Quaternary

24 pages, 23809 KB

Open AccessArticle

Archeometrical Study of a Mural Painting in the a fresco Technique Discovered in Tomis (Constanța, Romania): Applicability in the Conservation and Restoration Process

by Romeo Gheorghiță, Aurel Mototolea, Irina Sodoleanu, Gheorghe Niculescu, Zizi-Ileana Baltă, Corina Ițcuș and Margareta-Simina Stanc

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 29; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020029 - 3 Apr 2026

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Abstract

The main objective of the present study is to reveal the palette of pigments and the other specific constituent materials as well as the techniques used by the Roman artists to create the mural paintings discovered in the ancient city of Tomis, [...] Read more.

The main objective of the present study is to reveal the palette of pigments and the other specific constituent materials as well as the techniques used by the Roman artists to create the mural paintings discovered in the ancient city of Tomis, the modern-day Constanţa, Romania’s largest seaport and a major tourist hub on the Black Sea. This paper is an archeometric study based on the physical, chemical and biological analyses of the archeological Roman mural painting fragments from the ancient city of Tomis dating from the 5th to 6th century A.D. and to our knowledge is among the very few research studies carried out so far on the ancient Roman wall painting discovered in Romania. The methods of scientific investigation employed directly on the archeological fragments, on samples taken from the fragments and on the cross-sections prepared from the samples were: optical microscopy (OM), digital microscopy, X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) and attenuated total reflectance Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR). Examination and analysis of the archeological mural fragments revealed that the painted fragments consist of ground support and successive layers of color displaying specific characteristics of the artistic technique, such as imitation of marble cladding or meticulous smoothing of the surface to achieve a glossy and compact finish. It was also found that fragments exhibit subtle variations in different colors, identified in general terms, showing seven color tones: cinnabar red, red-violet, red ochre, yellow ochre, white, gray-blue, gray-black and black. The physical–chemical and biological analyses carried out provide the diagnosis and theoretical basis for choosing an appropriate conservation methodology and the correct restoration treatment of the discovered mural painting, with a view to its museum display through exhibition and virtual reconstruction and scientific use by the setting up of a useful database for researchers or specialists in museums on Roman archeology and art. Full article

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16 pages, 4513 KB

Open AccessArticle

Modern Pollen Rain and Present-Day Vegetation Along an Altitudinal Transect in the Rarău Massif (Eastern Carpathians, Romania)

by Mihaela Danu, Diana Istrate, Marcel Mîndrescu, Florentina Șchiopu, Alina Georgiana Cîșlariu and Ciprian Claudiu Mânzu

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 28; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020028 - 2 Apr 2026

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Abstract

Modern pollen rain studies provide essential calibration for interpreting fossil pollen records, particularly in montane environments. This study explores pollen–vegetation relationships along an altitudinal transect in the Rarău Massif (Eastern Carpathians, Romania). Eight moss cushion samples collected between 1215 and 1619 m a.s.l. [...] Read more.

Modern pollen rain studies provide essential calibration for interpreting fossil pollen records, particularly in montane environments. This study explores pollen–vegetation relationships along an altitudinal transect in the Rarău Massif (Eastern Carpathians, Romania). Eight moss cushion samples collected between 1215 and 1619 m a.s.l. were analysed palynologically and compared with eight paired vegetation surveys. Multivariate analyses, including hierarchical clustering, Mantel tests, NMDS, and Procrustes analysis, were applied to evaluate floristic and palynological similarity in relation to altitude. Pollen spectra are dominated by Picea, reflecting the prevalence of spruce forests characteristic of the montane belt, while Abies and Pinus occur in lower proportions, indicating a secondary role. Broad-leaved taxa such as Fagus, Betula, and Alnus complement the arboreal pollen signal, whereas thermophilous taxa Quercus and Tilia represent extra-local pollen input from lower altitudes. Herbaceous and shrub taxa are generally underrepresented in the pollen record relative to field observations. Pollen taxa associated with anthropogenic disturbance (Plantago, Rumex, Artemisia and Urtica) show a constant presence, which may suggest localized human influence likely linked to grazing and tourism. Statistical results show weak and non-significant correlations between pollen composition, vegetation structure, and altitude. Overall, modern pollen rain reflects the dominant vegetation structure of the studied montane belt but shows limited fidelity at the local floristic scale. Full article

