Poor State Of Preservation Research Articles

Middle Pleistocene teeth from Arbreda Cave (Serinyà, northeastern Iberian Peninsula).

We report the discovery and description of three human teeth from the Middle Paleolithic archaeological levels of Arbreda Cave (Serinyà, Catalonia, NE Iberian Peninsula). The teeth, two molars (one right dm2 and one right M2) from Level N (older than 120 kyr) and one P3 from Level J (dated between 71 and 44 kyr), were morphologically described based on microCT images and compared with Neanderthal and Homo sapiens specimens. The teeth belong to a minimum of three individuals: one adult and one infant from Level N and one juvenile from Level J. The premolar from Mousterian Level J, the best preserved of the three teeth, exhibits characteristics to those from our comparative sample of Homo neanderthalensis, such as the crown measurements, EDJ traits, enamel thickness and volume of the pulp cavity. In contrast to the clear Neanderthal characteristics observed in the P3 from Level J, the high degree of dental wear and poor state of preservation precludes definitive taxonomic designations of the two teeth from Level N. However, the crown dimensions and some tissue proportions are consistent with a probable assignation to Homo neanderthalensis. The teeth from Level N come from a context of long and recurrent occupations of the cave, whereas the archaeological context of the tooth from Level J is indicative of short and seasonal occupations of the cave, which may indicate a change in the lifestyle strategies of the last Neanderthals of the Iberian Peninsula.

Evaluation of the Preservation of Chitinozoans in a Case Study of the Katian?—Hirnantian Succession, Eastern Precordillera of Argentina

The poor preservation state of chitinozoans recovered from samples of the La Pola (Sandbian–Katian) and Don Braulio formations (Hirnantian-Llandovery), after being processed with standard methods, required significant modifications in processing. The sodium hexametaphosphate technique was used to avoid invasive mechanical procedures. Hence, more complete chitinozoans that preserved original features produced by biological, mechanical, and chemical degradation appeared. The processes that affected the good preservation of the chitinozoan exine are associated with factors inherent to the sedimentary environment, and biological and geological taphonomic effects that occurred in different regions of the Precordillera, added to the important associated tectonic activity. The thermal alteration was also an important factor in the fragile and brittle condition of the organic matter recovered. This transcends the preservation-processing technique relationship to be used. The results obtained from non-standard processing contribute to the paleoenvironmental interpretation of the Pola and Don Braulio successions, which are still widely discussed, and the determination of the most accurate age of the La Pola Formation. The latter will allow us to propose a biostratigraphic correlation between chitinozoan zones and graptolite zones, given the presence of both groups in the succession studied here, and to establish correlations with other successions in the Precordillera and elsewhere.

Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) bivalves from northwestern Algeria (Daïa and Nador mountains): Systematics and palaeobiogeography

The bivalve fauna of the Upper Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) successions belonging to the Daïa and Nador mountains (NW Algeria) is taxonomically described and figured. For the first time, sixteen bivalve taxa were identified, partly in open nomenclature because of their poor state of preservation. Most taxa are represented by internal casts. The fauna was collected from two different formations of the same age: the Dolomies de Tlemcen Formation in the Daïa Mountains and the Faïdja Formation in the Nador Mountains. The lithologic characteristics of these formations, together with their fossil content and taphonomic features, confirm that these localities are characterized by marine conditions. The north-western Algerian bivalve assemblage holds the largest portion of cosmopolitan species.

Evidence of theropod dinosaurs in the upper hauterivian–lower barremian of Jebel Kebar (central Tunisia): Paleobiogeographic implications

