@article {330478,
	title = {The expression of the MIS 12 glacial stage in Southeastern Europe and its impact over the Middle Pleistocene hominins in Megalopolis Basin (Greece)},
	journal = {Global and Planetary Change},
	volume = {242},
	year = {2024},
	month = {2024/11/01/},
	pages = {104585},
	abstract = {<p>Southern Europe is hypothesized to have acted as a glacial refugium for hominin populations during the Pleistocene. Of particular importance is South-East Europe, which most likely played a dual role, both as refugium and dispersal corridor, especially during the Middle Pleistocene glaciations, when drastic climatic conditions led to major sea level drops in the Aegean. However, little is known about the palaeoenvironmental conditions at the time of hominin presence in this region, making these hypotheses difficult to test. Here we analyze biomarker data and leaf wax stable isotopic compositions of the MIS 12 Lower Palaeolithic site Marathousa 1 (Megalopolis Basin, Greece) to assess the climatic conditions accompanying the time of hominin presence in the area. Our data indicate a major cooling affecting the north Mediterranean/Aegean domain during this time interval, with lowest temperatures recorded between \&sim;440\&ndash;432\&nbsp;ka. The glacial peak is associated with changes in vegetation (i.e., from more forested to more open landscape), reduction of humidity and water availability (i.e., moisture depletion, increased evaporation). Hominins are present at the Marathousa 1 location at the end of this interval (434\&ndash;432\&nbsp;ka), confirming that the Megalopolis Basin served as a refugium for hunter-gatherer groups during periods of harsh climatic conditions. Additionally, the progressive cooling is associated with an important sedimentary hiatus between \&sim;465\&ndash;440\&nbsp;ka reflected in all circum-Mediterranean records (both marine and continental), indicating a regional impact of the MIS 12 glaciation over surface processes.</p>
},
	keywords = {Glacial refugia, Lower Palaeolithic, Organic geochemistry, Palaeoclimate, Pleistocene, SE Europe, stable isotopes},
	isbn = {0921-8181},
	doi = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloplacha.2024.104585},
	url = {https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0921818124002327},
	author = {Butiseac{\u a}, Geanina A. and Vasiliev, Iuliana and van der Meer, Marcel T.J. and Bludau, Ines J.E. and Karkanas, Panagiotis and Tourloukis, Vangelis and Junginger, Annett and Mulch, Andreas and Panagopoulou, Eleni and Harvati, Katerina}
}
