Journal article
Chronological assessments of Quina Neanderthals at De Nadale cave (Italy) using combined uranium-series/electron spin resonance dating of fossil teeth
Journal of human evolution, Vol.215-216, pp.1-11
06/2026
PMID: 42150464
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Abstract
De Nadale Cave is a Neanderthal site located in the Berici Hills of Northeast Italy that provides important insights into regional Middle Paleolithic occupational dynamics. This paper presents the results of the first combined uranium-series and electron spin resonance (U-S/ESR) dating study of herbivore teeth recovered from the site. Three bovid and cervid teeth yield U-S/ESR ages of 79 ± 9 ka, 72 ± 11 ka, and 55 ± 11 ka, with a calculated weighted mean age of 70.1 ± 5.9 ka. These age estimates align with, and further clarify, earlier biochronological findings at De Nadale Cave, as well as previous analyses of charcoal fragments and U/Th dating undertaken on a large herbivore tooth from the site. The new U-S/ESR ages are statistically indistinguishable from the previously published U/Th minimum age of 70.2 +1.0/-0.9 ka when considering their 2σ uncertainty ranges. The consistency of these results supports the reliability of the U-S/ESR chronological framework at De Nadale and indicates that Neanderthal occupation of the site potentially occurred close to the transition between late Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5 and early MIS 4, providing important insights into Neanderthal occupation patterns during the harsh stadial and transitional climate phases of the Late Pleistocene. More broadly, the improved chronological framework for De Nadale indicates that Middle Paleolithic Quina technology is likely associated with this MIS transition, in accordance with emerging chronological findings from similar archaeological sites across Western Europe.
Details
- Title
- Chronological assessments of Quina Neanderthals at De Nadale cave (Italy) using combined uranium-series/electron spin resonance dating of fossil teeth
- Creators
- Wenjing Yu - Southern Cross UniversityLee J Arnold - Adelaide UniversityMartina Demuro - Adelaide UniversityDavide Delpiano - University of FerraraAlessandra Livraghi - University of FerraraRenaud Joannes-Boyau - Southern Cross UniversityMarco Peresani - University of Ferrara
- Publication Details
- Journal of human evolution, Vol.215-216, pp.1-11
- Publisher
- Academic Press
- Grant note
- Research at De Nadale Cave is coordinated by the University of Ferrara (M.P.) within the framework of a project supported by the Ministry of Culture—Veneto Archaeological Superintendence and the Zovencedo Municipality—and financed by the University of Ferrara, the H. Obermaier Society, local private companies (R.A.A.S.M.), and local promoters. This research was also supported by the Australian Research Council Discovery Project grants (ARC DP140100919 and ARC DP220100195 to R.J.B. and ARC DP170100056 to R.J.B.), an Australian Research Council Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment and Facilities (LIEF) grant (ARC LE200100022 to R.J.B.), and an ARC Future Fellowship grant (ARC FT200100816 to M.D.)
- Identifiers
- 991013376466102368
- Copyright
- © 2026 The Authors.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering; Office of Senior Deputy Vice Chancellor, Research; Science
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article