The silence of the layers: Archaeological site visibility in the Pleistocene-Holocene transition at the Ebro Basin

The Ebro Basin constitutes one of the most representative territories in SW Europe for the study of prehistoric societies during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition. The correlation of palaeoenvironmental and geomorphological proxies obtained from sedimentary records with chronologically well-constrained reference archaeological sites has allowed defining this time frame precisely, such that three main pilot areas haven been broadly depicted: the Alavese region, the Pre-Pyrenees and the Bajo Aragón. Overall, the human imprint in the Ebro Basin was rare during the Upper Palaeolithic, but more visible from the Upper Magdalenian (14500–13500 cal BP) to Neolithic times (up to 5500 cal BP). Local environmental resources were continuously managed by the prehistoric communities in the different areas of study. In fact, the Ebro Basin acted during those millennia as a whole, developing the same cultural trends, industrial techniques and settlement patterns in parallel throughout the territory. However, some gaps exist in the 14C frequency curve (SCDPD curve). This is partially related to prehistoric sites in particular lithologies and geological structures that could have partly been lost by erosional processes, especially during the Early Holocene. In addition, this gap also parallels the reconstructed climate trend for the Pre-Pyrenean and the Bajo Aragón areas, which are defined by high frequencies of xerophilous flora until ca. 9500 cal BP, suggesting that continental climate features could have hampered the presence of well-established human communities in inland regions. The interdisciplinary research (archaeology, geomorphology and palaeoclimatology) discussed in this paper offers clues to understand the existence of fills and gaps in the archaeological record of the Ebro Basin, and can be applied in other territories with similar geographic and climate patterns

El yacimiento musteriense de Roca San Miguel (Arén, Prepirineo de Huesca)

El yacimiento musteriense de Roca San Miguel se sitúa en el curso alto del río Noguera Ribagorzana, en el Prepirineo de Huesca. Aunque en la actualidad se extiende por una ladera con la apariencia de un sitio al aire libre, un resalte de arenisca hoy erosionado debió generar un abrigo rocoso que prestaría protección a sus ocupantes prehistóricos. Se han realizado 3 catas arqueológicas, de las que la intermedia y superior son las que aportan hasta el momento la información más relevante. En la excavación se han diferenciado 5 Unidades estratigráficas compuestas por diferentes niveles arqueológicos que han sido datados por Luminiscencia Ópticamente Estimulada (OSL). Las dataciones de la Unidad A, con abundantes restos de hogares, la sitúan cronológicamente en el Penúltimo Periodo Glacial (PGP) en unas condiciones paleoambientales de frío extremo. La Unidad B todavía no ha sido excavada. La Unidad C abarca desde el final del Eemiense hasta el MIS 5d en el Último Periodo Glacial (LGP), con abundantes restos líticos y de fauna. La Unidad D incorpora materiales desplazados por la ladera superior, indicando el abandono del yacimiento, datado en 81, 2±4, 7 ka. Por último, la Unidad E recubrió el lugar durante MIS 2, cuando el sitio estaba ya parcialmente erosionado. La datación con OSL de la terraza Qt5, situada en el entorno del yacimiento, permite además relacionarlo con el sistema de terrazas de la cuenca fluvial Segre-Cinca y las fases glaciales de su cabecera. Con todo ello, se crea un modelo evolutivo que abarca desde MIS 6d hasta el MIS 5a (Último Periodo Glacial), pudiendo afirmar a partir de su depurada cronología que actualmente es el yacimiento con las ocupaciones neandertales más antiguas del Prepirineo. The Mousterian archaeological site of Roca San Miguel (RSM) is located in the upper course of the Noguera Ribagorzana River, in the Pre-Pyrenean area of Huesca Province. Although nowadays an open-air site, a currently eroded sandstone projection formed a rock shelter habited by Neanderthals. Three archaeological trenches have been excavated: among them, the upper and intermediate ones provide the most relevant information. Five stratigraphic units have been identified, comprising several archaeological levels. The OSL ages of Unit A, with numerous hearths, indicate a chronology consistent with the Penultimate Glacial Period (PGP) under an extremely cold climate. Unit B has not been excavated yet. Unit C contains many lithic and faunal remains and is consistent with the Eemian up to the MIS 5d in the Last Glacial Period (LGP). Unit D gathers materials coming from the upper slope and establishes the abandonment of the site 81.2±4.7 ka ago. Lastly, Unit E covered the area during the MIS 2, when the site was partially eroded. The OSL age of the Qt5 fluvial terrace, located in the site surroundings, relates the site with the Segre-Cinca terrace system and the glacial phase of its headbasins. All this information allows to draw a geoarchaeological evolutionary model covering from the MIS 6d up to the MIS 5a. Thus, the archaeological site represents today the oldest Neanderthal occupation of the Pre-Pyrenean area, supported by an accurate chronological framework. © 2021, Asociacion Espanola para el Estudio del Cuaternario (AEQUA). All rights reserved

