The scarcity of fossils in the African rainforest. Archaeo-paleontological surveys and actualistic taphonomy in Equatorial Guinea

Rosas, Antonio; García-Tabernero, Antonio; Fidalgo, Darío; Meñe, Maximiliano Fero; Ebana, Cayetano; Esono, Fidel; Morales, Juan Ignacio; Saladié, Palmira

doi:10.1080/08912963.2022.2057226

Cited by 6 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…While the exact time depth of the origin of the CAHG lineage and the divergence between eastern and western CAHG would be the subject of subsequent debate for decades (e.g. Bailey & Headland, 1991 ; Rosas et al, 2022 ; Hart & Hart, 1986 ; Bahuchet, 2006 , 2012 ; Lopez et al, 2018 ; Verdu et al, 2009 ; Verdu et al, 2013 ), early mtDNA research also suggested that CAHG could represent a lineage close to the root of the human phylogenetic tree just like the !Kung did (e.g. Cavalli-Sforza, 1986 ; Chen et al, 2000 ; Destro-Bisol et al, 2004a , b ; Verdu, 2017 ).…”

Section: The Importance Of Hunter–gatherer Genetics Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hunter–gatherer genetics research: Importance and avenues

Padilla-Iglesias,

Derkx

2024

Evolut. Hum. Sci.

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Major developments in the field of genetics in the past few decades have revolutionised notions of what it means to be human. Although currently only a few populations around the world practise a hunting and gathering lifestyle, this mode of subsistence has characterised members of our species since its very origins and allowed us to migrate across the planet. Therefore, the geographical distribution of hunter-gatherer populations, dependence on local ecosystems, and connections to past populations and neighbouring groups has provided unique insights into our evolutionary origins. However, given the vulnerable status of hunter-gatherers worldwide, the development of the field of anthropological genetics requires that we reevaluate how we conduct research with these communities. Here, we review how the inclusion of hunter-gatherer populations in genetics studies has advanced our understanding of human origins, ancient population migrations and interactions as well as phenotypic adaptations and adaptability to different environments, and the important scientific and medical applications of these advancements. At the same time, we highlight the necessity to address yet unresolved questions and identify areas in which the field may benefit from improvements.

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Section: The Importance Of Hunter–gatherer Genetics Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Hunter–gatherer genetics research: Importance and avenues

Padilla-Iglesias,

Derkx

2024

Evolut. Hum. Sci.

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“…On the other hand, "rarity" in the fossil record does not necessarily imply a low demographic density, rather it can result from a taphonomic bias, which in turn can relate to several factors, for instance body size or environmental preferences [58,[61][62][63][64][65][66]. These biases can affect the representation of a taxon within a specific geographic area due to its biological and ecological characteristics, but also between areas that hosted different ecosystems A striking example is the paucity of the fossil record concerning the evolution of African great apes (chimpanzees and gorillas) in comparison to that of East African hominins [67]. During the Quaternary, interpreting the impact all these entwined factors is further complicated by the evolution of large mammal species in a context of enhanced climatic instability, which promoted the evolution of species prone to react to environmental changes by shifting their range [68].…”

Section: Quaternary Large Mammal Biochronologymentioning

confidence: 99%

What Does the “Elephant-Equus” Event Mean Today? Reflections on Mammal Dispersal Events around the Pliocene-Pleistocene Boundary and the Flexible Ambiguity of Biochronology

