Underwater Archaeology in Colombia: Between Commercial Salvage and Science

International Journal of Historical Archaeology - This article summarizes the progress and current state of underwater archaeology in Colombia over the past three decades. It also presents the...     

Defining and Characterising Clusters in Palaeolithic Sites: a Review of Methods and Constraints

Journal of Archaeological Method and Theory - Spatial analysis studies in Palaeolithic archaeology arise as indispensable research tools for understanding archaeopalaeontological sites. In general...     

Late Miocene continental birds from the Cerro Azul Formation in the Pampean region (central-southern Argentina)

Cenizo, M.M., Tambussi, C.P. & Montalvo, C.I., iFirst Article. Late Miocene continental birds from the Cerro Azul Formation in the Pampean region (central-southern Argentina). Alcheringa, 1–22. ISSN 0311-5518.

The oldest known birds from the Cerro Azul Formation are described, including the oldest records for the genera Eudromia and Nothura (Tinamidae), Milvago (Falconidae), Pterocnemia (Rheidae) and an undetermined Tyrannidae. The first remains of Phorusrhacidae for this formation are reported and a specimen previously referred to the giant teratorn Argentavis magnificens is reassigned to this family. We outline and update the current knowledge of the groups studied herein. The palaeornithological record from the Cerro Azul Formation is congruent with palaeoenvironmental inferences previously drawn from mammalian assemblages recovered from this unit, which point to the existence of open environments, possibly xerophyllous shrubby steppes, perhaps with some trees. These records are the first indications of a typically Pampean bird fauna at the end of the late Miocene in central-southern Argentina.     

Elchaxylon,a new corystosperm based on permineralized stems from the Late Triassic of Argentina

Artabe, A.E. & Zamuner, A.B., March 2007. Elchaxylon, a new corystosperm based on permineralized stems from the Late Triassic of Argentina. Alcheringa 31, 85‐96. ISSN 0311-5518.

Anatomically preserved stems of Late Triassic corystosperms from the Río Blanco Formation of Argentina are described and assigned to Elchaxylon zavattieriae gen. et sp. nov. The polyxylic gymnospermous axes have two discontinuous cambial rings, which develop centrifugal secondary xylem and centripetal secondary xylem around the mesarch primary xylem bundles. The centrifugal undivided pycnoxylic secondary xylem incorporates uniseriate rays, uni- to biseriate radial pitting either alternate or opposite, and one or two simple pits in each cross-field. Atypical secondary growth is restricted to localized development of centripetal secondary xylem (inverted xylem). Elchaxylon could represent a basal member of the rhexoxyloid lineage. This basal clade is characterized by limited centripetal secondary xylem, lack of perimedullar bundles, and modest development of centrifugal xylem.

Analia E. Artabe [aeartabe@museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar] and Alba B. Zamuner [azamuer@museo.fcnym.unlp.edu.ar]. División Paleobotánica, Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Paseo del Bosque SN, 1900 La Plata, Argentina and Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; received 20.5.2005, revised and accepted 14.9.2005.     

Palaeontology of the Cerros Bayos section,Roca Formation (Danian), La Pampa Province,Argentina

Palynofloras from an outlier of Tertiary sediments in the One Tree Hill area north of Adelaide are nonmarine and correlate with similar assemblages from Middle Eocene North Maslin Sands from Maslin Bay and Golden Grove. Although there are similarities with time-equivalent Lower Nothofagidites asperus Zone palynofloras in the Gippsland Basin, a number of species in the South Australian palynofloras do not extend below the Late Eocene in the Gippsland sequences. This indicates earlier appearances for these species in southcentral Australia. The sediments overlie a highly weathered bedrock palaeosurface, indicating that a phase of significant weathering occurred prior to the Middle Eocene. A number of selected taxa are illustrated and their distribution in the palynofloras is discussed. Two new species, Proteacidites mildenhallii and Proteacidites parrawirrensis, are described and one species, Rhoipites byfieldensis, is emended.     

The early bivalve radiation in the Ordovician Gondwanan basins of Argentina

The Ordovician diversification is marked by an increase in both marine diversity and ecospace occupation. Bivalves, like other groups, underwent a remarkable diversification in the Early Ordovician. The early phases of such a bivalve diversification took place in the Gondwanan basins of western Argentina. In the Northwestern Argentina (NWA) Basin, three clades originated during late Tremadocian–Floian times. In the Floian successions of the Famatina Basin, a probable basal arcoid is recorded. Genera from these two basins belong to 13 families. Phylogenetic analysis of the NWA heteroconchian bivalves indicates that redoniids and coxiconchinids may have originated during this radiation event. This taxonomic radiation also implies an ecological diversification. Ten guilds are recognized on the basis of bauplan, mode of life, and feeding types. Lifestyles included free endofaunal, free semi-endofaunal, semi-endobyssate, and epibyssate; feeding types included suspensivorous and detritivorous habits. Physiological changes imposed by colonization of low-salinity environments also account for guild definitions. Recent discoveries of Tremadoc to early Darriwilian bivalves from the NWA and Famatina basins indicate that the dominance of higher groups (e.g. Heteroconchia, Pteriomorphia) deviates from the patterns evident in other Gondwanan basins. This agrees with previous ideas supporting the importance of local radiations during the Ordovician diversification. Two new taxa are described, Eoredonia orientalis gen. et sp. nov. and Babinka notica sp. nov., and Coxiconchia sellaensis Sánchez & Babin is first reported from the NWA Basin.     

First soft-bodied fossil from the Ordovician of Peru

Konservat-Lagerstätten are a source of insurmountable information on the diversity of fossil assemblages during the lower Palaeozoic. Soft-bodied fossils are especially rare in South America, but a new locality has been discovered from the Middle Ordovician of Peru that has produced the fairly well-preserved possible palaeoscolecidan Juninscolex ingemmetianum gen. et sp. nov. The distinctive characteristics of this worm make it similar to European taxa within the group.     

First fossil pollen record of the Northern Hemisphere species Aglaoreidia cyclops Erdtman, 1960 in Australia

Sánchez Botero, C.A., Oboh-Ikuenobe, F.E. & Macphail, M.K., 2013. First fossil pollen record of the Northern Hemisphere species Aglaoreidia cyclops Erdtman, 1960 in Australia. Alcheringa 37, 1–5. ISSN 0311-5518.

Aglaoreidia cyclops Erdtman, 1960 is a fossil pollen species associated with upper Eocene to lower Oligocene freshwater deposits in Europe and North America. Specimens preserved in upper Eocene lignites near Norseman, Western Australia, are the first record of this Northern Hemisphere species both in Australia and the Southern Hemisphere. This new report widens the biogeographic distribution originally considered for this species. The stratigraphical and environmental characteristics of A. cyclops also make it an excellent stratigraphic indicator of upper Eocene freshwater deposits in Western Australia.

Carlos A. Sánchez Botero [casmwc@mail.mst.edu], Francisca E. Oboh-Ikuenobe [ikuenobe@mst.edu] Department of Geological Sciences and Engineering, Missouri University of Science and Technology, 129 McNutt Hall, Rolla, MO 65409, USA; Mike Macphail [mike.macphail@anu.edu.au] Department of Archaeology and Natural History, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia. Received 12.10.2012; revised 6.3.2013; accepted 7.3.2013.