Tyrrhenian (stage)

This is a Geological time scale article, for archaeologiy, see Etruscan civilization

The Tyrrhenian Stage is the last faunal stage of the Pleistocene in Italy. It runs from 0.26 million (260,000) to 0.01143 million (11,430) years ago.^[1] It overlaps with the end of the Middle Pleistocene and all of the Late Pleistocene. The time period of the Tyrrhenian Stage is the same as that of the Senegalese fauna assemblage.^[2]

Definition

The end of the Tyrrhenian is defined as exactly 10,000 Carbon-14 years before the present (0.01143 +/- 0.00013 mya), which is near to the end of the Younger Dryas cold spell.^[1]

History of the definition

The Tyrrhenian Stage was first defined in 1914 by Arturo Issel^[3] to describe the stratigraphic section containing Strombus fossils originally investigated by Gignoux.^[4] Strombus bubonius was the leading fossil.^[2]

References

1. 1 2 GeoWhen Database: Tyrrhenian European Stage
2. 1 2 Hearty, P.J. and Pra, G. Dai (2003) "Comment on: "The age of Late Pleistocene shorelines and tectonic activity of Taranto area, southern Italy" by G. Bellouomini, M. Caldara, C. Casini, M. Cerasoli, L. Manfra, G. Mastrronuzzi, G. Palmentola, P. Sanso, P. Tuccimei, and P.L. Vesica" Quaternary Science Reviews 22: pp. 2363-2367;
3. ↑ Issel, Arturo (1914) "Lembi fossilferi quaternari e recenti nella Sardegna meridionale. Accademia Nazionale dei Lincei 5(23): pp. 759-770;
4. ↑ Gignoux, M. (1913) "Les formations marines pliocenes et Quaternaires de l'Italie du sud et de la Sicilie" Annals de l'Universite de Lyon n.s. 36.