The late Early Pleistocene record of Saticula (Sant’Agata de’ Goti, Benevento, Italy)

A fluvio-lacustrine succession was discovered in 1995 at Saticula, near Sant’Agata de’ Goti (Benevento), below a thick volcaniclastic deposit sealed by the Campania Ignimbrite formation (39 ka). Vertebrate fossil remains and pollen were recovered in the excavated sections. Pollen analysis allowed recognition of two pollen zones, the first being characterised by a Quercus-Carya mixed deciduous forest which was probably present in the plain and on the slopes surrounding the Caudina valley basin. The transition to pollen zone 2 clearly records a drastic decrease in Carya pollen grains and the contemporary increase in herbs and Pinus. A more open environment established around the river shores due to a climate shift towards dryer conditions. Most of the vertebrate remains were found in the upper portion of the succession corresponding to pollen zone 2. The fossil mammal assemblage includes Hippopotamus antiquus, Axis eurygonos, Praemegaceros sp., Equus suessenbornensis and Stephanorhinus cf. S. hundsheimensis. In addition, a partial unerupted molar of an elephantid (tentatively attributed to Mammuthus meridionalis), two hyena coprolites and fragments of rodent teeth were identified. The high amount of Carya in pollen zone 1 represents the most peculiar feature of the Saticula floral record and was used as a reference for its chronological constrain. In fact, comparison with other Italian pollen sequences allowed the Saticula record to be tentatively ascribed to the late Early Pleistocene. After that period, Carya was never recorded in so high amounts and gradually disappeared from the Italian flora following a heterochronous latitudinal gradient. The Saticula mammal assemblage is in agreement with the chronological framework suggested by pollen data.