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New fossils of paroxyclaenids (Placentalia, Mammalia) from the early Eocene of France shed light on the origin and evolution of these endemic European mammals
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Paroxyclaenidae is an enigmatic archaic group of middle size placental mammals. They are known only from Europe, and are recorded from the early Eocene (Ypresian) to the middle Eocene (Bartonian). Paroxyclaenids are divided into two distinct subfamilies: Paroxyclaeninae and Merialinae. They have been variously placed by different authors in Carnivora, Creodonta, ‘Condylarthra’, and Insectivora, but are considered since 1970’s as members of Pantolesta. The dentition of paroxyclaenids is complete (4 premolars, 3 molars); it is highly specialized, with relatively enlarged posterior premolars, spaced out cheek teeth, but primitive, for instance, in the absence of hypocone on upper molars. The molars decrease in size from M1/m1 to M3/m3; the M3 and m3 are sometimes well reduced. A particularity of the dentition of some paroxyclaenids is the tendency to enlargement and molarisation of the third and fourth upper and lower premolars, generally exceeding the succeeding molars in size. We recently studied unpublished fossils from the first half of the Ypresian: these fossils originate from the French localities of Le Lien (Hérault), Pourcy, Mutigny, Avenay (Marne), and Condé-en-Brie (Aisne). They allow to describe new specimens of Merialus martinae (the oldest paroxyclaenid) and three new species – the oldest paroxyclaenine and two merialines. Their study is the opportunity to review the evolution of this family – the last extensive and comprehensive review of the paroxyclaenids has been published in 1988. The two paroxyclaenid subfamilies – Paroxyclaeninae and Merialinae – are rarely recorded together: this case only occurs in the Paris Basin during the early Eocene (Mutigny, Avenay, Condé-en-Brie). Half of the merialines are present in the Southern European Province, while the paroxyclaenines are only recorded in Northern European Province. The two subfamilies reach their maximum size (+/- 3-4 kg) (e.g., Spaniella, Kopidodon) around the early/middle Eocene boundary (47.8 Myr). However, some smaller paroxyclaenids (body mass around 1 kg) have co-existed together with the larger ones. The small middle Eocene paroxyclaenids, which are as small as the taxa found in the early Eocene, have been the last representatives of the group (Bartonian). The maximum of diversity of the Paroxyclaenids occurred during the Lutetian (middle Eocene). Finally, because the new fossils provide information on the morphology of the earliest paroxyclaenids, their study is the opportunity to question the origin of this group and its relationships among Placentalia. Grant Information: This abstract is a contribution to the project BR/121/A3/PALEURAFRICA funded by the Belgian Science Policy Office.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Platychelone emarginata gigantic Cretaceous marine turtle from Belgium
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Platychelone emarginata Dollo, 1909 is a large turtle from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) chalk sediments of Limburg, Belgium. Hitherto, only the name was given to this turtle without describing details or providing figures. A single well articulated carapace (IRScNB. Reg. 1681), lacking nuchal, peripherals, and pygal plates, is preserved. The distance from the first costal to the distal end of the eighth costal is 180 cm, indicating that the original carapace was about 210 cm long. Its gigantic size, flattened shell, reduction of distal half of costals, and loss of scute sulcus, indicate that Platychelone is a member of true marine turtles (superfamily Chelonioidea). Neurals are rectangular shape and inclination of the first thoracic vertebra is almost vertical, suggesting this turtle belongs to either Protostegidae or Dermochelyidae. Seventh and eighth costals are medially meeting due to the loss of neurals; this condition is shared with the genus Mesodermochelys from the Late Cretaceous (Santonian to Maastrichtian) of Japan. Thus, it seems most probable that Platychelone is a closest relative of Mesodermochelys among basal dermochelyids. Platychelone has presumed autoapomorphic characters such as very thickened distal ends of thoracic ribs and irregular sculptures on carapace, not seen in any other chelonioids. This genus is only known by the holotype, whereas Allopleuron hoffmanni, a very common cheloniid marine turtle from in the Maastrichtian deposits of Belgium and Netherland, is known from some hundred specimens. So far, there is no ancestral or related taxon of Platychelone from the Campanian deposits of Belgium. The occurrence of Platychelone is very rare but evokes a high taxonomic diversity of gigantic chelonioids in the Cretaceous Tethys.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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The small-mammal assemblage from Caverne Marie-Jeanne (Hastière-Lavaux, Belgium): environmental and climatic approach of the marine isotope stage 3 in North-Western Europe
