From the watershed to the Great Adriatic Plain: an investigation on humans and landscape ecology during the late Upper Paleolithic. The significance of lithic technology.

Methodology. In chapter 1, METHODOLOGY, the theoretical and methodological frame of reference is outlined. In chapter introduction a rapid excursus of the main directions followed by prehistoric hunter‐gatherers archaeology is provided, with special reference to the informative potential of the lithic industries. In what follows the main descriptive and interpretive standards adopted in the analysis of the archeological material are provided. Analysis. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are devoted to the analysis, description and interpretation of the lithic assemblages of the sites of MADONNA DELL’OSPEDALE, FOSSO MERGAONI and GROTTA DI POZZO. The structure is the same for each chapter. First, a general description of the site is provided (presentation of the site), along with its geographic localization, the research activities carried out on it and the chronological and stratigraphic data. The main section of each chapter is represented by the lithic artefacts technological analysis (lithic production), whose description follows the theoretical phases of the reduction sequence. Contextually, morpho‐technical and morpho‐metric data are provided. The conclusive section of each chapter (synthesis and discussion) aims to organize data in a synthetic and organic frame, as well as to provide a behavioral interpretation of the circumstances leading to the assemblage formation. Discussion. Chapter 5, THE EARLY EPIGRAVETTIAN OF THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC FRINGE: DISCUSSION, aims to put data within the frame of the human frequentation of the northern fringe of the Adriatic at the end of the LGM, along the borders of the once exposed Great Adriatic Plain. After a general introduction on the LGM at European scale, the archeological evidence from three study areas is synthesized: central Apennine (Marche and Abruzzi regions), Berici hills (Venetian region) and North‐western Balkans (Slovenia, northern Croazia and northern Bosnia). On the basis of edited data and those from the present work, it has been tried to contribute to the discussion about whether the Great Adriatic Plain could have represented a favorable environment for human groups in conditions of climatic worsening. A possible affirmative answer is advanced, because the supposed borders of such physiographic element bear evidence of contingent brief visits finalized to resource sacquisition, which implies, at least, the existence of some more stable settlement areas, somewhere else. Data about mobility strongly point towards an East‐west shifting direction followed by Epigravettian collectors, which suggests an active role of the once exposed Great Adriatic Plain

From the watershed to the Great Adriatic Plain: an investigation on humans and landscape ecology during the late Upper Paleolithic. The significance of lithic technology.

Methodology. In chapter 1, METHODOLOGY, the theoretical and methodological frame of reference is outlined. In chapter introduction a rapid excursus of the main directions followed by prehistoric hunter‐gatherers archaeology is provided, with special reference to the informative potential of the lithic industries. In what follows the main descriptive and interpretive standards adopted in the analysis of the archeological material are provided. Analysis. Chapters 3, 4 and 5 are devoted to the analysis, description and interpretation of the lithic assemblages of the sites of MADONNA DELL’OSPEDALE, FOSSO MERGAONI and GROTTA DI POZZO. The structure is the same for each chapter. First, a general description of the site is provided (presentation of the site), along with its geographic localization, the research activities carried out on it and the chronological and stratigraphic data. The main section of each chapter is represented by the lithic artefacts technological analysis (lithic production), whose description follows the theoretical phases of the reduction sequence. Contextually, morpho‐technical and morpho‐metric data are provided. The conclusive section of each chapter (synthesis and discussion) aims to organize data in a synthetic and organic frame, as well as to provide a behavioral interpretation of the circumstances leading to the assemblage formation. Discussion. Chapter 5, THE EARLY EPIGRAVETTIAN OF THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC FRINGE: DISCUSSION, aims to put data within the frame of the human frequentation of the northern fringe of the Adriatic at the end of the LGM, along the borders of the once exposed Great Adriatic Plain. After a general introduction on the LGM at European scale, the archeological evidence from three study areas is synthesized: central Apennine (Marche and Abruzzi regions), Berici hills (Venetian region) and North‐western Balkans (Slovenia, northern Croazia and northern Bosnia). On the basis of edited data and those from the present work, it has been tried to contribute to the discussion about whether the Great Adriatic Plain could have represented a favorable environment for human groups in conditions of climatic worsening. A possible affirmative answer is advanced, because the supposed borders of such physiographic element bear evidence of contingent brief visits finalized to resource sacquisition, which implies, at least, the existence of some more stable settlement areas, somewhere else. Data about mobility strongly point towards an East‐west shifting direction followed by Epigravettian collectors, which suggests an active role of the once exposed Great Adriatic Plain

The bipolar-on-anvil percussion in central Thyrrenian Italy

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Mitochondrial DNA variation of southern Tunisian populations