The fossil record of Mesozoic dinosaurs in Tunisia has long been thought to be restricted exclusively to the southern part of the country. Although tidal and continental environments have been recognized within Cretaceous formations in central Tunisia based on sedimentological analyses, no skeletal remains ascribable to dinosaurs have been found in these deposits. The hypothesis of a possible land connection between central and southern Tunisia during the Early Cretaceous has not been previously explored due to notable lateral variations in facies, marked by the recurrent occurrence of shallow marine deposits separating these domains. The vertebrate ichnological record in the Central Tunisian Atlas was limited to isolated tridactyl footprints exclusively observed in the Albian Kebar Formation. Here, we report the first dinosaur tracks from the pre-Albian Cretaceous (upper Hauterivian–lower Barremian) of central Tunisia. These tracks consist of large tridactyl footprints left behind by medium to large-sized non-avian theropods. They occur within an extensively fractured dolostone bed and exhibit poor morphological preservation. Besides their dimensions, some tracks show morphological features, including broad digit impressions with some terminating in sharp claw traces, low to moderate mesaxony, and a wide divarication angle of the outer digits, reminiscent of the ichnogenus Megalosauripus. However, due to their poor state of preservation and limited number, we refrain from assigning these tracks to the ichnogeneric level and refer to them as indeterminate eubrontid footprints. The occurrence of theropod tracks in the Lower Cretaceous of central Tunisia confirms the sedimentology-based hypotheses about a temporal emergence of parts of this area, which was probably related to tectonic events. We compile previous biostratigraphic, sedimentological, and paleoichnological data to suggest possible periodic connections between the mainland in the south and the tidal flat environments within the central basins. Additionally, two possible scenarios regarding the biogeographic implications of the Jebel Kebar tracks are discussed. The first scenario suggests that a Gondwanan theropod fauna would have been exploring and residing in newly emerged regions of higher latitudes, whereas the alternative scenario posits the existence of a paleogeographic link between the northern margin of Gondwana and Adria, which would have allowed an interchange of theropod faunas between the two landmasses at least in the early Barremian.

Ozdoby z gravettienské lokality Krems-Wachtberg v chronologickém a technologicko-kulturním kontextu

Adornments such as pendants, beads, and other perforated objects are an important finds category in Upper Paleolithic sites. Raw materials, production technology, and use-wear can tell us much about the objects and technocultural context of their carriers. Excavations from 2005–2015 at the Gravettian (Pavlovian) site of Krems-Wachtberg provided 110 objects which can be interpreted as adornments. They consist of mammoth ivory beads and pins, perforated canine teeth and molluscs, and fossil Serpulidae. More than half of these objects were found in the context of a double burial of infants. A recently conducted investigation describes all adornments and places them into a chronological and technological context. Analyses of all objects in this study were carried out using a Keyence VHX 7000 stereomicroscope. Micro photos were produced for all objects and allowed a wide range of measurements which would otherwise not have been possible to make considering the objects’ poor state of preservation. The produced micro photos will allow for additional non-destructive morphological analyses in the future. Information concerning the preservation of the raw material, use-wear, traces of production, method of perforation, fire exposure, and residues were collected in a database. The 53 mammoth ivory beads found in the double burial in particular allowed not only for reconstructing a chaîne opératoire for the manufacture, but provided interesting information regarding the objects’ lifecycle. Polishing on the bridges of some of the pendants’ perforations, presumably caused by a thread, and the location of the polished areas in relation to their positions show that some beads had already been worn before being deposited in the burial. This suggests that they were not explicitly made for the infants’ burial as previously suggested.

Redescription of Hatschekia exigua Pearse, 1951 (Copepoda: Hatschekiidae), parasitic on the Squirrelfish Holocentrus adscensionis (Osbeck, 1765) (Actinopterygii: Holocentridae) off Ceará, Northeastern Brazil, with first description of the male.

The original description of Hatschekia exigua Pearse, 1951 neglected innumerous features of taxonomic value as well as morphometric data and illustrations. Posteriorly, other author tried to access the type material, but their poor state of preservation compromised a detailed redescription. Since then, this species is in need for new morphological data, mainly from fresh material. In the present work, three specimens of Holocentrus adscensionis from Mucuripe Bay, Fortaleza, State of Ceará, Northeastern Brazil, were parasitized by copepods on their gills. Parasites were fixed and preserved in 80% ethanol and cleared in 85% lactic acid for morphological observations using light microscopy. The females were identified as Hatschekia exigua by the cephalothorax representing about one-fourth of total body length, with lateral margins expanded into lateral lobes, first exopod with basal segment armed with one outer setae and terminal segment with three setae, first endopod with basal segment unarmed and terminal segment with five setae, leg 3 reduced to two setae and leg 4 reduced to single seta. Comparison with the type series revealed morphological differences in trunk and small appendages, which may be related to alterations in the specimens, caused by the mounting methodology and poor preservation. A detailed morphological analysis of the male revealedfor the first time that they differ from their closest congeners by having five setae on the last endopodal segment of leg 1, by smooth intercoxal sclerites on legs 1 and 2and by a proximolateral process on the third segment of antenna. Moreover, this work represents the first report of H. exigua in Brazil and the first hatschekiid copepod found off the coast of Ceará, highlighting that the diversity of Hatschekiidae in this oceanographic region still needs further investigation.

