-
A diverse bird assemblage from the Ypresian of Belgium furthers knowledge of Early Eocene avifaunas of the North Sea Basin
-
We describe an assemblage of 54 avian bones from early Eocene marine sediments of the Ampe quarry near Egem in Belgium. The fossils belong to at least 20 species in more than 11 higher-level taxa. Well-identifiable specimens are assigned to the Odontopterygiformes, Galliformes, Messelornithidae, Apodiformes, Halcyornithidae, Leptosomiformes (cf.Plesiocathartes), and Coraciiformes (cf. Septencoracias). Further specimens are tentatively referred to the phaethontiform Prophaethontidae and to the Accipitridae, Masillaraptoridae, and Alcediniformes. The threedimensionally preserved fossils from Egem provide new data on the osteology of taxa that are otherwise mainly known from compression fossils with crushed bones. The material also includes specimens that further knowledge of the composition of early Eocene avifaunas of the North Sea Basin. The comparatively well-represented small galliform species is clearly distinguished from the early Eocene Gallinuloididae and most closely resembles Argillipes aurorum, a largely ignored galliform species from the London Clay. The tentatively identified fossils of Accipitridae and Alcediniformes would represent the earliest fossil records of these clades. The bird assemblage from Egem includes relatively few seabirds (Odontopterygiformes, cf. Prophaethontidae) and is dominated by remains of terrestrial species (Galliformes, Messelornithidae). Arboreal birds (Halcyornithidae, Leptosomiformes, cf. Alcediniformes, Coraciiformes) are less abundant and aerial insectivores (Apodiformes) very scarce, which either indicates a taphonomic bias in the composition of the avifauna or particular paleoenvironmental characteristics of the nearshore habitats in that area of the southern North Sea Basin.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2019
-
Fishing at the Late Islamic settlement in Kharā’ib al-Dasht, Failaka Island, Kuwait
-
The Kharā’ib al-Dasht settlement, located on the north-eastern coast of the island of Failaka in Kuwait, has been excavated systematically since 2013 by the Kuwaiti-Polish Archaeological Mission. The investigated area yielded remains dated to the Late Islamic period, from the late seventeenth to the nineteenth century. In the northernmost part of the site, a fish processing area was uncovered, while the remains of residential structures (houses 1 and 2), as well as a mosque, were discovered in the eastern part of the site. Concentrations of fireplaces, hearths and ovens were discovered inside the houses and courtyards of what seems to be the centre of the settlement as well as from the periphery of the site. Fishing was evidenced not only by the presence of fish bones but also by recovered fishing technologies, including the remains of stone fish traps that were discovered in the coastal waters near to the site. The excavations yielded 12,182 bones of marine fishes. Twenty eight families are represented, including six families of cartilaginous fishes. Ariidae bones were most numerous followed by Haemulidae,Sciaenidae and Carcharhinidae. The analysis of the assemblage shows that fishing could have been of great importance to the inhabitants of the settlement. Moreover, we attest different patterns in the fish assemblages between the two different parts of the village. The fish processing area can be seen as a workplace, while the daily activity took place in the village. These differences can also be used to shed light on the fishing techniques these people used.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2021
-
Diet, hygiene and health in Roman period northern Gaul: A multidisciplinary study of a latrine from an artisan household in the vicus Orolaunum (Arlon, southern Belgium, c. 250–280 CE)
-
Botanical (macro remains and pollen) and animal remains, including intestinal parasites, from a latrine dated between c. 250 CE and 280 CE from the artisan quarter of the vicus Orolaunum (Arlon) have been studied. The results provide information on the diet and health of a non-elite and poorly understood part of the population in northern Gaul. The identified plant remains document a diet which include several Roman introductions to the region, but hardly any truly exotic imports. Also the remains of fish sauce have been identified, but this was a locally produced variety and possibly a cheaper version of the typical Mediterranean product. The results indicate that the diet of the household using the latrine was strongly influenced by romanisation and that the lack of exotic imports was most likely the result of a low economic status rather than a lack of interest for these products. The people using the latrine were also infected with both roundworm and whipworm, two intestinal parasites that were probably common in the population of northern Roman Gaul and which are spread when sanitation is ineffective.
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2021
-
Stratigraphical reinterpretation of Devonian strata underlying the Mons Basin based on cuttings from the Saint-Ghislain borehole, Hainaut, Belgium
-
It is revealed that the lowest 1010 m of the Saint-Ghislain borehole (-4393 to -5403 m), of which cuttings are available, constitutes a crucial source of information to investigate, amongst others, the deep geothermal potential within the Brabant Parautochthon, underlying the Mons Basin, Hainaut. The lithological succession of this interval was reconstructed based mainly on visual analysis and calcimetry of 852 cutting samples as well as four core samples. Additionally, palynological, magnetic susceptibility and X-ray diffraction analyses were conducted in order to complement the dataset. The lower section of the investigated borehole sequence mainly consists of grey calcareous shale while the middle section is dominated by blue-grey shaly limestone and the upper section is mainly composed of green shale. Palynomorphs found at -5261 m suggest an uppermost Givetian–Lower Frasnian age. A new lithostratigraphical interpretation of the deepest part of the Saint-Ghislain borehole is proposed. The lower calcareous shale from -5403 m to -5100 m is interpreted as the Bovesse Formation (Lower Frasnian) and at its base possibly uppermost Givetian. The overlying limestones from -5100 to -4790 m can be attributed to the Rhisnes Formation (Upper Frasnian), and the green shale between ca. -4393 and -4790 m, to the Bois de la Rocq Member (Famennian). These results open new insights regarding the geological interpretation of the basement underlying the Mons Basin. They also present a promising approach and example regarding interpretations based on cuttings. KEYWORDS: Brabant Parautochthon, Mons Basin, Frasnian, Famennian, geothermal energy, Saint-Ghislain borehole
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2020
-
Whelks, rock-snails, and allied: a new phylogenetic framework for the family Muricidae (Mollusca: Gastropoda)
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
-
Just below the surface, the pelagic haplochromine cichlids from the Lake Edward system
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
-
Species depauperate communities and low abundances of monogenean gill parasites at the edge of the natural distribution range of their cichlid hosts in northern Africa
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
-
Molecular phylogeny of the snorkel snail Rhiostoma housei, a species complex from Thailand with descriptions of three new species
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
-
A review of the present-day Australian species of the gastropod subgenus Rissoina (Rissolina) (Rissooidea: Rissoinidae) with descriptions of two new species
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
-
Haplotaxis gordioides (Hartmann in Oken, 1819) (Annelida, Clitellata) as a subcosmopolitan species: a commonly held view challenged by DNA barcoding
-
Located in
Library
/
RBINS Staff Publications 2023 OA
