Early Pleistocene large mammals from Villa Spinola (Perugia, Central Italy)

At the end of the 19th century, in the surroundings of Villa Spinola (Perugia), fossil mammal remains including proboscideans, rhinos, equids, suids, cervids, bovids and a panther were discovered. Unfortunately, most of these fossil bones were lost. The present work focuses on the still available fossil bones of Panthera gombaszoegensis and Mammuthus meridionalis (advanced form), stored at Perugia in the Cicioni and Bellucci Collections. Such analysis enables to point out considerations on the faunal assemblage biochronology and on the stratigraphy of the deposit, not visible anymore. The fauna can be referred to the Late Villafranchian (Early Pleistocene). Considerations on the fossilization suggest that the fossil bones come from a paleosoil that has never been recognised before.