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International audience; While the emergence of the Acheulean is well documented in East Africa at ~1.7 Ma, subsequent developments are less well understood and to some extent controversial. Here, we provide robust evidence regarding the time period between 1.6 Ma and 1.2 Ma, based on an interdisciplinary approach to the stratigraphic sequences exposed in the Gombore gully of Melka Kunture, in the upper Awash Valley of Ethiopia. Throughout the Pleistocene, the environment differed significantly from elsewhere in Africa because of the elevation at 2000 m asl, the cooler and rainy climate, the Afromontane vegetation, the development of endemic animal species, and the recurrent impact of volcanic activity. At Gombore IB, dated ~1.6 Ma, remains of Homo erectus/ergaster have been discovered, associated with a rich early Acheulean assemblage. The techno-typological analysis of the lithic record from Gombore Iγ (~1.4 Ma) and Gombore Iδ (~1.3 Ma), where substantial areas have been excavated, and the contrasting evidence from Gombore OAM Test Pit C (~1.2 Ma), suggest that the scarcity or lack of large flakes and large cutting tools at the two earlier sites is possibly not just the outcome of sampling bias, but rather of the adaptation of H. erectus/ergaster to the local resources, in a relatively isolated environment. The sites of Gombore gully provide new evidence on the complex pattern of human evolution and adaptation in East Africa during the Lower Pleistocene.

We wish to thank HRH Prince Badr b. Abdullah b. Mohammed b. Farhan Al-Saud, Ministry of Culture, and to HRH Prince Sultan Bin Salman Bin Abdulaziz al-Saud, the former President of the Saudi Commission for Tourism and National Heritage (SCTH) for giving us permission to carry out research at the Camel Site, and we also wish to thank his Excellency Prince Faisal bin Nawwaf bin AbdulAziz al-Saud, governor of the Jawf Province for the support of his administration. We also thank Mr Rustom al-Kubaisi, vice-president of the former SCTH, and the General Director for Archaeological Excavations at the Heritage Commission Dr Abdullah al-Zahrani and his assistants especially Saud M. al-Tamimi. Local support in Jawf province was provided by Mr. Yasser al-Ali and Mr. Ahmed al-Qaeed (SCTH now Heritage Commission). We thank Wael Abu-Azizeh for providing comparative data with lithic assemblages from the Levant; RC thanks CEFREPA Kuwait for funding part of this research. YHH’s work leading to this publication was supported by the PRIME programme of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) with funds from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). AMA acknowledges the support of the Research Center at the College of Tourism & Archaeology, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. We also thank Mathew Stewart for constructive comments on an initial draft of the manuscript. Fieldwork and research were funded by a grant from the Gerda Henkel Foundation (Grant No AZ 43_V_18, to MG and GC), the CNRS (to GC), Labex Resmed ANR-10- LABX-72 / ANR-11-IDEX-0004-02 (to GC), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the French embassy in Riyadh (to GC), the CEFAS (to RC and GC), the Dahlem Research School at Freie Universität Berlin (to MG), the Distinguished Scientist Fellowship Program of King Saud University (to MOA and AA), and the Max Planck Society (to MG and MOA). The life-sized, naturalistic reliefs at the Camel Site in northern Arabia have been severely damaged by erosion. This, coupled with substantial destruction of the surrounding archaeological landscape, has made a chronological assessment of the site difficult. To overcome these problems, we combined results from a wide range of methods, including analysis of surviving tool marks, assessment of weathering and erosion patterns, portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry, and luminescence dating of fallen fragments. In addition, test excavations identified a homogenous lithic assemblage and faunal remains that were sampled for radiocarbon dating. Our results show that the reliefs were carved with stone tools and that the creation of the reliefs, as well as the main period of activity at the site, date to the Neolithic. Neolithic arrowheads and radiocarbon dates attest occupation between 5200 and 5600 BCE. This is consistent with measurements of the areal density of manganese and iron in the rock varnish. The site was likely in use over a longer period and reliefs were re-worked when erosion began to obscure detailed features. By 1000 BCE, erosion was advanced enough to cause first panels to fall, in a process that continues until today. The Camel Site is likely home to the oldest surviving large-scale (naturalistic) animal reliefs in the world.

