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Gigantopithecus was a great ape once lived in Southeast Asia and China during the Pleistocene, and the northernmost evidence of its presence is presently known from the Longgupo and Jianshi Longgudong sites located in the West-Hubei and Three Gorges region in Southof China. Here, we report the first radiometric dating by ESR/U-series method on mammalian teeth of Jianshi Longgudong site which was found in 1970s, and renowned by the discovery of both possible hominin and Gigantopithecus fossils in association with undoubted stone artifacts. As the cave site was completely emptied by the successive excavations, the analyzed teeth were selected from museum collections while the dosimetry was established from reworked sediments sampled on the site. The results obtained on two fossil teeth from the lower layer 8 give a weighted mean age of 1512 ± 94 ka, while a mean age of 1044 ± 53 ka was obtained for two other teeth from the upper layer 4. These ESR/U-series dating results, in agreement with the fauna record, are younger than the previous paleomagnetic dating interpretation and suggest that Jianshi Longgudong sequence is younger than the Olduvai subchron and the neighboring Longgupo site dated by the same methods to ca 2.2–2.5 Ma. • Northernmost evidence of the Gigantopithecus is dated by radiometric dating method. • The misinterpretation of the paleomagnetic results of Longgudong site is corrected. • Dating results indicate Gigantopithecus survival with hominin during Pleistocene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Three Gorges region (TGR) located in the geographic center of China, is a transition zone between mountain and plain areas, and a probable migration corridor for hominins and other mammals between South and North China. Detailed chronological information of paleoanthropological evidence in this area could help us better understand the human evolution in East Asia. The OSL and U-series dating methods are two conventional dating methods generally adopted to date such sites; however, their applications were limited by the dating range—restricted to several hundred of millennia and ambiguous stratigraphic relationship between the archaeological remains and the dating target materials. Cosmogenic nuclide burial dating of quartzite stone artifacts and coupled electron spin resonance and uranium series dating (ESR/U-series) of fossil teeth have the potential to date Early–Middle Pleistocene hominin sites in Asia and were applied increasingly in China in recent years. However, the application of cosmogenic 26Al/10Be burial dating is limited in TGR because most sites are dominated by limestone, leading to the scarcity of the quartz component. In this case, the coupled ESR/U-series method plays a more important role in the establishment of the chronology of human settlement. In TGR, by using the coupled ESR/U-series method, we have dated seven important Early and Middle Pleistocene hominin settlement sites, including Longgupo, Jianshi, Yunxian, Meipu, Bailongdong, Changyang, and Yumidong sites. Based on our dating results, we propose that hominins were settled in TGR probably from the early stage of Early Pleistocene (∼2.5−2.2 Ma) at the Longgupo site to the late Middle Pleistocene to Late Pleistocene of the Yumidong site (∼274−14 ka) and very likely to spread to other parts of East Asia during this time period. In view of the potential of coupled ESR/U-series dating on fossil teeth from the hominin sites in the TGR, future work may consider the micro damage or non-destructive analysis of enamel fragment with the ESR method and laser ablation ICP-MS techniques that will make possible the direct dating of precious human fossils in China.

The Middle Paleolithic site of Mutzig-Rain, discovered in 1992, has been studied through several pits (called M1 to M15) and excavation area since 2009, evidencing several localities and delivering more than 5000 lithic artifacts and 12,000 well preserved paleontological remains. The main excavation M2 sequence corresponds to a collapsed rock shelter, containing several levels of Middle Paleolithic occupation. The faunal assemblage of the main archaeological levels (l.7a to 7c) from this sequence includes woolly mammoth, reindeer, horse, bison and woolly rhinoceros, reflecting both cold climate and a steppe context for the whole sequence, while microfauna from the lower levels (l.7d and l.10) indicate the occasional presence of forests that could correspond to a cooler climate. In 1995, U-series analyses on bones from M8 were attempted but the obtained results did not follow the sample stratigraphic order. Later, an OSL dating study has placed the M2 archaeological sequence as coeval to the onset of the Weichselian glacial stage (MIS5d-5a), between 100 and 80 ka. The good preservation of the