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4 pages, 2440 KB

Open AccessCorrection

Correction: Korpershoek et al. Old and New Approaches in Rock Art: Using Animal Motifs to Identify Palaeohabitats. Quaternary 2024, 7, 48

by Mirte Korpershoek, Sally C. Reynolds, Marcin Budka and Philip Riris

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 27; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020027 - 30 Mar 2026

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Abstract

The figures in the original publication are adaptations of rock art motifs, and the sources of the original photographs were cited in the description of each figure [...] Full article

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23 pages, 41734 KB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating Paleoclimate Evolution of Alluvial Plain Using Sediment Grain Size Analysis: A Case Study of the Pleistocene Western Songnen Plain in China

by Xinrong Zhang, Yan Gong, Fanpeng Kong, Jian Zhao, Changli Ai, Yandong Pei and Jinbao He

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 26; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020026 - 19 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Alluvial plains in the marginal zone of the monsoon system are sensitive to the climate–hydrology interaction. However, long term, high-resolution sedimentary records remain scarce in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China. This limited our understanding of the paleoclimate–paleohydrology coupling evolution over glacial–interglacial cycles. [...] Read more.

Alluvial plains in the marginal zone of the monsoon system are sensitive to the climate–hydrology interaction. However, long term, high-resolution sedimentary records remain scarce in the Songnen Plain of Northeast China. This limited our understanding of the paleoclimate–paleohydrology coupling evolution over glacial–interglacial cycles. A 50.6 m continuous core was retrieved from the western Songnen Plain. The age–depth model and wavelet transform spectrum showed sedimentary continuity from ~885 ka B.P. (the late Early Pleistocene) to ~6 ka B.P. (the early Holocene), with no major hiatuses exceeding orbital resolution. Grain size analyses revealed 18 microfacies, which were synthesized into two major evolutionary cycles: a fan-delta front cycle (dominated by subaqueous mouth bars and distributary channels) and a fan-delta plain cycle (characterized by intertributary bays, floodplain lakes/swamps, and crevasse splays). The absence of pro-delta facies and the sediment succession record the oscillatory shrinkage of the Songnen paleolake. The pulsed enhancements of hydrodynamic energy, marked by grain size coarsening, coincide with major glacial–interglacial transitions (MIS 20/19, 18/17, 16/15, 14/13, 8/7, 6/5, 4/3, and 2/1), whereas fining grain sizes dominate warm interglacial periods (MIS 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, 1). These patterns are sensitive response of the alluvial plain to orbital-scale climate change. Cold–arid glacial background promoted vegetation loss and hydrological instability, and warm–humid interglacial background favored low-energy hydrological condition. This study demonstrates that the regional alluvial evolution was primarily controlled by global ice-volume fluctuations through variability of the East Asian summer monsoon. This study provides a reference for the muti-scale climate–hydrology coupling mechanism study in the northern marginal zone of EASM and highlights the importance of alluvial sediment succession in paleo-research. Full article

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22 pages, 9539 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dental Extra-Masticatory Wear and Dental Calculus Micro-Remains as Indicators of Fibre Manipulation in the 15th–19th Century Necropolis at St. Athanasius Church, Niculițel (Romania)

by Ozana-Maria Ciorpac-Petraru, Mihaela Danu, Ana Drob, Paul-Iulian Donciu, Aurel-Daniel Stănică and Luminița Bejenaru

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 25; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020025 - 5 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Dental wear provides valuable evidence for reconstructing past human behaviour, including diet abrasiveness and non-masticatory activities such as the use of teeth as a “third hand”. This study investigates activity-induced dental modifications (AIDMs) in two adult human skeletons recovered from a 15th–19th-century necropolis [...] Read more.

