Chronostratigraphic constraints on Middle Pleistocene faunal assemblages and Acheulian industries from the Cretone lacustrine basin, central Italy

Integrated40Ar/39Ar, trace-element, stratigraphic, palaeontological and palaethnological data providegeochronological and biochronological constraints for the sedimentary and tectonic history of a Middle Pleistocenefluvial–lacustrine basin near Rome (Cretone Basin, central Italy), which has yielded a significant record of mammalfossil remains and Palaeolithic industry. This work is a case study of the interplay between tectonics and glacio-eustacy, which strongly influenced the evolution of the Tyrrhenian Sea margin of central Italy. Dating of tephralayers interbedded within the Cretone Basin lacustrine succession and reconstruction of relict terraced surfacesallow correlation with similar, geochronologically constrained, marine isotopic stages (MIS) 15–5 terraced depositsalong the coast. Coupled extensional tectonics and regional uplift over the last 600ka caused the progressiveuplifting and westward migration of the main fluvial–lacustrine basin and the formation of a smaller satellite basinat its eastern margin. Here, stable environmental conditions during MIS 13–5 indicated continuous human andlarge mammal frequentation, as testified by lithic industry and fossil remains ascribable to the Acheulean and laterearly Middle Palaeolithic technocomplexes and Galerian–Aurelian mammal faunas, respectively. In additionto providing independent age constraints to glacial sea-level oscillations of this region, the reconstructedchronostratigraphic setting for the Cretone Basin provides evidence for one of the oldest Acheulean lithicassemblage of central Italy, as well as new biochronological and palaeobiogeographical data for some MiddlePleistocene mammal species of Italy.