Journal article
Implications of multi-modal age distributions in Pleistocene cave deposits: A case study of Maludong palaeoathropological locality, southern China
Journal of archaeological science, reports, Vol.25, pp.388-399
06/2019
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Abstract
The occurrence of multi-modal ages for inclusions contained within cave sediments is probably far more widespread and problematic than has been appreciated by archaeologists until now. This phenomenon is likely to be a relatively common situation in caves especially in tropical/sub-tropical areas like southern China where karstification and sedimentation would have been rapid within a context of active hydrological regimes over protracted periods during the Pleistocene. The availability of various cost-effective dating techniques applicable to both Pleistocene cave sediments and a range of sedimentary inclusions means that archaeologists are now better placed to understand this phenomenon than ever before. Here we describe the results of Uranium-series dating of a randomly selected sample of deer bones and teeth from Maludong in southern China which demonstrate the existence of disparate multi-modal ages among sedimentary inclusions at the site. These results have implications for previous reconstructions of the palaeoenvironment of the site as well as for interpretations of the possible significance of enigmatic hominin remains from Maludong for understanding the late phases of human evolutionary history in the region. We conclude that the complexities of reconstructing sedimentary history and allied challenges of dating sedimentary inclusions in caves require urgent and serious attention by archaeologists especially in light of the growing international attention being paid to later Middle and Late Pleistocene sites in tropical East Asia.
Details
- Title
- Implications of multi-modal age distributions in Pleistocene cave deposits: A case study of Maludong palaeoathropological locality, southern China
- Creators
- Darren Curnoe - University of New South WalesJian-xin Zhao - University of QueenslandMaxime Aubert - Griffith UniversityMian Fan - Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyYun Wu - Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and ArchaeologyAndy Baker - University of New South WalesGoh Hsiao Mei - University of New South WalesXue-feng Sun - Nanjing UniversityRaynold Mendoza - University of New South WalesLewis Adler - University of SydneyShiwu Ma - Mengzi Institute of Cultural RelicsLes Kinsey - Australian National UniversityXueping Ji - Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology
- Publication Details
- Journal of archaeological science, reports, Vol.25, pp.388-399
- Publisher
- Elsevier
- Number of pages
- 12
- Grant note
- University of New South Wales DP0877603; FT120100168 / Australian Research Council A-201301 / Yunnan Institute of Cultural Relics and Archaeology grant
- Identifiers
- 991013103895502368
- Copyright
- © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article