OF HIS BONES ARE CRINOID MADE: TAPHONOMY AND DEADFALL ECOLOGY OF MARINE REPTILES FROM A PELAGIC SETTING (MIDDLE-UPPER JURASSIC OF NORTHEASTERN ITALY)

Modern cetaceans are considered the best anatomical and ecological analogue for many Mesozoic secondary aquatic reptiles. Such similarities extend also after the death of these phylogenetically distant amniotes, when the sinking and decomposition of large carcasses in marine environments (deadfalls) follow common biostratinomic processes. Most taphonomic studies on Mesozoic deadfalls have been limited to shallow-water settings, often neglecting deeper waters. Here we provide a detailed taphonomic survey of ichthyosaurs, pliosaurs and metriorhynchoids from the pelagic Middle-Upper Jurassic Rosso Ammonitico Veronese (RAV) of northeastern Italy. Our taphonomic revision of the RAV tetrapod record highlights a common poor state of preservation of the bones, often associated with abundant macrofossils, consistent with a prolonged exposure of carcasses on a well-oxygenated seafloor. For the first time we confirm the role of nautiloids as active mobile scavengers by means of tens of beak elements found closely associated with, or even piercing, the bones. Hexanchiform shark teeth are also found associated with the carcasses, supporting a distinctive deep-water mobile scavenging community. Echinoids, sponges and other bioeroders are identified as representative of the enrichment-opportunist stage, and a high concentration of belemnites is believed to be indicative of mass-spawning deaths in the surroundings of the carcasses. Abundant crinoids are recognized as part of the reef stage by colonization of the eroded bones. While some of our data deviate from previous Mesozoic reptile-falls from shallow-waters, they are consistent with findings at Recent whale-falls in bathyal zones, and overall represent a precious window into the complex ecology of Jurassic open seas.

The Positive Identification of Skeletal Remains from the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Přeštice: a Case Study

The reconstruction and subsequent rescue archaeological excavation in the baroque chapel of St Barbara in the Church of the Assumption of the Virgin Mary in Přeštice has resulted in the discovery of one atypical burial in a small bricked vault. The vault contained skeletal remains in a very poor state of preservation. The discovery of the skeletal remains in the chapel was unexpected given the absence of any signs of a grave being present. In this article we describe the attempt to identify the person to whom the skeletal remains belong. Based on anthropological analysis, these remains were interpreted as probably female over 50 years of age. By combining archaeological context, anthropological analysis and historical sources, the skeleton was interpreted as the remains of Marie Anna Lindauer, a resident of Pilsen and the mother of Josef Ondřej Lindauer, the dean in Přeštice and the bishop in Budweis.

A new and ‘riveting’ method: Micro-CT scanning for the documentation, conservation, and reconstruction of the Gjellestad ship

The cultural heritage sector has increasingly explored the use of micro-CT (µCT) across numerous projects seeking to better understand past cultures and the materials they have left behind. As such, the role of micro-CT (µCT) is still being developed and projects continue to show novel ways that the technology can be adapted to. The Gjellestad ship, located in Halden (Østfold in Viken), Norway, is dated to the Viking Age and was found in a poor state of preservation. Both organic and metallic materials were deteriorated to the degree that standard excavation methods would have resulted in further damage to, or even the destruction of, these elements. A new approach was needed, and this presented an opportunity to explore the use for µCT as a documentative tool for field archaeology and conservation. As the remaining rivets were too fragile to handle directly, they were removed together with the surrounding matrix as soil blocks. To retain important stratigraphic and position information, a georeferencing system was developed that would be visible to µCT and included within each soil block. This enabled the spatial (re)positioning of the soil blocks by use of 3D GIS and in alongside with other spatial documentation gathered at the time of excavation. The quantity of soil blocks will give us a large dataset to work with and, although we continue to document the soil blocks with µCT, we now can discuss our preliminary results pertaining to the positive impact that µCT has for the documentation, conservation, and reconstruction of cultural heritage.