abundant faunal remains at Mutzig-Rain has allowed their use for ESR/U-series dating studies and the results obtained on Mutzig horse teeth are given in the present paper. A first set of analyses of teeth carried out from the M2 excavation provided ages around 106-96 ka for levels M2 l.7, in agreement with the OSL data, despite quite systematic evidence of U-leaching from the dental tissues and the consequent use of the Accelerating Uptake (AU) model for the age calculation. A second set of analyses on teeth from the M2 and M8 localities confirms this uranium leaching trend, placing the deposition of these levels ca 133 -122 ka. Taking the whole set of ESR/U-series ages, which are slightly older than the OSL dates, would suggest that the stratigraphic sequence was deposited between ca 130 ka (M8 l. 6 and M2 l.10) and ca 100 ka (M2 l.7), i.e. on a time range covering the Eemian Interglacial (MIS5e) and the subsequent Early Weichselian Glacial stage (MIS5d-5a). However, as the faunal record indicates a cool climate and an open steppe-like environment for the whole archaeological sequence, the ESR/U-series dating to the Eemian Interglacial in the Mutzig-Rain sequence seems unlikely. In order to check the quality of the paleodosimetric reconstruction of the ESR/U-series analyses, an additional isochron study was performed for the two levels for which several teeth were analyzed: M2 l.7 (n = 4) and M8 l.6 (n = 3). This isochron study validates the proposed reconstruction and confirms the Early Weichselian age of these two levels. These results confirm the chronology established previously with OSL and places Mutzig-Rain as a reference site for the understanding of the Neanderthal Middle Palaeolithic occupation in Eastern France. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In connection with the future Seine-North Europe Canal (Seine-Scheldt), a large-scale rescue archaeological survey was conducted at Havrincourt (northern France) between 2008 and 2011. The discovery of several levels of Palaeolithic flint artefacts embedded in a relatively thick loess sequence (ca 6–7 m) preserved on a gentle slope facing North-East, resulted in a 6000 m 2 excavation. This opened the opportunity for a detailed pedosedimentary and interdisciplinary geochronological survey ( 14 C, optically stimulated luminescence, thermoluminescence, ESR/U-series) that has allowed us date the sequence reliably. On the basis of these results we propose this sequence as a new pedostratigraphic and archaeological reference sequence for northern France. We present here the optical dating of the sequence performed on fine (4–11 μm) quartz grains extracted from 17 samples. The luminescence characteristics of these extracts indicate that the single-aliquot regenerative dose optically stimulated luminescence (SAR-OSL) procedure that was applied is well suited. A consistent set of optical ages was obtained for the loess deposited up to around 70 ka ago. Independent age control (pedostratigraphy, 14 C, ESR/U-series dates) allowed us to apply a Bayesian approach to build a chronometric model. This in turn enabled a regional chronostratigraphic framework to be built, to constrain the correlations with neighboring regions (northern France and Belgium) and to calculate a precise age for the four Palaeolithic levels discovered, including a unique occupation related to the early Upper Palaeolithic which was previously unknown in the area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé Depuis le début des années 2000, des travaux portant sur la chronologie des premiers peuplements humains de Chine par les méthodes de la résonance de spin électronique (ESR) sur quartz sédimentaires et de la résonance de spin électronique couplée à l’uranium-thorium (ESR/U-Th) sur dents ont été menés en collaboration par des équipes françaises et chinoises sur quelques sites archéologiques ou géologiques chinois : Yunxian, Dali, Tangshan, Zongwei, Nihewan, Longgupo et plusieurs sites à giganthopithèques du Guangxi. Après une présentation rapide des méthodes de datation utilisées, quelques-uns des résultats majeurs obtenus dans le cadre de cette collaboration sont succinctement présentés et discutés. Since the beginning of the 2000s, studies concerning the chronology of the first human settlements in China were conducted by electron spin resonance (ESR) on sedimentary quartz and electron spin resonance coupled with U-series (ESR/U-series) on teeth in collaboration by French and Chinese teams on some Chinese archaeological or geological sites: Yunxian, Dali, Tangshan, Zongwei, Nihewan, Longgupo and several Giganthopithecus sites in Guangxi. After a quick overview of the used dating methods, some of the major results obtained during this collaboration will be briefly presented and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Coupled ESR and U-series