Due to its complex history of migrations and colonization of African, European and Asian people, the Tunisian territory is an ideal area to study the effects of cultural change on the genetic structure of human populations. We investigated the mtDNA genetic variation of Tunisian populations in order to detect the possible impact of recent historical events on their gene pool. Two Arab and three Berber communities were analysed using a comparison dataset of 45 other populations including African, Arabian, Asian, European and Near Eastern groups. The results obtained were compared with those produced using a large panel of autosomal SNPs. We observed a slight but important difference between the populations that inhabit the southern and central-northern areas of the country. Furthermore, robust signatures of genetic isolation were detected in two Berber populations (Nouvelle Zraoua and Tamezret) and in the seminomadic Arab group of the R’Baya. Our investigation suggests that the genetic structure of investigated southern Tunisian populations retains signatures of historical events which occurred between 7th-17th century, particularly the trans-Saharan slave trade and the emigration of Berbers in remote areas of the south during the Arab conquest

Berbers and Arabs. Tracing the genetic diversity and history of Southern Tunisia through genome wide analysis

Objectives: Tunisia has been a crossroads for people from Africa, Europe, and the Middle East since prehistoric times. At present, it is inhabited by two main ethnic groups, Arabs and Berbers, and several minorities. This study aims to advance knowledge regarding their genetic structure using new population samplings and a genome-wide approach. Materials and Methods: We investigated genomic variation, estimated ancestry components and dated admixture events in three Berber and two Arab populations from Southern Tunisia, mining a dataset including Middle Eastern, sub-Saharan, and European populations. Results: Differences in the proportion of North African, Arabian, and European ancestries and the varying impact of admixture and isolation determined significant heterogeneity in the genetic structure of Southern Tunisian populations. Admixture time estimates show a multilayer pattern of admixture events, involving both ethnolinguistic groups, which started around the mid XI century and lasted for nearly five centuries. Discussion: Our study provides evidence that the relationships between genetic and cultural diversity of old and new inhabitants of North Africa in southern Tunisia follow different patterns. The Berbers seem to have preserved a significant part of their common genomic heritage despite Islamization, Arab cultural influence, and linguistic diversity. Compared to Morocco and Algeria, southern Tunisian Arabs have retained a higher level of Arabian ancestry. This is more evident in the semi-nomad R'Baya, who have kept their original Bedouin lifestyle, than in the population from Douz, who have undergone multiple events of stratification and admixture

Climat, environnement et sociétés de la Préhistoire du sud tunisien: résultats préliminaires et perspectives de la recherche

We present the preliminary results of a Tunisian-Italian project of scientific collaboration in the field of environmental studies and prehistoric and anthropological research in southern Tunisia ruled by an interdisciplinary approach that includes geo-archeology, geochronology, geochemistry, palynology, paleoanthropology and population genetics. The research area is south of the Chott el Jerid and its surroundings, where the major physiographic feature is a large playa which contained one of the mega lakes that existed in the Sahara during wet periods in the late Quaternary. The region is a pivotal area between the Mediterranean and the Sahara, then favorable to study the cultural diffusion and humans displacements through different periods and environments.Nous présentons les résultats préliminaires d'un projet Tuniso-Italien de collaboration scientifique dans le domaine des études environnementales et de la recherche préhistorique et anthropologique en Tunisie méridionale mené selon une approche interdisciplinaire qui comprend la géo-archéologie, la géochronologie, la géochimie, la palynologie, la paléoanthropologie et la génétique. La zone de recherche se trouve au sud du Chott el Jérid  et ses environs. Il s’agit d’une zone caractérisée par la présence de l’un des méga lacs qui existaient dans le Sahara pendant les périodes humides à la fin du Quaternaire. La région est une zone charnière entre la Méditerranée et le Sahara, donc favorable à l’étude des diffusions culturelles et des déplacements humains à travers les différentes périodes et environnements. Nous présentons les résultats préliminaires d’un projet Tuniso-Italien de collaboration scientifique dans le domaine des études environnementales et de la recherche préhistorique et anthropologique en Tunisie méridionale mené selon une approche interdisciplinaire qui comprend la géo-archéologie, la géochronologie, la géochimie, la palynologie, la paléoanthropologie et la génétique. La zone de recherche se trouve au sud du Chott el Jérid et ses environs. Il s’agit d’une zone caractérisée par la présence de l’un des méga lacs qui existaient dans le Sahara pendant les périodes humides à la fin du Quaternaire. La région est une zone charnière entre la Méditerranée et le Sahara, donc favorable à l’étude des diffusions culturelles et des déplacements humains à travers les différentes périodes et environnements.We present the preliminary results of a Tunisian-Italian project of scientific collaboration in the field of environmental studies and prehistoric and anthropological research in southern Tunisia ruled by an interdisciplinary approach that includes geo-archeology, geochronology, geochemistry, palynology, paleoanthropology and population genetics. The research area is south of the Chott el Jerid and its surroundings, where the major physiographic feature is a large playa which contained one of the mega lakes that existed in the Sahara during wet periods in the late Quaternary. The region is a pivotal area between the Mediterranean and the Sahara, then favorable to study the cultural diffusion and humans displacements through different periods and environments

Correction: Lung cancer multi-omics digital human avatars for integrating precision medicine into clinical practice: the LANTERN study

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Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. materia

Notulae to the Italian alien vascular flora: 14

In this contribution, new data concerning the distribution of vascular flora alien to Italy are presented. It includes new records, confirmations, and status changes for Italy or for Italian administrative regions. Nomenclatural and distribution updates, published elsewhere, and corrections are provided as Suppl. material