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Small mammal faunas from the Pleistocene of Belgium are not well-known. Some have been studied from the second half of the Late Pleistocene and the Early Holocene. However, only a few sites from the first half of the Late Pleistocene (Marine Isotope Stage 3, MIS 3, ca. 60-30 ka) have yielded small mammal assemblages. Among them is the Marie-Jeanne Cave that is situated in the southeast of Belgium, in the Ardennes region. It is formed in the Early Carboniferous limestone deposits above the Meuse River, near the town of Hastière-Lavaux. The excavated deposits evidenced ten different layers but only the layers 6 to 2 yieldeda large collection of faunal remains. Recent dating of the stratigraphic sequence of the Marie-Jeanne Cave shows that these layers have a chronological range pertaining to MIS 3 (about 50-40 ka BP). During the first field campaign in 1943, about 40 m3 of sedimentswereextracted recovering a large collection of disarticulated bone fragments and several plant, mollusc and archaeological remains housed at the RBINS. A first study of this material underlined the presence of 29 taxa of insectivores, bats and rodents. The recent revision of the material revealed 9897 identified specimens, corresponding to a minimum of 4980 individuals. This permitted us to add to the previous list two vole species, the steppe lemming Lagurus lagurus and the European pine vole Microtus (Terricola) subterraneus. We also undertook new paleoenvironmental and paleoclimatic reconstructions based on alternative methods from those previously used for the MIS 3 sequence of the Marie-Jeanne Cave. Our results indicate that MIS 3 is characterized by dynamic alternations of forest expansion with semiarid area expansion in accordance with the warming and cooling, respectively, of the sea-surface temperatures. It was in this context of rapid fluctuations that the terrestrial sequence of the Marie-Jeanne Cave in north-western Europe was formed. The fossiliferous layers underwent cold and dry environmental and climatic conditions. This is indicated by lower temperatures and slightly higher precipitation than today, together with an environment dominated by open woodland formations and open dry meadows. Our results are consistent with the available chronological, large-mammal, herpetofaunal, and mollusc datasets for this lower part of the sequence. They are also consistent with regional loess studies in Belgium and with previous work performed on small mammals from MIS 3 in Belgium and elsewhere in Europe. Grant Information: Generalitat de Catalunya projects, Synthesis Grants, PhD grant of the Erasmus Mundus Programme - International Doctorate in Quaternary and Prehistory.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2017
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Climate change impact on wind, waves and surges
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RBINS Staff Publications 2019
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Macrobotanical mixtures from river deposits in Brussels: from a rural Gallo-Roman site to the urbanisation of a medieval city
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In the last decade, macrobotanical remains from meters-thick infills of riverbeds excavated at two archaeological sites in Brussels were extensively studied. To the north of the city centre, at the site of Tour & Taxis, the remains of a meandering river arm was brought to light. Archaeological finds indicate human occupation during the Gallo-Roman period, while in the early medieval period anthropogenic activities declined and the river arm gradually disappeared from the landscape. The second site is situated within the ancient city centre of Brussels, in the area of the medieval harbour on the Senne, where several phases of the medieval river were uncovered. The oldest layers document on the towns’ earliest developments while the most recent deposits shed light on the late medieval city and its urbanisation. The results of the macrobotanical analyses of these two similar contexts from a rural and an urban site illustrate the potential and challenges of archaeobotanical studies of fluvial deposits and highlight the importance of an integrated taphonomical approach. The exceptional diversity of the plant material and its excellent waterlogged preservation offer unique insights into various aspects of daily life through time. Plant remains from both sites consist of a mixture of naturally accumulated material and remains from anthropogenic deposits, including animal dung, human excrements, fuel, domestic and artisanal waste. Due to the diverse origins of the botanical material that ended up in the water, the assemblages not only provide information on the local vegetation history but also on agriculture, food economy, trade, ornamental plants and waste management. In addition, numerous remains from the urban Senne deposits give material evidence for textile working and dyeing with plants along the riverbanks for more than three centuries. Keywords: Archaeobotany; Vegetation; Food Economy; Textile Working; Urbanisation; Taphonomy; River Deposits Presentation in session E2: River and Inland Water Archaeology - Exploring submerged and Watercourse-Linked Cultural Heritage
