Do stones modify the spatial distribution of fire induced soil water repellency? Preliminary data

Water repellency is a property of many fire-affected soils that contributes to delayed wetting rates and shows many hydrological and geomorphological consequences. Fire-induced soil water repellency (SWR) may be modulated by pre-fire soil and vegetation properties. Many studies have been carried out to investigate the relationship between SWR and these properties. But, to our knowledge, no studies have considered the effect of surface stones in the spatial distribution of fire-induced SWR. In this research, we study the occurrence and spatial and vertical distribution of SWR and its consequences on soil structure after experimental burning in a previously wettable soil under different stone covers (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60%). In our experiment, burning induced critical or subcritical SWR in the upper millimetres of previously wettable soil. Fire-induced SWR did not vary with stone cover, but critical SWR was reached in inter-stone soil areas. At stone-covered soil areas, SWR was increased, but WDPTs remained mostly below the 5 s thresholdMinisterio de Economía y Competitividad CGL2010- 21670-C02-0

Earliest Known Use of Marine Resources by Neanderthals

Numerous studies along the northern Mediterranean borderland have documented the use of shellfish by Neanderthals but none of these finds are prior to Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3). In this paper we present evidence that gathering and consumption of mollusks can now be traced back to the lowest level of the archaeological sequence at Bajondillo Cave (Málaga, Spain), dated during the MIS 6. The paper describes the taxonomical and taphonomical features of the mollusk assemblages from this level Bj19 and briefly touches upon those retrieved in levels Bj18 (MIS 5) and Bj17 (MIS 4), evidencing a continuity of the shellfishing activity that reaches to MIS 3. This evidence is substantiated on 29 datings through radiocarbon, thermoluminescence and U series methods. Obtained dates and paleoenvironmental records from the cave include isotopic, pollen, lithostratigraphic and sedimentological analyses and they are fully coherent with paleoclimate conditions expected for the different stages. We conclude that described use of shellfish resources by Neanderthals (H. neanderthalensis) in Southern Spain started ∼150 ka and were almost contemporaneous to Pinnacle Point (South Africa), when shellfishing is first documented in archaic modern humans

Earliest known use of marine resources by neanderthals

Numerous studies along the northern Mediterranean borderland have documented the use of shellfish by Neanderthals but none of these finds are prior to Marine Isotopic Stage 3 (MIS 3). In this paper we present evidence that gathering and consumption of mollusks can now be traced back to the lowest level of the archaeological sequence at Bajondillo Cave (Málaga, Spain), dated during the MIS 6. The paper describes the taxonomical and taphonomical features of the mollusk assemblages from this level Bj19 and briefly touches upon those retrieved in levels Bj18 (MIS 5) and Bj17 (MIS 4), evidencing a continuity of the shellfishing activity that reaches to MIS 3. This evidence is substantiated on 29 datings through radiocarbon, thermoluminescence and U series methods. Obtained dates and paleoenvironmental records from the cave include isotopic, pollen, lithostratigraphic and sedimentological analyses and they are fully coherent with paleoclimate conditions expected for the different stages. We conclude that described use of shellfish resources by Neanderthals (H. neanderthalensis) in Southern Spain started ~150 ka and were almost contemporaneous to Pinnacle Point (South Africa), when shellfishing is first documented in archaic modern humans

Bajondillo Cave: Overview of records from the chronostratigraphical sequence (techno-typological sequence taken from [<b>6</b>]).

<p>Bajondillo Cave: Overview of records from the chronostratigraphical sequence (techno-typological sequence taken from <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0024026#pone.0024026-CortsSnchez1" target="_blank">[<b>6</b>]</a>).</p

Bajondillo Cave: Pollen sequence from levels Bj₁₉-Bj₁₇.

<p>Bajondillo Cave: Pollen sequence from levels Bj₁₉-Bj₁₇.</p

Stable oxygen isotopic composition of shells from Bajondillo Cave and Malaga coast.

<p>Bajondillo Cave: aragonitic and calcitic mollusk shells and two present-day specimens of <i>Mytilus cf. galloprovencialis</i> from the coast of Malaga.</p

Bulk sediment La/Lu ratios from Bajondillo Cave.

<p>Grey arrows reveal the increase of La/Lu values across eolian sand-rich layers from Bajondillo Cave.</p

Lithic industries from Bj₁₉.

<p>Retouched tools (1–4, 6, 10), Flakes (5, 7–9, 12), Levallois core (13), Thermoaltered items (6,12,14). All pieces executed in flint except no. 10 (quartzite).</p

Continental and marine (bold) shellfish species from Bajondillo Cave levels _19-17.

<p>NR: Number of rest. NISP: Number of individual species. LI: number of lithic industries.</p

U/Th dates from levels Bj₁₉, Bj₁₇ and Bj₁₆ at Bajondillo Cave.

<p>U/Th dates from levels Bj₁₉, Bj₁₇ and Bj₁₆ at Bajondillo Cave.</p