GEOLOGICAL EVOLUTION AND BIOCHRONOLOGICAL EVIDENCES OF THE MONTE RICCIO SECTION (TARQUINIA, CENTRAL ITALY)

Abstract

The geological evolution of the area of M.te Riccio for the Plio-Pleistocene time span has been pointed out. The M.te Riccio area was probably an high during Gelasian-Santernian times. The stratigraphical sequence shows the passage from a coastal marine environment during Pliocene, to a coastal environment during Early Pleistocene (testified by evidences of shorelines) to continental conditions during the upper part of Pleistocene. The analysis of the mammal bones coming from a level overlying a marine formation ("Macco" auct.) allow us to ascribe the faunal association to the late Villafranchian (Tasso F.U.) referable to the beginning of the Pleistocene. It is the first signalation of an Early Pleistocene mammal fauna in the Northern Latium.