Could facing techniques be compatible with optimal bone preservation surface?

Bone usually requires conservation treatment during excavation. Some of the most common interventions are facing techniques to reinforce the specimens during their extraction in the field. This consists of the attachment of a fine tissue with a reversible adhesive, usually an acrylic resin, directly over the surface of the specimen. This interacts directly with the surface, which might link to the loss of bone surface information. This experiment focuses on the possible modifications that facing techniques could cause on bone surfaces with cut marks. Experimental bones with cut marks were artificially aged to reproduce the decayed process of archaeological bones. Different groups of bone samples were faced and exposed in two contexts for one year: indoors and outdoors. Bone surface and cut marks were documented before and after the facing and storing phases with 3D Digital Microscopy. In the indoor bones, cut marks show abundant traces of resin. Conversely, bones preserved in an outdoor environment displayed a high modification of their colour and an extremely poor state of preservation. Some cut marks disappeared completely or partially. Visual comparison allowed us to evaluate possible loss of archaeological information produced by the treatments. Facing techniques should be carefully monitored to guarantee its short-term contact with the bone surface and avoid these modifications.

THE STONE ROOF OF THE THOLOS OF ATHENA PRONAIA IN DELPHI: STRUCTURAL HYPOTHESES STARTING FROM FRAGMENTS OF MARBLE TILES

Abstract. This contribution is the first step of a multi-disciplinary research project, aimed at studying the roof of the tholos of Athena Pronaia in Delphi, dating back to the first decades of the 4th century BC. The starting point of this research is the fascination exerted by the tectonic quality of the temple, comprising some complex fragments of marble tiles belonging to the roof of the tholos. Despite the number of studies on this sanctuary, the poor state of preservation and lack of original material did not allow archaeologists to perform concluding research on its original configuration, in particular with reference to the reconstruction of the roof. Aware of the complexity of this topic, this contribution aims at exploring two possibilities, namely, on the one hand, that the fragments of tiles constitute elements supported by a wooden structure, and on the other hand, that they are structural elements of a stone system subjected to compressive stresses. Our contribution intends to serve as food for thought on the need for archaeological studies to be accompanied not only by advanced surveys in the field, aimed at the precise definition of the geometry of the finds, but also by architectural and structural investigations which make it possible to verify the feasibility of the hypothetical reconstructions of the architectural elements aware of the construction techniques used in the past.

Analysis of the Technical Condition of a Late 19th Century Public Building in Łódź

Heritage building structures in many situations contribute unique value to national cultural heritage. In engineering practice, monitoring of historic structures includes visual assessment. This article assesses the condition of the concrete in one of the most recognizable buildings in Łódź, the former German Reformed Gymnasium, located at Tadeusza Kościuszki Avenue. The paper reports a visual assessment of the structure and the degree of technical wear affecting selected structural components of the building. A historical analysis of the building's state of preservation, characterization of the structural system, and an assessment of the condition of the floor-slab concrete were carried out. The state of preservation of the eastern and southern facades of the building was found to be satisfactory, while on the western side (with the courtyard) the facade is in a poor state of preservation. Tests were also conducted out on concrete samples taken from individual ceilings. The concrete cores were tested for compressive strength, water absorption, density, porosity, and carbonation depth. Corrosion processes including the degree of carbonization and the phase composition of the concrete were identified by X-ray diffraction. The results are indicative of the high quality of the concrete produced more than 100 years ago.

