Lake-Level Changes and Their Paleo-Climatic Implications at the MIS12 Lower Paleolithic (Middle Pleistocene) Site Marathousa 1, Greece

Lithics and cut-marked mammal bones, excavated from the paleo-lake Marathousa 1 (MAR-1) sediments in Megalopolis Basin, southern Greece, indicate traces of hominin activity occurring along a paleo-shoreline ca. 444,000 years (444 ka) ago. However, local environment climatic conditions promoting area during MIS12 glacial remain largely unknown. In order to reconstruct paleo-environment including levels governing paleo-climatic factors on high temporal resolution, we analyzed 6-meter-long sediment sequence archeological site MAR-1 Bayesian age model was computed for better constrain different sedimentary units. A multiproxy approach applied using ostracods, sponge spicules, diatoms, grain sizes, total organic carbon, inorganic carbon conventional X-ray fluorescence analysis. The results represent protected region surrounded by mountains under constant influence water, either as shallow partly anoxic water body reed belts (>463–457 ka, <434–427 ka), riverine-lake deltaic system (∼457–448 floodplain (∼448–444 or seasonal freshwater pond (∼444–436 ka). changes resemble large trends rhythms regional records Mediterranean appear directly respond sea surface temperature (SST) North Atlantic. particular, when SSTs are high, more moisture reaches study vice versa. Additional through melting surrounding glaciers after brief warm phases realm, which leads formation smaller fresh ponds, where also horizon remains is placed. Such rich ostracods other microorganisms, provided mammals humans valuable resources, such potable wide range plant species hunting opportunities. These deposits therefore bear potential. our suggest that Basin could have served refugium hominins organisms due its capacity retain bodies interglacial periods.