Característica específica del Paraíso Iluminado de Giovanni di Paolo, ausente de las iluminaciones del Infierno y el Purgatorio, la representación del objeto del libro regresa en no menos de diez iluminaciones distribuidas entre las canciones 5 y 28 del Paraíso. La investigación se centra en este proceso de mise en abyme y demuestra su potencial hexegético. El volumen, a menudo los volúmenes (una sola iluminación puede contener hasta siete libros representados), corresponden a los textos (teológicos, legales) mencionados por Dante en los versos del gran poema. Siempre cargados de connotaciones positivas, los manuscritos transmiten el conocimiento y la sabiduría moral promovida por Dante. También son objeto de transición, cultural y estética: ligados narrativamente a figuras medievales (Justiniano, Dionisio, Isidoro,...), exaltan la apreciación del manuscrito típico del humanismo y de la Biblioteca Alfonsina. En definitiva, centrar la mirada y el análisis en la presencia del objeto libro dentro de las iluminaciones, insertadas en el manuscrito Yates Thompson 36, permite captar tanto la "inteligencia pictórica" del pintor como la bibliofilia del patrocinador. Caractéristique propre au Paradis enluminé par Giovanni di Paolo, absente des enluminures de l'Enfer et du Purgatoire, la représentation de l'objet livre revient dans pas moins de dix enluminures distribuées entre les chants 5 et 28 du Paradis. L'enquête porte sur ce processus de mise en abyme et en démontre le potentiel hexégétique. Le volume, souvent les volumes (une seule enluminure peut contenir jusqu'à sept livres représentés), correspondent aux textes (théologiques, juridiques) mentionnés par Dante dans les vers du grand poème. Toujours chargés de connotations positives, les manuscrits véhiculent le savoir et la sagesse morale promus par Dante. Ils sont en outre un objet de transition, culturelle et esthétique : narrativement reliés aux figures médiévales (Justinien, Denys, Isidore, …), ils exaltent l'appréciation du manuscrit typique de l'humanisme et de la Bibliothèque Alphonsine. En somme, concentrer le regard et l'analyse sur la présence de l'objet livre au sein des enluminures, elles-mêmes insérées dans le manuscrit Yates Thompson 36, permet tout à la fois de saisir l'« intelligence picturale » du peintre et la bibliophilie du commanditaire. An exclusive characteristic of the Paradise illuminated by Giovanni di Paolo, absent in the miniatures of the Inferno and the Purgatorio, is the recurring representation of the object book, in ten miniatures distributed between Pd V and Pd XXVIII. The investigation focuses on this process of mise en abyme and demonstrates its exegetical potential. The volume, often the volumes (a single miniature can contain up to seven), are the texts (theological, juridical) mentioned by Dante in the lines of the poem. Not only, always loaded with positive connotations, the manuscripts are vehicles of wisdom and moral wisdom promoted by Dante. Moreover, they are an object of cultural and aesthetic transition: narratively connected to medieval figures (Justinian, Dionysius, Isidore...), they enhance the appreciation of manuscripts typical of humanism and of the Biblioteca Alfonsina. In short, focusing our attention and analysis on the presence of the book object inside the miniatures, which are in turn inside the Yates Thompson 36 manuscript, allows us to understand both the visual intelligence of the painter and the bookish taste of the patron. Una característica exclusiva del Paradís il·luminat per Giovanni di Paolo, absent en les miniatures de l'Infern i el Purgatori, és la representació recurrent de l'objecte del llibre, en deu miniatures distribuïdes entre els cants 5 i 28 del Pd. La investigació se centra en aquest procés de posada en comú i demostra el seu potencial exegètic. El llibre, sovint els llibres (una sola miniatura també pot contenir-ne set), són els textos (teològics, jurídics) que Dante esmenta en els versos del poema. No només això, els manuscrits, carregats sempre de connotacions positives, són vehicles de saviesa i saber moral promoguts per Dante. A més, són objecte de transició cultural i estètica: narrativament connectatss a figures medievals (Justinià, Dionís, Isidor...), potencien l'apreciació del manuscrit propi de l'humanisme i de la Biblioteca Alfonsiana. En definitiva, centrar la mirada i l'anàlisi en la presència de l'objecte del llibre dins de les miniatures al seu torn dins del manuscrit Yates Thompson 36 permet capturar conjuntament la intel·ligència visual del pintor i el gust del llibre del client. Caratteristica esclusiva del Paradiso miniato da Giovanni di Paolo, assente nelle miniature dell'Inferno e del Purgatorio, è la rappresentazione ricorrente dell'oggetto libro, in ben dieci miniature distribuite fra Pd 5 e Pd 28. L'indagine verte su questo processo di mise en abyme e ne dimostra le potenzialità esegetiche. Il volume, spesso i volumi (un'unica miniatura può contenerne anche sette), sono i testi (teologici, giuridici) menzionati da Dante nei versi del poema. Non solo, sempre carichi di connotati positivi, i manoscritti sono veicoli della sapienza e saggezza morale promosse da Dante. Inoltre ancora, sono un oggetto di transizione culturale ed estetica : narrativamente connessi a figure medioevali (Giustiniano, Dionigi, Isidoro…), esaltano l'apprezzamento del manoscritto tipico dell'umanesimo e della Biblioteca Alfonsina. Insomma, concentrare lo sguardo e l'analisi sulla presenza dell'oggetto libro all'interno delle miniature a loro volta all'interno del manoscritto Yates Thompson 36 consente insieme di carpire l'intelligenza visiva del pittore e il gusto librario del committente.

