Su Fossu de Cannas Cave (Sadali, central-eastern Sardinia, Italy): the earliest deposit holding Pleistocene megacerine remains in Sardinia

Recentment s'han descobert diverses restes de cèrvids als sediments arenosos, vermells i fortament cimentats que omplen la cavitat superior de la Cava Su Fossu de Cannas (Sadali, Sardenya centre-oriental), tallada a les calcàries del Mesozoic de Barbagia di Seulo. Es varen trobar les restes a la part de dalt d'una cova horitzontal, estreta. L'origen d'aquest passadís es pot deure a una fase erosiva antiga (Pleistocè Mitjà?) que va afectar els sediments que primàriament omplien la cova, com s'evidencia per l'erosió del conglomerat superior i la deposició posterior de sediments vermellosos lleugerament cimentats. Els espècimens analitzats fins ara mostren afinitats morfològiques estretes amb el megacerí endèmic de Sardenya "Praemegaceros" cazioti (Depéret, 1897). No obstant això, el cèrvid de Sadali es diferencia del darrer per la seva mida més gran, que supera l'espectre de variabilitat calculat per a l'espècie endèmica, i en alguns trets morfològics (tal com el corpu.s rnandibulae fondo i corbat), aixi com per presentar unes dents proporcionalment més petites í, sobretot, per un metacarpià més gràcil. Els trets peculiars dels espècimens de Sadali suggereixen la seva pertinença a una nova espècie. No obstant això, de moment ens estimem més no batejar-la i anomenar el cèrvid de Sad ali "Praemegaceros" n. sp., a l'espera de noves dades que permetin afinar la seva diagnosi. El cèrvid de Su Fossu de Cannas es pot considerar com el representant més primitiu del gènere "Praemegaceros" a Sardenya i l'ancestre de "Praemegaceros" cazioti.Several cervid remains have recently been discovered in the sandy, red-coloured and strongly cemented sediment filling the uppermost cavity of the Su Fossu de Cannas Cave (Sadali, central-eastern Sardinia), cut into the Mesozoic limestone in the Barbagia ofSeulo. The remains were found on the ceiling ofa narrow, horizontal underground cave. The origin of this passage may be due to an ancient erosional phase (Middle Pleistocene?), which affected the sediments formerly filling up the cave, as evidenced by the erosion of the uppermost conglomerate and by the further deposition of reddish, slightly cemented sediments. The specimens analysed thus far show close morphological affinities with the endemic Sardinian megacerine "Praemegaceros" cazioti (Depéret, 1897). However, the Sadali cervid differs from the latter in its larger size, exceeding the range of variability calculated for the endemic species, and in some morphological features (such as the depth and curved corpu.s mandibulaei, as well as in its proportionally smaller teeth and, notably, its elongated, slender metacarpal. The peculiar features of the Sadalí specimens suggest its attribution to a new species. Nevertheless, for the moment, we prefer to name the Sadali cervid "Praemegaceros" n. sp., awaiting new data to present the diagnosis. The Su Fossu de Cannas cervid can be regarded as the most primitive representative of the genus "Praemegaceros" in Sardinia and the ancestor of the endemic species "Praemegaceros" cazioti

Mid to late Holocene environmental changes along the coast of western Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea)

Multiproxy analysis composed of biostratigraphy and pollen analysis allowed reconstructing the palaeoecological and palaeoenvironmental evolution of the Tirso river coastal plain in Sardinia (NW Mediterranean) in the last 6 millennia. We demonstrated that interplay between littoral and fluvial processes have significantly controlled the environmental evolution of the area and have played a key role in the pattern of historical and prehistorical settlements of this wide portion of western Sardinian coastline. At the end of Neolithic period (ca. 6.0 to 5.5 cal. ka BP) the area close to the shoreline was most likely characterized by large coastal lagoons intermittently connected to the open sea. Such saltwater influence is corroborated by faunal and pollen assemblages found in the landward portion of the Tirso coastal plain up to 2 km inland from the modern shoreline. Our data robustly document the end of the transgressive trend at ca. 5.5 cal. ka BP, and a dominant fluvial sedimentation since Final Neolithic period. At this time, a progradational trend started, causing the seaward migration of shoreline and, consequently, of the barrier-lagoon system. The major landscape modification tracked along the last 6 millennia may also explain the low density of historical and prehistorical remains in the Tirso coastal plain, especially if compared to the nearby rocky area of Sinis Peninsula densely inhabited since the Neolithic. Our data further provide new insights into the Relative Sea Level (RSL) evolution in this sector of the Mediterranean. In particular, we improved the mid-Holocene RSL record in Sardinia, where only scarce data were previously available

Submarine geomorphology of the Southwestern Sardinian continental shelf (Mediterranean Sea): Insights into the Last Glacial Maximum sea-level changes and related environments

During the lowstand sea-level phase of the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM), a large part of the current Mediterranean continental shelf emerged. Erosional and depositional processes shaped the coastal strips, while inland areas were affected by aeolian and fluvial processes. Evidence of both the lowstand phase and the subsequent phases of eustatic sea level rise can be observed on the continental shelf of Sardinia (Italy), including submerged palaeo-shorelines and landforms, and indicators of relict coastal palaeo-environments. This paper shows the results of a high-resolution survey on the continental shelf off San Pietro Island (southwestern Sardinia). Multisensor and multiscale data—obtained by means of seismic sparker, sub-bottom profiler chirp, multibeam, side scan sonar, diving, and uncrewed aerial vehicles—made it possible to reconstruct the morphological features shaped during the LGM at depths between 125 and 135 m. In particular, tectonic controlled palaeo-cliffs affected by landslides, the mouth of a deep palaeo-valley fossilized by marine sediments and a palaeo-lagoon containing a peri-littoral thanatocenosis (18,983 ± 268 cal BP) were detected. The Younger Dryas palaeo-shorelines were reconstructed, highlighted by a very well preserved beachrock. The coastal paleo-landscape with lagoon-barrier systems and retro-littoral dunes frequented by the Mesolithic populations was reconstructed