The Ancient Near East: History, Texts, etc

The Ancient Near East:History, Texts, etc Christopher T. Begg and Isaac M. Alderman 31. [The Stela of Lady T-rp(yt)] Abdelrahman Ali Abdelrahman, "The Stela of Lady T-rp(yt) in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo," AO 39 (2, 2021) 161-66. This article studies the stela of a woman named Ta-repit, which is now housed in the basement of the Egyptian Museum in Cairo. I provide a brief description of the scene depicted on the upper part of the stela and then present a transliteration and translation of the hieroglyphic inscriptions on its lower part. I conclude with some philological comments, including a proposed emendation of the name of the mother of the owner of the stela. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 32. [A "Literary" Fragment from the Istanbul Sippar Archive] Selim Ferruh Adali and Eckart Frahm, "The Slave-Girl's Child: A 'Literary' Fragment from the Istanbul Sippar Archive," AO 39 (1, 2021) 5-17. In this article, we publish a fragmentary clay tablet from the Sippar Collection in the Cuneiform Tablets Archive of the Istanbul Archaeological Museums, inventoried under the museum number Si 735. The tablet seems to record, in literary language, the ruminations of a man about a female slave who had given birth to his son. Due, however, to the tablet's poor state of preservation, many aspects of this unusual text remain unclear. After introductory remarks on the nature of the tablet and a brief discussion of the above-cited "Sippar Collection," we provide an edition of the text, together with notes on its orthography, language, structure, and genre, as well as a philological commentary. [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 33. [Charles Clermont-Ganneau and the Mesha Stela] Isabel Bonora Andijar, "Charles Clermont-Ganneau et la redécouverte de la stèle de Mésha," Stèle de Mésha/Mescha-Stele, 97-138 [see #922]. A.'s historical study complements that of S. Willert (see #93) concerning the tangled story of how the Mesha Stela made its way from Dibon in ancient Moab, where it had stood for some two and a half-millennia, to its current resting place in the Louvre during the years 1868–1873. Basing herself on the archives of several Parisian institutions, A. highlights the involvement of the French consular official and epigraphist Charles Clermont-Ganneau (1846–1923) in this process, first in acquiring the pieces of the stone which had been smashed by Bedouins shortly after its discovery in situ by A. F. Klein and selling these to the Louvre and then working himself at the Louvre on the reconstruction of the stela (a project he brought to successful completion in 1875) on the basis of drawings and a tracing of the still intact artifact which he had commissioned several Arab workers to carry out prior to its destruction.—C.T.B. 34. [Babylonian Bird Omen Collections, Astral Observations and the Manzāzu] Netanel Anor and Yoram Cohen, "Bird in the Sky—Babylonian Bird Omen Collections, Astral Observations, and the Manzāzu," Revue d'assyriologie et de'archéologie orientale 115 (2021) 51-80. The purpose of our paper is to discuss Babylonian bird omen collections in order to determine how a sacrificial bird's outer physical organs might have been interpreted by the diviner as signs of potential celestial events. On this basis, we argue that the well-known term manzāzu refers to the concrete appearance of a deity as an astral body during the [End Page 10] course of an extispicy ritual. Our discussion concludes with a full edition of a bird omen compendium (YOS 10.51, YOS 10.52, and J. Nougayrol, 1967). [Adapted from published abstract—C.T.B.] 35. [The Late Babylonian Medical Compendium Tablet, BM 32277+] András Bácskay, "Medical Treatments against Respiratory Diseases, Ear Complaints and Migraine: An Edition of a Late Babylonian Medical Compendium Tablet, BM 32277+," Revue d'assyriologie et d'archéologie orientale 115 (2021) 159-74. My paper presents an edition and analysis of a previously unpublished Late Babylonian medical tablet from...

Degradation Mechanism of a Sauce-Glazed Ware of the Song Dynasty Salvaged out of the Water at Dalian Island Wharf: Part I-The Effect of the Surface-Attached Composite Coagula.

