ABSTRACT At present, the Global Stratotype Section and Point (GSSP) for the base of the Bartonian remains the only GSSP of the Paleogene System to be defined by the International Subcommission on Paleogene Stratigraphy (ISPS) and the International Commission on Stratigraphy (ICS). Here, we present the results of an integrated, high-resolution study of calcareous plankton and benthic foraminifera biostratigraphy and a detailed magneto-, chemo-, and cyclostratigraphic analyses carried out through the upper Lutetian to the upper Priabonian pelagic sediments of the Bottaccione Gorge section near Gubbio, central Italy, to check its stratigraphic completeness and constrain in time the optimal interval for defining and positioning the GSSP for the base of the Bartonian Stage. The high-resolution and solid integrated stratigraphic framework established at Bottaccione confirmed the completeness of the section, which meets the ICS recommendations for a potential designation as a GSSP for the base of the Bartonian Stage. Thus, the Bottaccione section was compared with the parastratotype section of the Bartonian in its type area, Alum Bay, UK. On this basis, two reliable criteria for defining and positioning the Bartonian GSSP at Bottaccione are provided: (1) the base of magnetic polarity chronozone C18r as the primary correlation criterion and (2) the base of the calcareous nannofossil Dictyococcites bisectus , which defines the CNE14/CNE15 zonal boundary as a secondary correlation criterion.

Abstract A marine sediment core from the western Mediterranean provides a new high-resolution 4500 year record of palaeomagnetic secular variation and relative palaeointensity. In 2013, the 7.1 m C5 core was recovered from the Tyrrhenian Sea as part of the NextData climate data project. The coring site, 15 km offshore from the Volturno river mouth, is well located to record combined marine and terrestrial palaeoclimatic influences, and the fine-grained, rapidly deposited sediments are effective palaeomagnetic recorders. We investigate the palaeomagnetic field direction and strength recorded in the core, which provide a valuable high-resolution record of Holocene geomagnetic variation in the area. Using rock magnetic techniques, we constrain the magnetic mineralogy of the studied sediments and confirm their suitability for palaeomagnetic analysis. Palaeomagnetic declination and inclination records were determined by stepwise alternating-field demagnetization, and relative palaeointensity estimates were obtained based on normalization to anhysterestic and isothermal remanent magnetization and to magnetic susceptibility. The age of the core is well constrained with a tephra and biostratigraphic age model, and its magnetic records are compared with relevant core and model data for the region, demonstrating that our record is compatible with previous results from the area. An automated curve matching approach is applied to assess the compatibility of our data with the existing secular variation path for the Mediterranean area.