analyses of mammalian fossil teeth were carried out on two localities of Yiyuan hominin site (Locality 1 and 3) in northern China. The U-migration history of the fossil samples could be reconstructed by the combination of the two techniques, and overcome the limitation of stand-alone ESR and U-series age estimation. We obtained a combined ESR/U-series age (AU model) range from ∼420 to 320 ka from nine teeth recovered from the two localities, which pinpoints the deposition of hominin layer of Yiyuan site to MIS 11 to 9. The age results in this study places Yiyuan site at the same time range of Zhoukoudian Locality 1 and Hexian Homo erectus sites. Comparing with other hominin sites, this study of Yiyuan Homo erectus site highlights the possibility of coexistence between Homo erectus and archaic H. sapiens in China. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents palaeodosimetric results from the Middle Pleistocene archaeological site of Coudoulous I (Lot, SW France). Nine sedimentary quartz samples (41–60 μm) have been analyzed using a multiple aliquot protocol based on the measurement of the TT-OSL signal. In addition, 7 teeth and 7 bones have been dated by combining the ESR method with U-series analyses. Both methods gave consistent age results allowing correlation of the Early Middle Paleolithic Human occupation of the site to MIS 6 and part of the Lower Paleolithic tools to MIS 7. Beyond the establishment of a radiometric chronology for the Coudoulous I sequence, this study focuses on the information extracted from the intercomparison of the methods. Our data suggest that 1) the TT-OSL signal is stable over at least the last 230 ka (considering the age range of the studied samples), 2) there are not significant problems of incomplete bleaching leading support to the applicability of the TT-OSL technique for sedimentary deposits associated with karstic contexts. This approach highlights the interest of combining luminescence and ESR/U-series methods to discuss the reliability of the dating results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Galería de las Estatuas is a Mousterian site located within the Cueva Mayor-Cueva del Silo karstic system at the Sierra de Atapuerca (Burgos, Spain). This site is characterised by an important Upper Pleistocene stratigraphic sequence in which a large number of lithic artefacts exhibiting clear Mousterian affinities and a rich assemblage of faunal remains have been found. Additionally, this site has yielded a foot phalanx of a clear Neanderthal affinities and its sediment has yielded Neanderthal mitochondrial and nuclear DNA. Two test pits, GE-I and GE-II, have been excavated since 2008 which have been divided in 5 and 2 lithostratigraphical units, respectively. A minimum age of 45 ka cal BP for this site was obtained by radiocarbon dating in GE-II. This chronology was refined using single-grain Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL: 80–112 ka in GE-I and 70–79 ka in GE-II) and single-grain thermally transferred OSL (TT-OSL). Although in all case TT-OSL ages were systematically older than their single-grain counterparts. The detrital sequence is sealed by a flowstone whose base is dated to 53.7 ± 3.5 ka cal BP using U-series dating. In order to better constrain the age of this site, nine herbivorous teeth were collected from the whole sedimentary sequence to be dated by the ESR/U-series dating method though only seven provided modelled ages. Six of them were collected from levels 2 to 5 of the GE-I test pit while the last tooth was taken from level 2 of the GE-II test pit. Our results, ranging between 80 and 110 ka, are in agreement with those obtained by single grain TT-OSL and suggest that the sedimentological levels containing Mousterian lithic artefacts and faunal and human remains began to be deposited during the second part of the MIS5. These results fill a temporal gap in the chronology of the Atapuerca sites for which no contemporary MIS5 date was obtained until recently. • First time application of ESR/U-series dating on teeth from the Galería de las Estatuas site. • The importance to contrast the previous dates with others obtained with a different methodology. • These results fill a temporal gap in the chronology of the Atapuerca sites. • The new ESR/U-series ages confirm the Middle Palaeolithic age of this site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Combined ESR/U-series dating of tooth enamel using US model implies the calculation of a specific parameter p for each dental tissue to reconstruct its U-uptake history. The US model simulates this history as a continuous incorporation process without leaching, where the 238U–234U–230Th system evolves towards secular equilibrium state. Consequently, the application of this model is restricted to the samples displaying 230Th/234U activity ratio below or