Environmental heterogeneity of the Lower Palaeolithic land surface on the Goodwood‐Slindon Raised Beach: comparisons of the records from Boxgrove and Valdoe, Sussex, UK

The buried soil above the Goodwood-Slindon Raised Beach running along foot of South Downs (Sussex) is one most extensive Lower Palaeolithic land surfaces known. It extends for 16 km but exposures are limited to Boxgrove, focus archaeological excavations since 1980s, and Valdoe, 4.8 west. palaeosol yielded vertebrates suggesting attribution Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 13 snails important in reconstruction local environments. Important differences exist between molluscan assemblages from Valdoe Boxgrove. An extinct snail Retinella (Lyrodiscus) elephantium, previously known Britain only MIS 11, occurred at unusually high frequencies poor woodland species, prompting a reappraisal its stratigraphical ecological significance. Conversely, Spermodea lamellata, species present was absent Valdoe. This lateral variability results both original heterogeneity environment, differential preservation resulting decalcification erosion. Calcitic slug plates over-represented (>50% fauna) decalcified sediments where shells composed aragonite rare. These considerations, comparisons with modern fossil assemblages, have led more nuanced reconstructions landscape occupied by early humans southern England ~500 ka ago.