Abstract
Several large mammal assemblages have been collected in the Roman basin since the XIX century, but they usually lack any stratigraphic datum or details about the fossiliferous localities. In this work, the stratigraphic provenance of large mammal remains discovered at Monte delle Piche (Rome) is investigated. The systematic revision of these specimens allows the recording of the presence of Hippopotamus sp., Stephanorhinus sp. and Stephanorhinus etruscus . On the basis of micropalaeontological analysis performed on sediment sampled from the studied speci-mens and considering the stratigraphy of the area, two fossiliferous levels are recognised at Monte delle Piche. The remain of the hippopotamus was collected in fluvial gravels and sand deposits, in which the presence of Cyprideis is also recorded. This deposit is chronologically related to the latest Early-early Middle Pleistocene. Hippopotamus was present in Italy and Western Europe from the latest Villafranchian to MIS 4/3. The mandible of S. etruscus was collected in marine deposits along with abundant foraminifera and ostracods, which corre-late with the late Early Pleistocene. Stephanorhinus etruscus occurred in Western Europe at the beginning of the Villafranchian, and it was documented until the end of the Villafranchian in Italy and until the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition in the Iberian Peninsula.
Highlights
Several mammal remains have been collected in the area of remains discovered at Monte delle Piche (Rome) since the beginning of the XIX century
The mammalian remains collected at Monte delle Piche are revisited in order to define their stratigraphic provenance and chronological position
Hippopotamus was present in Italy from the end of the Villafranchian to MIS 4/3. - The older level, in which S. etruscus is recorded, is attributed to the second half of the Early Pleistocene; this age is supported by foraminiferal data (Neogloboquadrina pachyderma sinistral coiling) and by the biochronology of the Etruscan rhino
Summary
The area of the Roman Basin (Rome, Central Italy) have been object of several investigations by Volcanologists, Geologists and Palaeontologists because the peculiarity of its rocks and the richness of late Early and Middle Pleistocene fossil assemblages (Ponzi, 1878; Meli, 1896; Portis, 1896; Conato et al, 1980; Esu, 1982; Caloi & Palombo, 1986, 1994; Kotsakis et al, 1992; De Rita et al, 1995; Marra & Rosa, 1995; Marra et al, 1995, 1998; Milli, 1997; Caloi et al, 1998; Capasso Barbato et al, 1998; Di Stefano et al, 1998; Petronio & Sardella, 1999; Karner et al, 2001; Milli & Palombo, 2005; Cosentino et al, 2009; Sottili et al, 2010 and references therein; Petronio et al, 2011 and references therein) This area is the result of several geological processes and is characterised by Plio-Pleistocene depositionary sequences usually covered by volcanoclastic deposits (Conato et al, 1980; Marra et al, 1995; Caloi et al, 1998; Karner et al, 2001). On the basis of the results of micropalaeontological analysis performed on a relatively small amount of sediment sampled from the studied specimens, the revised biochronology of large mammals and considering the stratigraphy of the area, the relative chronological position of the specimens is investigated
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