with a new institute such as  MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).
            We need to apply some technical measurements such as material determinations with XRF (X Ray Fluorescence) and archaeological datings such as ESR Dating. And We need to educate the academicians to supply continuity/stability in this research and field.
          And We should start to realize The Project of “Establishing A Technical based Inscription Science and Archaeology Research Institute” which was prepared. Humanity waits the results of these technical measurements.            And We immediately need an “Archaeology and Natural History Musem” in Kadıköy Region.
              I am saying again “The world needs a New Renaissance.“
              With The Light of Knowledge..
                                                                                                        N.Derya Varol
                                                                                                  14th  of March, 2019                                     
                                                                                                                İstanbul

Eighteen rodent species are recognized from the Fitterer Ranch fauna of North Dakota on the basis of more than a thousand collected specimens. Of the species recognized, four are new: the prosciurine aplodontiids Prosciurus hogansoni and Altasciurus leonardi, the heliscomyid Heliscomys borealis, and the cricetid Eumys lammersi. A previously described castorid from this fauna, Oligotheriomys primus Korth, 1998, is considered a synonym of “Eutypomys” magnus Wood, 1937, on the basis of the recovery of lower dentitions but is retained in the genus Oligotheriomys. A single specimen is questionably referred to Microparamys, a genus elsewhere limited to the Eocene (Clarkforkian-Chadronian land mammal ages). The rodent fauna appears to be a combination of predominantly Orellan and Whitneyan species (early Oligocene), suggesting that the section might transcend the Orellan-Whitneyan boundary. However, the rodent fauna does not alter significantly from the lowest to the highest horizons.

Bison antiquus Leidy, 1852 was one of the largest and most widely distributed megafaunal species during the Late Pleistocene in North America, giving rise to the modern plains bison in the middle Holocene. Despite the importance of the ancient bison, little is known about its feeding ecology. We employed a combination of extended mesowear, and mesowear III to infer the dietary preference and habitat use of three Mexican samples of B. antiquus. These included two northern samples—La Piedad-Santa Ana and La Cinta-Portalitos—from the Transmexican Volcanic Belt morphotectonic Province, as well as one southern sample—Viko Vijin—from the Sierra Madre del Sur morphotectonic province. We found that the northern Mexican samples were primarily nonstrict grazers, whereas the southern sample displays a pattern consistent with mixed feeding habits. This suggests variability among the diets of the bison from these samples, caused by different paleoenvironments. This evidence complements the paleoenvironmental reconstructions in the studied localities; for the northern samples, open prairies composed of patches of woodland or shrubland and, for the southern locality, a fluvial floodplain with short-lived vegetation. In both scenarios, grasses (Poaceae) were nondominant. The dietary habits of our samples of ancient bison in Mexico are the southernmost dietary inference for the species in North America and expand our knowledge of the dietary habits of B. antiquus during the Late Pleistocene.

Now routine, increased conflict between academic and commercial palaeontologists is a fairly recent phenomenon. It is important to compare the history of the science with its modern treatment to determine how the relationships have become strained and for what motivation. A simple proposal for accountability provides a framework to ensure some minimum following of documentation and ethical standards in order to both improve work in palaeontology as well as reduce needless fingerpointing and blame. Without a concerted effort to work together better, chaos will reign, and chaos is what killed the dinosaurs, darling.

In a paleoepidemiological context, samples of enamel from hypoplasic teeth associated to the genus Toxodon Owen, 1840 are analyzed. The material, housed at the Museu Nacional/UFRJ, was collected in paleontological sites at Pernambuco, São Paulo e Rio Grande do Sul states. The applied methodology is adapted from that used by anthropologist to human dentition studies. Stress, associated with several individual health factor, is revealed by these bioindicators. A higher degree of stress is observed in Rio Grande do Sul material. It is inferred an ecological pressure caused by the glacial maximum, which probably affected most directly the brazilian south dweller animals.

Foram feitas análises da ocorrências hipoplasias de esmalte dentro de uma perspectiva paleoepidemiológica em restos dentários atribuídos a Toxodon Owen, 1840 na coleção do Museu Nacional/UFRJ, provenientes de diversos sítios paleontológicos (São Paulo, Pernambuco e Rio Grande do Sul). Estes bioindicadores revelam a existências de estresse, associados a diversos fatores relacionados a saúde do indivíduo. A metodologia aplicada neste trabalho, consiste em uma adaptação da metodologia aplicada em dentição humana que possibilitou inferir um maior grau de estresse no material do Rio Grande do Sul, o que nos faz acreditar em uma pressão ecológica causada pelo máximo glacial, que provavelmente afetou mais diretamente os animais localizados no sul do país.

Palaeontological material and sites have faced a variety of challenges in the last half century, often due to inadequate legislation from poorly informed legislators designed for very different objects. The most common problematic scenario is for material to be assessed on anthropocentric grounds that are more traditionally applied to archaeological and art objects as 'cultural', and are fundamentally ill-suited for palaeontology. This paper highlights some of the negative consequences of bad legislation in order to explain why it is a global problem that needs to be addressed by the international palaeontological community through direct engagement with legislative bodies.