Geomorphological, chronological, and paleoenvironmental context of the Mousterian site at Roca San Miguel (Arén, Huesca, Spain) from the penultimate to the last glacial cycle

The Roca San Miguel (RSM) archaeological site was occupied during Mousterian times. Here we present a geoarchaeological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site. Five stratigraphic units (A to E) formed by different archaeological levels are identified. Three optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages show that Unit A dates to between 169.6 ± 9.1 and 151.9 ± 11.1 ka, during the penultimate glacial period (PGP), and contains numerous signs of recurring hearths. Unit B is unexcavated. Unit C dates to between 118.9 ± 11.5 and 103.4 ± 6.9 ka (late Eemian–marine isotope stage (MIS) 5d) and shows an abundance of lithic remains as well as some faunal elements. Unit C is covered by Unit D, which incorporates materials moved downslope, and is dated at 81.2 ± 4.7 ka. These OSL ages concur with U/Th ages (129.3 ± 1.5 and 123.6 ± 0.6 ka) derived from a flowstone covered by both -C and Dpost-flowstone units. Finally, Unit E covers the archaeological site, which was partially eroded during MIS2. The robust and well-constrained chronology of the RSM site and surroundings enables the establishment of its evolutionary model from the PGP to the last glacial cycle. The RSM site is the oldest Neanderthal occupation accurately dated in the Pre-Pyrenean region.This research was supported by the Gaps and Sites (HAR2017-85023-P) and Gaps and Dates (PID2020-116598GB-I00) projects, funded by the MINECO/MICIN-AEI/FEDER, Spain/EU; and by the Research Group P3A from the Aragón Government (H14_20R).Peer reviewe

Genome-wide association identifies nine common variants associated with fasting proinsulin levels and provides new insights into the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVE: Proinsulin is a precursor of mature insulin and C-peptide. Higher circulating proinsulin levels are associated with impaired β-cell function, raised glucose levels, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes (T2D). Studies of the insulin processing pathway could provide new insights about T2D pathophysiology. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We have conducted a meta-analysis of genome-wide association tests of ∼2.5 million genotyped or imputed single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and fasting proinsulin levels in 10,701 nondiabetic adults of European ancestry, with follow-up of 23 loci in up to 16,378 individuals, using additive genetic models adjusted for age, sex, fasting insulin, and study-specific covariates. RESULTS: Nine SNPs at eight loci were associated with proinsulin levels (P < 5 × 10(-8)). Two loci (LARP6 and SGSM2) have not been previously related to metabolic traits, one (MADD) has been associated with fasting glucose, one (PCSK1) has been implicated in obesity, and four (TCF7L2, SLC30A8, VPS13C/C2CD4A/B, and ARAP1, formerly CENTD2) increase T2D risk. The proinsulin-raising allele of ARAP1 was associated with a lower fasting glucose (P = 1.7 × 10(-4)), improved β-cell function (P = 1.1 × 10(-5)), and lower risk of T2D (odds ratio 0.88; P = 7.8 × 10(-6)). Notably, PCSK1 encodes the protein prohormone convertase 1/3, the first enzyme in the insulin processing pathway. A genotype score composed of the nine proinsulin-raising alleles was not associated with coronary disease in two large case-control datasets. CONCLUSIONS: We have identified nine genetic variants associated with fasting proinsulin. Our findings illuminate the biology underlying glucose homeostasis and T2D development in humans and argue against a direct role of proinsulin in coronary artery disease pathogenesis

Geomorphological, chronological, and paleoenvironmental context of the Mousterian site at Roca San Miguel (Arén, Huesca, Spain) from the penultimate to the last glacial cycle

The Roca San Miguel (RSM) archaeological site was occupied during Mousterian times. Here we present a geoarchaeological and paleoenvironmental reconstruction of the site. Five stratigraphic units (A to E) formed by different archaeological levels are identified. Three optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages show that Unit A dates to between 169.6 ± 9.1 and 151.9 ± 11.1 ka, during the penultimate glacial period (PGP), and contains numerous signs of recurring hearths. Unit B is unexcavated. Unit C dates to between 118.9 ± 11.5 and 103.4 ± 6.9 ka (late Eemian-marine isotope stage (MIS) 5d) and shows an abundance of lithic remains as well as some faunal elements. Unit C is covered by Unit D, which incorporates materials moved downslope, and is dated at 81.2 ± 4.7 ka. These OSL ages concur with U/Th ages (129.3 ± 1.5 and 123.6 ± 0.6 ka) derived from a flowstone covered by both -C and D- post-flowstone units. Finally, Unit E covers the archaeological site, which was partially eroded during MIS2. The robust and well-constrained chronology of the RSM site and surroundings enables the establishment of its evolutionary model from the PGP to the last glacial cycle. The RSM site is the oldest Neanderthal occupation accurately dated in the Pre-Pyrenean regio