PALAEOENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS ON THE LATEST PLEISTOCENE AND HOLOCENE MICROMAMMALS FROM THE GROTTA DEI PIPISTRELLI (HYBLAEAN MOUNTAINS, SICILY, ITALY)

Abstract

The Eulipotyphla and Rodentia remains from the Grotta dei Pipistrelli in Sicily (Italy), a key region for the historical reconstruction of the Quaternary climates and environments of the central Mediterranean basin, are described and discussed. Three 14C radiometric dating display that the fossil remains were accumulated during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and in the middle Holocene. Taphonomic observations show that the small mammal remains probably come from Asio otus pellets. Both the micromammal assemblages are oligotypical and similar to each other. However, the relative abundance of Apodemus sylvaticus suggest temperate-warm and humid climatic conditions, in both LGM and middle Holocene. The frequency variations in the recognized taxa indicate that the palaeoenvironment was slightly more wooded in the LGM than during the middle Holocene. These results complement previous studies and allow the outline of a composite landscape with wooded areas interrupted by open spaces (grassland, steppe), shrubland and rocky areas, where the water supply provided by Anapo River and its tributaries was enough to support a rich vegetation cover, particularly in the LGM.