Biostratigraphy and Paleoecology of Large Mammals from Middle and Late Pleistocene in Liguria (Italy) and the Alpes-Maritimes (France)

Alpes-Maritimes and Liguria represent a particularly rich region with several prehistoric sites, some of which have been known since the 19th century. A reassessment of the faunal assemblages from ten sites belonging to this region has allowed for the renewal of their faunal lists. The evolutionary stages of specific lineages of large mammals complement the biostratigraphic approach of the Late Middle Pleistocene and Upper Pleistocene. It shows regional specificities linked to the geographical position of the deposits, such as the persistence of archaic taxa in the Upper Pleistocene ( Hyaena prisca and Cuon priscus ). In addition, the last occurrences of Ursus spelaeus are relatively late since they are recorded in Epigravettian deposits. Palaeoloxodon antiquus is well-represented at MIS 4 and seems to last in Liguria until the beginning of MIS 3. Mammuthus primigenius appears late in the region (at MIS 4) and is later represented at MIS 2 mainly by manufactured objects (ornaments and mobile art). A paleoclimatic analysis is proposed based on various methods (climatograms and multivariate analyses). The amplitude of the perceived cooling has been found to be always moderate due to the location of the deposits (southern position, proximity to the sea and the mountain), and the faunal sequences seem to have never entirely renewed, thus allowing a certain maintenance/upkeeping of local biodiversity which led to the homogeneity of faunal assemblages.