Dental wear provides valuable evidence for reconstructing past human behaviour, including diet abrasiveness and non-masticatory activities such as the use of teeth as a “third hand”. This study investigates activity-induced dental modifications (AIDMs) in two adult human skeletons recovered from a 15th–19th-century necropolis at the St. Athanasius Church in Niculițel (Tulcea County, Romania). Dental remains and associated dental calculus were examined using low- and high-magnification optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Well-polished grooves with parallel striations were identified on the incisor crowns, consistent with repetitive extra-masticatory activities related to fibre drafting during spinning and textile production. Dental calculus analysis revealed the presence of plant and animal fibres, providing direct micro-contextual evidence for textile-related practices. These results offer new insights into the use of teeth as tools and contribute to the reconstruction of textile-related craft activities during the Ottoman and early modern periods in southeastern Europe. Full article

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21 pages, 3488 KB

Open AccessArticle

Inferring Human Predation and Land Use: An Examination of the Northwestern Guyana Coast Shell Midden Records Amid Environmental Change

by Louisa B. Daggers and Mark G. Plew

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 24; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020024 - 5 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Shell middens of Guyana’s northwestern coast are a tangible stratified archive of prehistoric occupation and land use during the Holocene, an era of increased human impacts on the landscape. This study integrates stable isotope and zooarchaeological evidence to understand prehistoric land use, shell [...] Read more.

Shell middens of Guyana’s northwestern coast are a tangible stratified archive of prehistoric occupation and land use during the Holocene, an era of increased human impacts on the landscape. This study integrates stable isotope and zooarchaeological evidence to understand prehistoric land use, shell midden function, and the complex relationship between archaic populations and their landscape. We synthesize recently excavated data and archival museum collection for seven sites dating between 7500 and 2000 BP including stable isotope results of 37 individuals. Zooarchaeological materials are pooled to provide long-term patterns of human predation during the Holocene while reducing site-specific noise. This we believe highlights patterns of prey selection and exploitation intensity. We conclude that climate fluctuations during the mid Holocene influenced fishing intensification and subsequently a shift in human predation, which affected small to medium-sized fauna, estuary productivity and changes in vegetation patterns including mangrove expansion. These changes were shaped by landscape manipulation and influenced by shoreline movement and population mobility and seasonal resource use. Altogether, these processes left enduring ecological legacies along the northwestern coast of Guyana. Full article

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20 pages, 13690 KB

Open AccessArticle

Phytolith Evidence for Vegetation Structure and Agro-Pastoral Resources During the Late Holocene: Insights from Medieval Sites of Northeastern Romania

by Mihaela Danu, Luminița Bejenaru, Vasile Diaconu and Margareta Simina Stanc

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020023 - 2 Mar 2026

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Abstract

This study presents new phytolith data that reconstruct the vegetation patterns and environmental context of medieval sites in northeastern Romania, integrated with previously published archaeozoological evidence. Sediment samples from cultural layers at Târgu Neamț–La Damian and Neamț Fortress were analysed following standard [...] Read more.

This study presents new phytolith data that reconstruct the vegetation patterns and environmental context of medieval sites in northeastern Romania, integrated with previously published archaeozoological evidence. Sediment samples from cultural layers at Târgu Neamț–La Damian and Neamț Fortress were analysed following standard extraction protocols and classified according to the International Code for Phytolith Nomenclature (ICPN 2.0). The newly obtained phytolith assemblages are dominated by morphotypes from the Poaceae family, with diagnostic cereal forms, indicating intensive cereal use. The presence of arboreal and non-grass phytoliths further suggests a mosaic landscape combining grass-dominated open areas, pastures, and nearby woodland. When compared with existing faunal data, characterized by a predominance of domestic species such as cattle, sheep/goat, and pig, the results support the reconstruction of a diversified agro-pastoral economy adapted to local geomorphological and climatic conditions. The integration of new phytolith and existing archaeozoological data highlights the complementary role of plant microremains in reconstructing medieval environments, providing valuable insight into agro-pastoral resources, vegetation dynamics, and human–landscape interactions in the eastern Carpathian region. This approach enhances our understanding of the ecological basis of medieval Moldavian communities and contributes to the reconstruction of Late Holocene anthropogenic landscape dynamics within a Quaternary environmental framework. Full article