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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Understanding late medieval farming practices: an interdisciplinary study on byre remains from the historical centre of Brussels (Belgium)
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During a preventive archaeological excavation in the historical centre of Brussels (Belgium), the waterlogged remains of a 13th century AD sunken byre (potstal) were discovered. The exceptional preservation instigated a multiproxy approach, including micro-archaeology, micromorphology, phytolith and parasite analysis on thin sections, palynology and the study of plant macroremains on the fill of the structure. Beyond detailing the content and multiple origins of the fill (including excremental waste and urines, fodder and bedding material, plaggen and/or soil sods, household and construction waste), this study also provides detailed insights into foddering customs, hygienic conditions within the stable, and the health status of the animals kept. Moreover, historians claim the importance of an agro-pastoral system where animals were kept in stables over winter as part of the explanation for cultivating new and less rich soils in high medieval times. The intensive study of high medieval cultivated fields in the historical centre of Brussels indeed shows that they have intensively been amended. So aside from documenting husbandry practices, this study also informs about late medieval farming practices in Brussels, more specifically the need to collect substantial amounts of manure to add as fertiliser onto cultivated poor sandy soils.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025
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Première visualisation tridimensionnelle par tomographie d’un squelette de périssodactyle de Messel (Eurohippus messelensis)
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Le Lägerstatte de Messel est un site UNESCO mondialement connu pour la conservation exceptionnelle de ses fossiles de la base de l’Eocène moyen (MP11, 48 à 47 Ma). En effet ces spécimens sont très souvent complets et articulés, et préservent même le contenu stomachal, les poils, quelques traces de tissus mous, ainsi que des fœtus. Au moins cinq espèces de périssodactyles sont connues à Messel, appartenant à au moins trois groupes différents (Ceratomorpha, Lophiodontidae et Hippomorpha). Ces fossiles, bien que très complets, sont généralement préservés sur des plaques de résines ne permettant qu’une observation en deux dimensions et sur une seule face. Ce type de préservation ne permet donc pas d’observer chaque ossement en trois dimensions, et complique donc l’étude anatomique. C’est en partie pour cette raison que les périssodactyles de Messel n’ont été que superficiellement décrits et étudiés, malgré le nombre très important de spécimens, et leur préservation exceptionnelle. Ici, un squelette entier d’Eurohippus messelensis (IRNSB-M-1851) a pu être scanné par microtomographie à rayons X pour la première fois, dans le cadre du projet PerissOrigin. Il s’agit de l’un des cinq spécimens de périssodactyles de Messel appartenant aux collections de l’Institut des Sciences naturelles de Bruxelles, acquis lors des fouilles de 1983 à 1988. La tomographie de ce spécimen est particulièrement difficile de par sa grande taille (70x60cm) et par la préservation sur plaque, mais elle a été rendue possible grâce au Double Tomographe à Haute Energie (DTHE) du laboratoire MatéIS à Lyon (Figure 1), avec une résolution de 75 microns. La plupart des ossements, ainsi que le crâne et les dents ont pu être segmentés, révélant pour la première leur morphologie complète en trois dimensions. Cependant, bien que la face exposée soit très bien préservée, la face non-exposée l’est beaucoup moins, rendant la segmentation difficile. Nous présenterons donc ici les résultats de la segmentation de ce spécimen ainsi que quelques particularités anatomiques d’Eurohippus messelensis. Deux autres squelettes seront prochainement tomographiés, dont l’un appartenant à une espèce de périssodactyle énigmatique, Hallensia matthesi, ce qui permettra de mieux comprendre sa place au sein des périssodactyles.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2025 OA
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Robot-miners for a new mining future
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RBINS Staff Publications 2022
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The ROBOMINERS mineralogical sensors: spectrometer prototypes for autonomous in-stream, in-slurry geochemical diagnostics.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2022
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The ROBOMINERS mineralogical sensors: spectrometer prototypes for autonomous in-stream, in-slurry geochemical diagnostics.
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RBINS Staff Publications 2021
