SUMMARYA detailed physiographic soil survey has been carried out in the NWpart ofthe Agro Pontino, near Latina. Four marine terraces and extensive eolian sand covers were found. The oldest marine terrace, the Latina complex, largely consists of augitic fine sands of marinelagoonal origin. Towards the end ofthe transgression (ofuncertain age) some minor sea level fluctuations occurred. The next marine terrace, the Mintumo complex, is thought to date from the Tyrrhenian II transgression and was preceded by a major regression. This has the characteristics of a normal transgressive system, including late minor sea level fluctuations. The beachridge andlagoonal deposits are slightly tilted to the SWand are underlain by littoral gravels, most probably derived from the adjacent Latina complex through strong abrasion. Following a minor regression another marine terrace was formed (the Borgo Ermada complex). This terrace is considered to date from the Tyrrhenian III transgression, but has a regressive character, a phenomenon which can be explained by assuming a synformational tectonic tilting, some evidence for which is found. During a subsequent major regression (Wtirmian) eolian sands were repeatedly deposited, particularly on the Borgo Ermada complex. This was followed by the formation of a simple beachridge-lagoon system during the Holocene (the Terracina complex). The datings are based on correlation with sequences elsewhere, the two marine faunas studied give no clue as to their ages.Soil formation depends strongly on the texture of the parent materials and these relationships are indicated schematically. Soils in sands forma clear chronosequence, exhibiting an increased rubefaction and illuvial concentration ofc1aywith age (Regosols -Arenosols -Luvisols). The distinction between the Borgo Ermada and Minturno complexis partly based on this chronosequence. Soils with a sandy albic E horizon, more or less abruptly overlying a stagnative clayey Bhorizon (Planosols and related soils) abound in intermediate materials of the Pleistocene terraces. The characteristically abrupt textural change was found to be due to the heterogenity ofthe parent material (eolian sand over loam to clay) rather than to soil formation.Some attention is paid to prehistoric artefacts, in particular Pontinian type tools and observations ofBLANC on the famous site ofGniff-Gnaff are reinterpreted.

The timing, environmental setting and archaeological signatures of an early human presence in northern Europe have been longstanding themes of Palaeolithic research. In the space of 20 years, the earliest record of human occupation in Britain has been pushed back from 500 ka (Boxgrove) to 700 ka (Pakefield) and then to >800 ka (Happisburgh Site 3). Other sites also contribute to this record of human occupation; a second locality at Happisburgh, referred to as Site 1, attests to human presence at around 500 ka (MIS 13). This paper provides the first comprehensive account of research undertaken at Happisburgh Site 1 since 2000. The early human landscape and depositional environment was that of a river floodplain, where an active river channel, in which the grey sand was deposited, was abandoned, forming a floodplain lake, with marginal marsh/swamp environments, which was infilled with organic mud. This succession is sealed by Middle Pleistocene glacial deposits. An assemblage of 199 flint flakes, flake tools and cores was recovered from the grey sand and organic mud. The evidence from Happisburgh Site 1 is placed in the context of the wider British and European MIS 13 record. The growing evidence for a significant dispersal of humans into northern Europe around 500 ka raises critical questions concerning the environmental conditions under which this took place. We also consider the evolutionary and behavioural changes in human populations that might have enabled the more widespread and persistent period of human presence in northern Europe at this time.

SUMMARYA detailed physiographic soil survey has been carried out in the NWpart ofthe Agro Pontino, near Latina. Four marine terraces and extensive eolian sand covers were found. The oldest marine terrace, the Latina complex, largely consists of augitic fine sands of marinelagoonal origin. Towards the end ofthe transgression (ofuncertain age) some minor sea level fluctuations occurred. The next marine terrace, the Mintumo complex, is thought to date from the Tyrrhenian II transgression and was preceded by a major regression. This has the characteristics of a normal transgressive system, including late minor sea level fluctuations. The beachridge andlagoonal deposits are slightly tilted to the SWand are underlain by littoral gravels, most probably derived from the adjacent Latina complex through strong abrasion. Following a minor regression another marine terrace was formed (the Borgo Ermada complex). This terrace is considered to date from the Tyrrhenian III transgression, but has a regressive character, a phenomenon which can be explained by assuming a synformational tectonic tilting, some evidence for which is found. During a subsequent major regression (Wtirmian) eolian sands were repeatedly deposited, particularly on the Borgo Ermada complex. This was followed by the formation of a simple beachridge-lagoon system during the Holocene (the Terracina complex). The datings are based on correlation with sequences elsewhere, the two marine faunas studied give no clue as to their ages.Soil formation depends strongly on the texture of the parent materials and these relationships are indicated schematically. Soils in sands forma clear chronosequence, exhibiting an increased rubefaction and illuvial concentration ofc1aywith age (Regosols -Arenosols -Luvisols). The distinction between the Borgo Ermada and Minturno complexis partly based on this chronosequence. Soils with a sandy albic E horizon, more or less abruptly overlying a stagnative clayey Bhorizon (Planosols and related soils) abound in intermediate materials of the Pleistocene terraces. The characteristically abrupt textural change was found to be due to the heterogenity ofthe parent material (eolian sand over loam to clay) rather than to soil formation.Some attention is paid to prehistoric artefacts, in particular Pontinian type tools and observations ofBLANC on the famous site ofGniff-Gnaff are reinterpreted.

Two neutron based techniques, neutron resonance capture analysis (NRCA) and time-of-flight neutrondiffraction (TOF-ND) have been used to determine the elemental composition and structure of a precious and very well preserved all-metal sword from the Bronze Age. This Buggenum sword was on loan from the National Museum of Antiquities (NMA) in Leiden (NL). NRCA and TOF-ND experiments have been carried out at a number of more or less identical positions of the sword. The tin-bronze ratio and the relative amounts of some minor elements (Sb, As, Ag, In) have been determined. The results of neutron diffraction measurements showed considerable tin-segregation, and clear indications of hardening on the edges of the blade. In addition, radiographs using Bremsstrahlung revealed the construction of the hilt-blade connection. The work was carried out at the EC Joint Research Centre IRMM in Geel (B) and at the ISIS facility of the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (UK).

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