The early stages of the Maltese pleistocene mammalian sequence : evidence from the Maghlaq quaternary deposits

Abstract

Most works on the Maltese Pleistocene vertebrates have been either taxonomic studies (e.g. Bate 1935; Zammit Maempel & De Bruijn 1982) or purely descriptive (eg. Despott 1916, 1917, 1923; Zammit Maempel 1982). A holistic approach, whereby the deposits are viewed as a whole in order to establish a chronostratigraphy of the Pleistocene vertebrates of the Maltese Islands has been conspicuous by its rarity, though a recent effort is that of Bonfiglio (1992). This preliminary study considers the mammal-bearing Pleistocene deposits of the Maghlaq region of the Maltese Islands and evaluates the evidence they contribute towards the establishment of the Maltese Pleistocene mammalian faunal succession. This is done against a background of the Sicilian mammalian stages.