Dalian Island is located in the sea area near Pingtan County, Fujian, Southeast China. The sea area used to be the junction of the eastern and western ship routes on the Maritime Silk Road, and is also an important region for underwater archaeology in China. This study focused on a sauce-glazed ware of the Song Dynasty, with serious degradation, which was salvaged out of the water at the Dalian Island Wharf. Optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and micro-Raman spectroscopy were used to comprehensively analyze the composition, phase attributes and microstructure of the ware and the surface-attached coagula. The findings revealed that the sea wave-borne debris scoured the surface of the ware, causing mechanical damage to varying degrees and a significant decrease in its degradation resistance. This was the primary factor accounting for the poor preservation state of the salvaged ceramic ware, and the precondition for the subsequent attachment of marine organisms and the deposition of inorganic pollutants. The calcareous skeletons formed on the surface induced by the bio-mineralization of coralline algae (a type of marine plant) could resist the mechanical action caused by the motion of sea waves, thereby slowing down the ware's degradation process. In other words, the calcareous skeletons played a 'bio-protective' role to a certain degree. In addition, inorganic pollutants represented by iron rusts also participated in the corrosion of the glaze. Some pollutants were directly deposited on the pits and cracks on the surface of the ware, which brought stress to the glaze and glaze/body interface, causing the glaze to further crack and spall. Moreover, iron rusts reacted with the glaze, leading to chemical alteration, accompanied by the formation of iron silicate as the alteration product. Anorthite crystals in the interlayer did not participate in the reaction but remained at the original position. The alteration product gradually replaced the original glass phase of the glaze and entered into the body via pores and cracks. In conclusion, the complex degradation morphology of the salvaged sauce-glazed ware could be attributed to the combined action of mechanical damage, marine bio-fouling, and chemical alteration.

Authentication of a Stradivarius “Petite Violin” Type from 1723

By correlating the structural–functional dimensional data with a series of archaeometric and chemometric characteristics determined by dendrochronological analysis and by three instrumental techniques (Scanning Electronic Microscopy, coupled with Energy Dispersive X-ray, µ-FTIR Spectroscopy and Thermal Analysis in Dynamic Mode), a Stradivarius violin was authenticated as having been made by one of the two Stradivari sons (Francesco or Omobono) in 1723. It should be noted that the “petite” type violin, which comes from a private collection and was recently purchased on the open market, has the original label and is in a poor preservation state. There is only one revarnishing intervention on the violin, and it is older than 80 years. There have been several attempts at sampling (all of which are under 30 years old) for the wooden support and varnish (from the top cover of the resonance box), but the existence of some analysis results is unknown. The dimensional characteristics of the structural–functional components place the violin in “petite violins”, and it is one of the more than 40 still preserved as an authentic artifact.

Origins of the Spherical Earth in Ancient Greek Cosmology

Diogenes Laertius ascribes the first concept of spherical Earth to both Pythagoras and Parmenides. Indeed, a major shift in cosmologies—emergence of the spherical conception of the Earth and the surrounding heaven—took place between the sixth and fifth centuries BCE. Given the poor state of preservation of early Pythagorean tradition, it is argued that primacy in formulating the notion of spherical Earth should be ascribed to Parmenides.

Pottery Firing in the Early Iron Age in Western Slovenia

The article discusses the possible use of kilns for the firing of pottery in western Slovenia during the Early Iron Age. In the absence of archaeologically attested kilns, their use in this area is studied based on indirect factors, i.e. the analysis of the vessel firing technique, and with the help of experiments from the field of experimental archaeology. The article strives to determine the reasons for the poor state of preservation of the kilns in the area in question. Samples from archaeological experiments and archaeological pottery were subjected to AMS measurements, petrographic and mineralogical analyses (X-ray diffraction), which revealed the importance of considering the soaking time as a criterion for observing the firing processes and use of single-chamber kilns for the firing of pottery, even if they have not yet been discovered.

Letters from Ptolemy VIII, Cleopatra II, and Cleopatra III Concerning the Gymnasium of Omboi

In 135 BC, the gymnasium of Omboi (Upper Egypt) issued a decree immortalising on stone the correspondence concerning some philanthropa bestowed by Ptolemy VIII, Cleopatra II, and Cleopatra III. Only a few years later, the dossier was defaced and the royal names were erased (damnatio memoriae) except for that of Cleopatra II. The inscription has thus been interpreted as an epigraphic evidence of the civil war between Ptolemy VIII, flanked by Cleopatra III, and Cleopatra II. In spite of its poor state of preservation, the Omboi dossier allows some useful considerations on its vicissitudes, along with some further restorations.

