Journal article
U-series dating and classification of the Apidima 2 hominin from Mani Peninsula, Southern Greece
Journal of human evolution, Vol.109, pp.22-29
08/2017
PMID: 28688457
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Source: InCites
Abstract
Laser ablation U-series dating results on a human cranial bone fragment from Apidima, on the western cost of the Mani Peninsula, Southern Greece, indicate a minimum age of 160,000 years. The dated cranial fragment belongs to Apidima 2, which preserves the facial skeleton and a large part of the braincase, lacking the occipital bone. The morphology of the preserved regions of the cranium, and especially that of the facial skeleton, indicates that the fossil belongs to the Neanderthal clade. The dating of the fossil at a minimum age of 160,000 years shows that most of the Neanderthal traits were already present in the MIS 6 and perhaps earlier. This makes Apidima 2 the earliest known fossil with a clear Neanderthal facial morphology. Together with the nearby younger Neanderthal specimens from Lakonis and Kalamakia, the Apidima crania are of crucial importance for the evolution of Neanderthals in the area during the Middle to Late Pleistocene. It can be expected that systematic direct dating of the other human fossils from this area will elucidate our understanding of Neanderthal evolution and demise.
Details
- Title
- U-series dating and classification of the Apidima 2 hominin from Mani Peninsula, Southern Greece
- Creators
- Antonis Bartsiokas - Democritus University of ThraceJuan Luis Arsuaga - Universidad Complutense de MadridMaxime Aubert - Australian National UniversityRainer Grün - Australian National University
- Publication Details
- Journal of human evolution, Vol.109, pp.22-29
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd
- Identifiers
- 991013103888702368
- Copyright
- © 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
- Academic Unit
- Faculty of Science and Engineering
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article