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Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) Dating of Hominid-Bearing Deposits in the Caverna delle Fate, Ligure, Italy

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Christophe Falgueres
Affiliation:
Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, UR-184 du CNRS, 1 rue R. Panhard, 75013 Paris, France
Yuji Yokoyama
Affiliation:
Institut de Paléontologie Humaine, UR-184 du CNRS, 1 rue R. Panhard, 75013 Paris, France
Roland Bibron
Affiliation:
Centre des Faibles Radioactivités, Laboratoire mixte CNRS-CEA, 91190, Gif sur Yvette, France

Abstract

Stalagmitic floors interstratified with Mousterian deposits from the Caverna delle Fate (Italy) have been dated by the electron spin resonance (ESR) method. Three samples dated fall between 60,000 and 74,000 yr and indicate the age of the Mousterian deposits. They are in good agreement with ages determined by nondestructive γ-ray spectrometry of the human remains from 231Pa/235U and 230Th/234U ratios, which are, respectively, yr. These dates are consistent with the morphological characteristics of the bones as Neanderthal remains.

Type
Articles
Copyright
University of Washington

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