Changing times, changing habitats: biostratigraphic and paleoecological insights from fossil micromammals in archaeological contexts

Abstract

Fossil micromammals (including rodents, insectivores, and bats) are key proxies for reconstructing past environments, climates, and chronological frameworks. They are highly sensitive to environmental changes and are commonly well preserved in the fossil record.

Their taxonomic diversity, combined with diagnostic morphological features, allows for precise identification and robust quantitative analyses. Standard methodologies integrate field recovery, laboratory identification, morphometric measurements, and statistical approaches to infer paleoecological and paleoclimatic conditions.

The study of fossil small mammal assemblages enables the reconstruction of past habitats and the estimation of climatic parameters such as temperature and precipitation. In addition, micromammals provide high-resolution biostratigraphic and biochronological frameworks based on patterns of faunal succession.

A series of case studies illustrates the wide range of applications and potential of micromammal-based research in biochronology and paleoenvironmental reconstruction.

About the Speaker

I am a palaeontologist specializing in Quaternary small mammal assemblages from archaeological and palaeontological sites. My research focuses on reconstructing past environments and climates using fossil microvertebrates, as well as on the biochronology of the Quaternary in Central and Mediterranean Europe. I currently work as Associate Professor at the Faculty of Archaeology, University of Warsaw (Poland).

My current research interests include the integration of palaeogenomic and palaeoproteomic approaches with classical microvertebrate analyses, the application of modelling tools to better understand past species distributions through time, and the direct radiocarbon dating of Late Pleistocene small mammal remains.

Throughout my career, I have investigated numerous microvertebrate assemblages from Palaeolithic archaeological contexts. My work includes Early Palaeolithic sites such as Pirro Nord 13, Notarchirico, Isernia La Pineta, and Tunel Wielki; Middle Palaeolithic sites including Ciota Ciara Cave, Caverna degli Orsi, Grotta dei Santi, Koziarnia Cave, and Raj Cave; as well as several Late Palaeolithic sites such as Tagliente Rockshelter and Mochi Rockshelter, among others.