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13 pages, 5221 KB

Open AccessArticle

Timing of Soil Profile Development and Its Climatic Background in Alluvial–Proluvial Parent Materials of the Qinghai Lake Basin

by Ji Xianba, Kaijie Zhang, Qiang Peng, Peihua Wang, Yuzheng Wu, Kejia Li and Chongyi E

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 22; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020022 - 2 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Alluvial–proluvial parent-material soils are widely distributed in the Qinghai Lake Basin; however, their timing of development and associated climatic background remain poorly constrained. In this study, two representative alluvial–proluvial fan-covered soil profiles (QRZQ and YXC) from the Qinghai Lake Basin were investigated. Quartz [...] Read more.

Alluvial–proluvial parent-material soils are widely distributed in the Qinghai Lake Basin; however, their timing of development and associated climatic background remain poorly constrained. In this study, two representative alluvial–proluvial fan-covered soil profiles (QRZQ and YXC) from the Qinghai Lake Basin were investigated. Quartz optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating was combined with analyses of grain-size composition and soil organic carbon (SOC) to constrain the timing of soil development and its climatic background. The results show that the studied soil profiles are mainly characterized by Ah–As–C and Ah–A–C horizon configurations, with soil development spanning from 15.7 to 1.0 ka. The underlying alluvial–proluvial parent material of the QRZQ profile formed during the Last deglaciation, whereas the oldest OSL ages in the YXC profile occur within a weakly developed A horizon, indicating that this profile had already transitioned from a depositional environment to a pedogenic environment during the Last deglaciation. This contrast reflects staged differences between depositional and pedogenic processes within alluvial–proluvial settings. The soils were formed through upbuilding pedogenesis, in which sediment accumulation and top-down pedogenic modification proceeded concurrently. Grain-size composition and SOC characteristics further indicate that the depositional environment of the YXC profile was relatively stable. Integrating the obtained chronological results with regional climatic changes suggests that climate variability in the Qinghai Lake Basin exerted a primary control on the transformation between sedimentary processes and soil development. In particular, the Late Holocene (0–4 ka), characterized by a generally cold–dry climate accompanied by pronounced humidity fluctuations, represents an important pedogenic stage for alluvial–proluvial parent-material soils in the Qinghai Lake Basin. This study provides a robust chronological framework for further investigating the mechanisms of soil development in alluvial–proluvial environments from a climatic perspective. Full article

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22 pages, 13683 KB

Open AccessArticle

Dynamics Assessment of the Landslide–Debris Flow Hazard Chain Based on Post-Disaster Geomorphological and Depositional Evidence: A Case Study from Xujiahe, Sichuan, China

by Huali Cui, Qing He, Wei Liang, Yuanling Li and Qili Xie

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 21; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020021 - 1 Mar 2026

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Abstract

Compound geological disaster chains pose major challenges for disaster prevention in mountainous regions due to their complex mechanisms and cascading impacts. This study investigates a landslide–debris flow–flash flood hazard chain that occurred on 21 July 2024 in the Xujia River catchment, Mianning County, [...] Read more.

