The origin of early Acheulean expansion in Europe 700 ka ago: new findings at Notarchirico (Italy)

Abstract Notarchirico (Southern Italy) has yielded the earliest evidence of Acheulean settlement in Italy and four older occupation levels have recently been unearthed, including one with bifaces, extending the roots of the Acheulean in Italy even further back in time. New 40Ar/39Ar on tephras and E...

Descripción completa

Guardado en:
Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Marie-Hélène Moncel, Carmen Santagata, Alison Pereira, Sébastien Nomade, Pierre Voinchet, Jean-Jacques Bahain, Camille Daujeard, Antonio Curci, Cristina Lemorini, Bruce Hardy, Giacomo Eramo, Claudio Berto, Jean-Paul Raynal, Marta Arzarello, Beniamino Mecozzi, Alessio Iannucci, Raffaele Sardella, Ignazio Allegretta, Emanuela Delluniversità, Roberto Terzano, Pauline Dugas, Gwenolé Jouanic, Alain Queffelec, Andrea d’Andrea, Rosario Valentini, Eleonora Minucci, Laura Carpentiero, Marcello Piperno
Formato: article
Lenguaje:EN
Publicado: Nature Portfolio 2020
Materias:
R
Q
Acceso en línea:https://doaj.org/article/a8bba9f571bf4040a5728000aa8c35d5
Etiquetas: Agregar Etiqueta
Sin Etiquetas, Sea el primero en etiquetar este registro!
Descripción
Sumario:Abstract Notarchirico (Southern Italy) has yielded the earliest evidence of Acheulean settlement in Italy and four older occupation levels have recently been unearthed, including one with bifaces, extending the roots of the Acheulean in Italy even further back in time. New 40Ar/39Ar on tephras and ESR dates on bleached quartz securely and accurately place these occupations between 695 and 670 ka (MIS 17), penecontemporaneous with the Moulin-Quignon and la Noira sites (France). These new data demonstrate a very rapid expansion of shared traditions over Western Europe during a period of highly variable climatic conditions, including interglacial and glacial episodes, between 670 and 650 (i.e., MIS17/MIS16 transition). The diversity of tools and activities observed in these three sites shows that Western Europe was populated by adaptable hominins during this time. These conclusions question the existence of refuge areas during intense glacial stages and raise questions concerning understudied migration pathways, such as the Sicilian route.