Experiments based on the premise of uniformitarism are an effective tool to establish patterns of taphonomic processes acting either before, or after, burial. One process that has been extensively investigated experimentally is the impact of trampling to large mammal bones. Since trampling marks caused by sedimentary friction strongly mimic cut marks made by humans using stone tools during butchery, distinguishing the origin of such modifications is especially relevant to the study of human evolution. In contrast, damage resulting from trampling on small mammal fossil bones has received less attention, despite the fact that it may solve interesting problems relating to site formation processes. While it has been observed that the impact of compression depends on the type of substrate and dryness of the skeletal elements, the fragility of small mammal bones may imply that they will break as a response to compression. Here, we have undertaken a controlled experiment using material resistance compression equipment to simulate a preliminary experiment, previously devised by one of us, on human trampling of owl pellets. Our results demonstrate that different patterns of breakage can be distinguished under wet and dry conditions in mandibles, skulls and long bones that deform or break in a consistent way. Further, small compact bones almost always remain intact, resisting breakage under compression. The pattern obtained here was applied to a Pleistocene small mammal fossil assemblage from Wonderwerk Cave (South Africa). This collection showed unusually extensive breakage and skeletal element representation that could not be entirely explained by excavation procedures or digestion by the predator. We propose that trampling was a significant factor in small mammal bone destruction at Wonderwerk Cave, partly the product of trampling caused by the raptor that introduced the microfauna into the cave, as well as by hominins and other terrestrial animals that entered the cave and trampled pellets covering the cave floor. This project was funded by a Leakey Foundation grant to F.-J.Y. and the project CGL2016-79334-P of the Spanish National Program funded by the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation and the Spanish Council of Scientific Research (COOPB20287). Funding for field work at Wonderwerk Cave is provided by a grant from the Canadian Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to C.M. The Université de Rennes 1 (France) and the Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales (CSIC, Spain) provided the Convention de Stage n. 46360 to R.L. to do this work as practical stage of the Master M2 mention Biologie-agro-santé spécialité préhistoire, paléontologie et paléoenvironnememt in 2015. G.-M.S. has a pre-doctoral grant funded by the Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) and Banco Santander (CT42/18-CT43/18). Peer reviewed

Reconstructing the past variability of marine radiocarbon reservoir effects (MRE) is crucial for generating reliable chronologies for marine species and their consumers. We investigated the temporal MRE variability at the Early-to Mid-Holocene site of El Mazo (Asturias, northern Spain) by using a combination of new and previously published radiocarbon measurements on marine and terrestrial samples. The El Mazo site is characterized by overall well-defined archaeological layers of unknown occupation length with the predominant presence of two mollusc species (Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758 and topshell Phorcus lineatus [da Costa, 1778]) which were analysed for radiocarbon measurements. We employed the recently released IntCal20 calibration curve for the northern hemisphere and Bayesian modelling to reconstruct the site's chronology and temporal variability in MREs according to mollusc species. Obtained radiocarbon modelling results, although the estimate precision is not high, reveal a temporal variability in MREs that can be interpreted in view of known past climatic and environmental events such as the 8.2 ka event. The results also revealed differences in MREs according to mollusc species, which need to be taken into account in future chronological modelling. Overall, our results provide reference MRE values for the study of chronologies in northern Iberia during the Early-to Mid-Holocene. In this respect, a non-conservative ΔR reference for local marine samples dating earlier than c. 8.1 ka cal BP is −238 ± 28 14C years. © 2021 The Authors International audience

Los europeos procedentes de Argelia instalados en Alicante desde 1962 contribuyeron ampliamente al desarrollo de la provincia y al impulso del sector terciario. El presente estudio propone un análisis espacial de la instalación de los denominados pieds-noirs en Alicante. Para ello, se identifican las actividades económicas que esas personas llevaron a cabo y su evolución en el tiempo, vinculada a la propia evolución social, económica y urbanística que atravesó la provincia de Alicante y su capital desde finales de los años 50. El análisis de las actividades económicas pieds-noirs, se inserta en un estudio más amplio sobre las transformaciones urbanas y económicas de Alicante, en un contexto de cambios sociales. The Europeans from Algeria who settled in Alicante since 1962 extensively contributed to the development both of the province and the tertiary sector. This paper proposes a spatial analysis of the so-called pied-noir settelmemt in Alicante by identifying the economic activities those people carried out and their further evolution, linked to the social, economic, and urban progress that both the province of Alicante and its capital underwent since the end of the 1950s. The analysis of the pieds-noirs economic activities is part of a broader study of the urban and economic transformations of Alicante, in the context of social changes.