In:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 98, No. 9 ( 2001-04-24), p. 4866-4871
Abstract:
The Sangiran dome is the primary stratigraphic window for the
Plio-Pleistocene deposits of the Solo basin of Central Jawa. The dome has yielded nearly 80 Homo erectus fossils, around 50 of
which have known findspots. With a hornblende 40 Ar/ 39 Ar plateau age of 1.66 ± 0.04
mega-annum (Ma) reportedly associated with two fossils [Swisher, C.C., III, Curtis, G. H., Jacob, T., Getty, A. G., Suprijo, A. & Widiasmoro (1994) Science 263, 1118–1121), the dome
offers evidence that early Homo dispersed to East Asia
during the earliest Pleistocene. Unfortunately, the hornblende pumice was sampled at Jokotingkir Hill, a central locality with complex
lithostratigraphic deformation and dubious specimen provenance. To address the antiquity of Sangiran H. erectus more
systematically, we investigate the sedimentary framework and hornblende 40 Ar/ 39 Ar age for volcanic deposits in the
southeast quadrant of the dome. In this sector, Bapang (Kabuh) sediments have their largest exposure, least deformation, and most
complete tephrostratigraphy. At five locations, we identify a sequence of sedimentary cycles in which H. erectus fossils are
associated with epiclastic pumice. From sampled pumice, eight hornblende separates produced 40 Ar/ 39 Ar
plateau ages ranging from 1.51 ± 0.08 Ma at the Bapang/Sangiran Formation contact, to 1.02 ± 0.06 Ma, at a point above the
hominin-bearing sequence. The chronological sequence of 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages follows stratigraphic order
across the southeast quadrant. An intermediate level yielding four nearly complete crania has an age of about 1.25 Ma.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0027-8424
,
1091-6490
DOI:
10.1073/pnas.081077298
Language:
English
Publisher:
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Publication Date:
2001
detail.hit.zdb_id:
209104-5
detail.hit.zdb_id:
1461794-8
SSG:
11
SSG:
12
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