New ESR and U-series dating at Caune de l'Arago, France: A key-site for European Middle Pleistocene

摘要: Abstract The Caune de l'Arago, located at Tautavel in the southern part of France, is one best documented Middle Pleistocene sites allowing a good understanding human evolution Europe. Since its discovery 1829, cave yielded more than 140 remains associated with abundant lithic industries and thousands faunal 10 m thick stratigraphical sequence divided three complexes (Lumley et al., 2014). Lower stratigraphic complex only known from cores while Upper ones can be into about 17 main archaeological levels indexed bottom to top: level Q A. 1981, number dates were done using practically all methods available for dating Quaternary period up 700 ka. U-series performed on upper stalagmitic floor minimum age 400 ka found underneath G (Falgueres 2004). This range confirmed direct non-destructive gamma-ray published 30 years before (Yokoyama Nguyen, 1981). Recently, methodological work was herbivorous teeth coming different parts highlighting difficulties get reliable radiometric so rich bones partly weathered by guano deposits or issues carbonate accumulation (Han 2010). study presents new ESR/U-Series obtained lowest excavated layers (Q–P levels) which yield an entire thick infilling. results suggest that sedimentological containing artefacts began deposited 550 ka P–Q younger 350–400 ka F level. have bifaces are oldest evidence Acheulian culture Western Europe contemporaneity la Sima los Huesos TD10 Dolina Atapuerca.