Petrographic and physical investigations on geomaterials for conservation of Las Plassas Castle (Marmilla, Sardinia, Italy)

[EN] The Castle of Marmilla, located near the village of Las Plassas (central-Sardinia), represented a strategic military stronghold of great importance in the war between the kingdom of Arborea and the Aragonese Kingdom of Sardinia in the fourteenth century. Archaeological documents highlight the use, albeit partial, of some environments even in the modern age, during the times of feudal Sardinia (XV-XVI century), when the castle was an integral part of the possessions of the Barony of Las Plassas. It was used as a district prison until the nineteenth century. Built on top of a conical hill at 270 meters above sea level the castle has an irregular hexagonal shape, elongated along the north-west and south-east. Its foundations are excavated in a layer of Miocene sandstones and currently occupy the entire hilltop. What remains of the castle of Marmilla denotes a series of construction phases. A wide circle of walls delimiting the fortification of 550 square meters: inside there are the remains of a cistern and two towers, to the N and S sides, near the entrance. At present, the main tower and the walls, perimeter and internal, are preserved, albeit affected by a profound degradation, and they allow us to observe the construction techniques and choices made in the ongoing renovations, restorations and strengthening interventions. The structure is made of cantons sandstone cut with precision; at the base of the north tower was used ashlar stones. The cistern, located below ground level, is carved into the rock and covered with sandstone cantons; a second tank is located outside the masonry, near the northern side of the fortification. By minero-petrographic and physical-mechanical analysis of geomaterials (i.e., stones, mortars) used in the castle construction, the alteration degree of the materials, in order to identify a correct restoration for conservation purposes, has been defined.Columbu, S.; Melis, RT.; Murru, GF.; Serreli, G.; Uccheddu, G. (2015). Petrographic and physical investigations on geomaterials for conservation of Las Plassas Castle (Marmilla, Sardinia, Italy). En Defensive architecture of the mediterranean: XV to XVIII centuries. Vol. II. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 365-372. https://doi.org/10.4995/FORTMED2015.2015.1756OCS36537

On the presence of Dipturus nidarosiensis (Storm, 1881) in the Central Mediterranean area

The Norwegian skate Dipturus nidarosiensis (Storm, 1881) has only recently been recorded in the western Mediterranean Sea along the coast of southern Sardinia, off Algeria and the Alboran Sea. The present study confirmed the presence of the species in the Central Mediterranean Sea by identifying morphometric, morphological features and molecular markers. Biological sampling was conducted from 2010 to 2016 on eight specimens collected through commercial landings, offshore observer programmes and scientific surveys in Adriatic and Ionian waters at depths between 320 and 720 m. The total lengths of the specimens (juveniles and adults) ranged from 268 to 1,422 mm, and their body weights ranged from 44.5 to 12,540.0 g. They showed morphometric features that corresponded to those of Norwegian skates in the Northeast Atlantic and the Western Mediterranean. In previous analyses, molecular data were obtained by mitochondrial COI sequences. The haplotype network showed the occurrence of a common haplotype (Hap_1) shared by the individuals from areas in the North Atlantic, Sardinian, Algerian and Spanish Mediterranean Sea areas but not South Africa. The occurrence of individuals in different stages of life (i.e., juveniles, sub-adults and adults) and sexual development (immature and mature) suggested the presence of a species with a permanent reproductive allocation in the deep waters of the Mediterranean, which was exposed to a low level of fishing exploitation. Indeed, the deep depth distribution of the species could be the reason for the absence of information about this species in onshore or offshore fishery data collection programmes and scientific surveys

Status of the High-Frequency Upgrade of the Sardinia Radio Telescope

The Sardinia Radio Telescope is going through a major upgrade aimed at observing the universe at up to 116 GHz. A budget of 18.700.000 E has been awarded to the Italian National Institute of Astrophysics to acquire new state-of-the-art receivers, back-end, and high-performance computing, to develop a sophisticated metrology system and to upgrade the infrastructure and laboratories. This contribution draws the status of the whole project at eight months from the end of the funding scheme planned for August 2022

The high-frequency upgrade of the Sardinia Radio Telescope

We present the status of the Sardinia Radio Telescope (SRT) and its forthcoming update planned in the next few years. The post-process scenario of the upgraded infrastructure will allow the national and international scientific community to use the SRT for the study of the Universe at high radio frequencies (up to 116 GHz), both in single dish and in interferometric mode. A telescope like SRT, operating at high frequencies, represents a unique resource for the scientific community. The telescope will be ideal for mapping quickly and with relatively high angular resolution extended radio emissions characterized by low surface brightness. It will also be essential for spectroscopic and polarimetric studies of both Galactic and extragalactic radio sources. With the use of the interferometric technique, SRT and the other Italian antennas (Medicina and Noto) will operate within the national and international radiotelescope network, allowing astronomers to obtain images of radio sources at very high angular resolution