MAMMAL SKELETAL REMAINS FROM THE FUMANE CAVE (VERONA, NORTHERN ITALY): AN OXYGEN ISOTOPE STUDY AND ITS PALAEOCLIMATOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

A stable isotope study of mammal skeletal remains of Palaeolithic age from the Fumane cave (Verona, N. Italy) was carried out to
obtain palaeoclimatological information. The studied samples belong to Capra ibex, Cervus elaphus, Capreolus capreolus and
Bos/Bison sp. and come from various levels of the cave deposits of Upper and Mid Palaeolithic age. The δ18O of palaeoenvironmental
water was calculated from the δ18Op measured on fossil samples, according to the isotope equations previously calibrated on modern
specimens.
The results obtained suggest that teeth must be considered with great caution for palaeoclimatic reconstruction: in the case of this
study they yield quite unreliable results. In a general way, isotopically well-preserved bones are preferrable since the interpretation of
their results is more straightforward, more reliable and more meaningful, the bone phosphate representing a mean value of a considerable period of the life of each specimen. The δ18Ow calculated from bone samples indicate that the climatic conditions were colder than at present. Further isotope data are of importance as a database for detailed reconstructions of the past climatic conditions along NS and EW geographic sections in Europe.