Iannucci

Sardella

2023

Quaternary

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The dispersal of primitive elephantines and monodactyl equids in Eurasia has long been regarded as representative of a substantial turnover in mammal faunas, denoting the spread of open environments linked to the onset of cold and dry conditions in the Northern Hemisphere. During the 1980s, this event was named the “Elephant-Equus event” and it was correlated with the Gauss-Matuyama reversal, today corresponding to the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition and the beginning of the Quaternary, dated at ~2.6 Ma. Therefore, the Elephant-Equus event became a concept of prominent biochronological and paleoecological significance, especially in western Europe. Yet, uncertainties surrounding the taxonomy and chronology of early “elephant” and “Equus”, as well as conceptual differences in adopting (or understanding) the Elephant-Equus event as an intercontinental dispersal event or as a stratigraphic datum, engendered ambiguity and debate. Here, we provide a succinct review of the Elephant-Equus event, considering separately the available evidence on the “elephant” and the “Equus”. Elephantines dispersed out of Africa during the Pliocene (Piacenzian). Their earliest calibrated occurrences from eastern Europe date at ~3.2 Ma and they are usually referred to Mammuthus rumanus, although the allocation of several samples to this species is tentative. Available dating constraints for other localities do not resolve whether the dispersal of Mammuthus was synchronous across Eurasia, but this possibility cannot be ruled out. The spread of Mammuthus was part of an intercontinental faunal exchange between Africa and Eurasia that occurred during the Piacenzian, but in this scenario, Mammuthus is quite unique in being the only genus of African origin dispersing to western Eurasia. The arrival of monodactyl equids from North America coincides with the Pliocene-Pleistocene transition, with several occurrences dated or calibrated at ~2.6 Ma and no compelling evidence prior to this age. In Europe, early monodactyl equids are often aligned to Equus livenzovensis, but the material from the type locality of this species is chronologically time-averaged and taxonomically heterogeneous, and western European samples are seldom abundant or informative. Regardless, this does not diminish the biochronological significance of the “Equus event”. Indeed, while the term “Elephant-Equus event” should no longer be used, as the appearance of elephantines in the European fossil record markedly precedes that of monodactyl equids, we endorse the use of the “Equus event” as a valid alternative to refer to the intercontinental dispersal event that characterizes the middle Villafranchian faunal turnover, epitomized by but not limited to monodactyl equids.

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“…In the last decades, the region received an increased attention, enriching the available dataset, updating previous information, and boosting the research competition in this region. Today the map of MSA sites consists of open-air, rock shelter and cave sites in Senegal, Mali (Chevrier et al, 2016;Douze et al, 2021;Lebrun et al, 2016;Lespez et al, 2011;Niang et al, 2020Niang et al, , 2018Rasse et al, 2020Rasse et al, , 2012Rasse et al, , 2004Schmid et al, 2022;Soriano, 2003;Soriano et al, 2010), Guinea (Davies, 1964), Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso (Allsworth- Jones, 2019;Frank et al, 2001;Kote, 2019), Ghana (Andah, 1979;Balhu, 2017), Niger, Benin (Allsworth-Jones, 2019; Bagodo, 2004;N'Dah, 2009), Nigeria (Allsworth-Jones, 2019; Bagodo, 2004), Cameroon Martı ´, 2003), Equatorial Guinea (Cruz-y-Cruz et al, 2022;Mercader and Martı ´, 2003;Rosas et al, 2022), Gabon (Mesfin et al, 2021), Congo basin (Mesfin et al, 2020a(Mesfin et al, , 2020bTaylor, 2016), Angola de Matos and Pereira, 2020;de Matos, 2022a;Ervedosa, 1980;Mesfin, 2018), and Namibia (Nicoll, 2009;Shackley, 1986).…”

Section: Archaeological Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Middle Stone Age of Atlantic Africa: A critical review

Pereira,

Oosterbeek,

Pleurdeau

et al. 2023

L'Anthropologie

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The scarcity of fossils in the African rainforest. Archaeo-paleontological surveys and actualistic taphonomy in Equatorial Guinea

Cited by 6 publications

References 33 publications

Hunter–gatherer genetics research: Importance and avenues

Hunter–gatherer genetics research: Importance and avenues

What Does the “Elephant-Equus” Event Mean Today? Reflections on Mammal Dispersal Events around the Pliocene-Pleistocene Boundary and the Flexible Ambiguity of Biochronology

The Middle Stone Age of Atlantic Africa: A critical review

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