Compound geological disaster chains pose major challenges for disaster prevention in mountainous regions due to their complex mechanisms and cascading impacts. This study investigates a landslide–debris flow–flash flood hazard chain that occurred on 21 July 2024 in the Xujia River catchment, Mianning County, Sichuan Province, China. This event is used as a representative case to improve the understanding of the formation and amplification mechanisms of breach-type debris flows through dynamic inversion constrained by sedimentary records. The objective is to reconstruct the evolution of the event and assess its downstream hazard extent. Post-disaster sedimentary and geomorphological records, including deposit distribution, channel aggradation, and flow traces, were systematically analyzed based on remote sensing interpretation, unmanned aerial vehicle surveys, and detailed field investigations. These sedimentary data were used as key constraints to estimate debris flow magnitude and mobility under different rainfall scenarios. A rainfall flood scenario-based estimation method was applied to quantify debris flow magnitude, and numerical simulations were conducted using the Rapid Mass Movement Simulation model to reproduce debris flow propagation and deposition processes. The results indicate that prolonged antecedent rainfall triggered slope failure in a tributary, leading to the accumulation of landslide-derived material and the formation of a temporary channel blockage. The subsequent breach of this blockage significantly amplified debris flow discharge, velocity, and sediment outflow, resulting in downstream hazard expansion. Simulation results constrained by sedimentary evidence show that peak discharge and solid material output under breach conditions were approximately three times higher than those of rainfall-driven scenarios under comparable rainfall frequencies. These findings demonstrate that sedimentary records provide critical constraints for the inversion of landslide debris flow disaster chain dynamics and highlight the effectiveness of post-disaster evidence based numerical assessment for hazard analysis and risk mitigation in debris flow-prone mountainous catchments. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Event Deposition and Its Geological and Climatic Implications)

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12 pages, 728 KB

Open AccessArticle

Unexpected Climate Revealed by a Middle Holocene Avian Assemblage from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)

by Antonio Sánchez-Marco, Ricardo Sánchez-Sastre and Carolina Castillo

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 20; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020020 - 1 Mar 2026

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Abstract

A group of avian species, mostly small passerines, allows us to reconstruct the landscape and general climate of an area of Fuerteventura prior to the arrival of the first humans. Many of the bird species are typical of forest environments and the edges [...] Read more.

A group of avian species, mostly small passerines, allows us to reconstruct the landscape and general climate of an area of Fuerteventura prior to the arrival of the first humans. Many of the bird species are typical of forest environments and the edges of bodies of water, conditions incompatible with the current hot and arid climate. The record of a high number of quail as well as small flying passerines surely implies the concurrence of two types of diurnal birds of prey, hunters on the ground and in flight, respectively. No trace of the abundant Puffinus holeae has been found, which evidently occupied a habitat very different from those in the north and interior of the island. Full article

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15 pages, 8737 KB

Open AccessArticle

Sedimentological and Geological Mapping of the Shallow Platform and Deep Basin of Lake Faro (Cape Peloro Coastal Lagoon, Italy): New Insights into Modern Sediments and Holocene Beachrocks

by Roberta Somma, Mohammadali Ghanadzadeh Yazdi and Salvatore Giacobbe

Quaternary 2026, 9(2), 19; https://doi.org/10.3390/quat9020019 - 28 Feb 2026

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Abstract

Lake Faro (Cape Peloro coastal lagoon, NE Sicily, Italy) is a distinctive Mediterranean coastal lake characterized by the coexistence of a shallow platform and a steep-sided deep basin within a very limited area. This study provides a sedimentological and geological characterization of the [...] Read more.

Lake Faro (Cape Peloro coastal lagoon, NE Sicily, Italy) is a distinctive Mediterranean coastal lake characterized by the coexistence of a shallow platform and a steep-sided deep basin within a very limited area. This study provides a sedimentological and geological characterization of the present-day lake floor based on grain-size, petrographic, statistical, and GIS-based analyses, with the aim of clarifying the relationship between basin morphology and modern depositional processes. The lake floor is subdivided into two main bathymetric domains. The shallow platform (<10 m water depth) is dominated by modern coarse-grained, very poorly sorted sediments, including gravel and very coarse- to medium-grained sand, deposited under high-energy, low-confinement conditions comparable to beach and open-lagoon environments. In contrast, the deep basin (>10 m water depth) is characterized by modern finer, organic-rich sediments with extremely poor sorting, reflecting lower-energy and more confined depositional conditions. A key new finding is the identification of upper Holocene beachrocks beneath the modern unconsolidated sediments of the shallow platform, which likely exert a significant morpho-structural control on platform development. Overall, the results highlight the strong influence of bathymetry on sediment distribution in coastal lake systems and provide a reference framework for comparable Mediterranean lagoon environments. Full article

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Quaternary, Volume 9, Issue 2 (April 2026) – 11 articles

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