Quaternary volcanism in the Yura Monogenetic Field near Arequipa city, southern Peru

Arequipa (Peru) is an area where volcanic activity has been persistent during the Quaternary. Studies carried out in this area have highlighted the emplacement of ignimbrite deposits, large volcanic clusters and stratovolcanoes. Monogenetic volcanism is also present, although poorly explored and studied. Due to its location over an ignimbrite plain and poor state of preservation, the only identified monogenetic cone in the Arequipa basin was the Nicholson volcano, while other monogenetic centers remained unknown. This lack of information about the recent volcanism can lead to inadequate definition of scenarios in a hazard assessment in the region. The present study has investigated monogenetic volcanism in the northwestern edge of the Arequipa basin based on geological survey, geochronology and geochemical data. Here, we report for the first time five small volcanic centers such as Yura Viejo, Ccapua, Uyupampa, El Chiral and Patacocha, which together with the Nicholson volcano form the Yura Monogenetic Field. Stratigraphic considerations and new 40Ar/39Ar ages allow us to place the eruptive activity in the Middle–Upper Pleistocene (c. 195–54 ka). Phreatomagmatic, Strombolian and effusive eruptions characterize the monogenetic activity of the field. As a result of these eruptions, small scoria cones, maars, and lava flows/coulées were generated. The eruptive products show ubiquitous olivine phenocryst-rich (<10 vol%) set in a fine pilotaxitic groundmass, suggesting rapid ascent of basaltic magmas to the surface controlled by the tectonic setting. The analyzed rocks lie in a narrow range of basaltic-andesite composition (50.9–55.6 wt% SiO2) being the most mafic Pleistocene - Recent volcanic products identified in the Arequipa basin, along with the least differentiated magmas from the nearby Chachani volcanic cluster. This work shows how monogenetic volcanism can occur contemporaneous and closely spaced to larger volcanic clusters and active stratovolcanoes. We hope the information provided here will contribute to improve the risk management by highlighting the scenario of monogenetic eruptions that should be considered in the hazard assessment.

Strontium isotope stratigraphy of late Cenozoic fossiliferous marine deposits in North Borneo (Brunei, and Sarawak, Malaysia)

• Sr-isotope stratigraphy of fossiliferous marine deposits in northern Borneo. • Burdigalian to Tortanian ages revealed for thirteen fossil-rich shallow marine deposits. • Origin of reworked specimens could be traced by the obtained SIS ages. • Trace element and stable isotope chemistry of the well-preserved shells can be linked to habitat-conditions. • Altered and recrystallized specimens helped tracing diagenetic pathways. Neogene marine deposits of North Borneo are locally very rich in fossils that provide glimpses into the past biodiversity. However, dating these onshore sediments with biostratigraphy is often hampered by the lack and/or the poor preservation state of index fossils. Therefore, the fossiliferous sites were targeted with strontium isotope stratigraphy (SIS) to obtain higher precision relative dating. Well-preserved macrofossils were screened using a multidisciplinary approach, and 87 Sr/ 86 Sr ratios of the most pristine remains were used to date the embedding sediments. Most of the measured ages fall in the expected chronostratigraphic framework established by large scale studies for the region. The oldest, Burdigalian (early Miocene) ages were measured for the Sibuti Formation in Sarawak (17.71 ± 0.2My and 16.7 ± 0.2My) followed by a Serravallian (middle Miocene) age within the Belait Fm in Brunei (12.1 + 1.4/-1.2My). Eight localities from the younger units, the Miri and Seria formations in Brunei, gave a range in age from 10.5 ± 1 to 7.0 + 0.9/-0.5My (Tortonian-Messinian). Reworked fossil assemblages from Tutong beach were also investigated and the SIS ages of Late Miocene support an origin from the younger part of the Seria Fm. One locality, in Lumapas where limestone crops out in Brunei, gave an unexpected younger age (Tortonian, late Miocene, 10.6 ± 1My) compared to estimates projected for its assumed stratigraphic position in the lower Belait Formation (late Burdigalian). These challenging data require more research, yet if the young age is accepted, the stratigraphic situation of the limestone needs further revision.