close to equilibrium with maximum value of ∼1.05 for each tissue. In order to overcome this limitation, here, a new model named Accelerating Uptake (AU) model is proposed. This model describes U-uptake into dental tissue as an accelerating process by the introduction of two parameters, the initial uptake rate and the acceleration of this uptake rate. The AU model is then able to reconstruct a process combining incorporation followed by leaching, as well as continuous uptake one. With this model, the evolution of 230Th/234U activity ratio with time can reach values higher than unity, even beyond equilibrium. The AU model is useful in cases for which age estimates cannot be calculated by routine use of US model. The application of the AU model to the palaeoanthropological site of Mauer in Germany shows its potential for extending the applicability of the combined ESR/U-series dating of tooth enamel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Located in Southern Italy, the Early Palaeolithic site of Isernia la Pineta has provided numerous palaeontological remains and artefacts in well-defined fluvio-lacustrine sequence. The normal magnetization of the main archaeological layer t3a and 39Ar/40Ar date of 610 ± 10 (2σ) ka, obtained from the immediately overlaying geological level, put the Isernia assemblage in the first part of the Middle Pleistocene. Previous ESR/U-series analyses of Isernia fossil teeth have displayed both recent U-uptake and severe underestimation of the ESR/U-series dates in comparison with the 39Ar/40Ar age. In order to identify the cause of this age underestimation, new analyses were realized in the present study on four bovid teeth directly recovered from the archaeological surface t3a. The ESR/U-series dates obtained were once again strongly underestimated, with an error weighted mean age of 435 ± 24 (1σ) ka. These too young dates could be associated to a change of the environmental γ-dose rate during the geological history of the Isernia site, related to the revealed recent U-uptake into the palaeontological remains of the archaeological level. If we consider that this dose rate change was coeval with a wet interglacial period and taking the 39Ar/40Ar age as geochronological reference, simulations with two dose rate steps indicate that this change could be correlated with marine isotopic stage 7 (MIS 7). [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The Dali skull is a key fossil for understanding human evolution in China. It has been attributed either to an archaic Homo sapiens, an evolved Homo erectus or to other species of Homo, such as Homo heidelbergensis. The cranium was discovered in 1978 in Shaanxi Province in a fluvial terrace which was recovered by a loessic sequence including two interglacial palaeosoils. ESR/U-series data analyses were carried out on several teeth recovered from the palaeoanthropological level. Four samples exhibit different kinds of uranium-uptake behaviour, but the results seem to indicate that the cranium is coeval with Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 8 and that some teeth might be reworked from older deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The stratigraphic sequences of numerous Palaeolithic sites of Central and Southern Italy, very rich in both archaeological and palaeontological remains, have also recorded Pleistocene volcanic events through volcanic ash deposits (tephra). They allow the establishment of an accurate chronological framework by comparing results obtained by 40Ar/39Ar dating method on single volcanic K-feldspar crystals, with those derived from ESR and ESR/U-series analyses on fluvial bleached quartz and tooth enamel respectively. Since 2009, these three methods were hence applied on samples of several Middle Pleistocene sites of Central and Southern Italy including both volcanic and archaeological levels (from the west to the east): La Polledrara di Cecanibbio, Isoletta, (Latium), Guado San Nicola, Isernia La Pineta (Molise), Valle Giumentina (Abruzzo) and Venosa Notarchirico (Basilicata). The obtained results, covering a time range from 660 to 350 ka, prove that such a multi-method approach when possible is essential to constrain the chronology of each site and allow the recognition of the specific limitations due to the lack of quartz for ESR or to complex geochemical histories in teeth rendering difficult the ESR/U-series method. Despite these limitations, the ESR framework is globally in agreement with the 40Ar/39Ar chronology, while ESR/U-series dates can be underestimated for the oldest sites. In such cases, an isochron approach attests however of the quite good reliability of the palaeodosimetric reconstruction and the observed age underestimation could be related to other factors affecting the ESR age determination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]