Magnetostratigraphy of the eastern Hadar Basin (Ledi-Geraru research area, Ethiopia) and implications for hominin paleoenvironments

Dupont‐Nivet, Guillaume; Sier, Mark J.; Campisano, Christopher J.; Arrowsmith, J Ramón; DiMaggio, Erin N.; Reed, Kaye E.; Lockwood, Charles A.; Franke, Christine; Hüsing, Silja K.

doi:10.1130/2008.2446(03)

Cited by 10 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 74 publications

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“…This rate is high compared to the older strata in WMC-MSD-MKM section in the core of the Waki-Mille area. It is also high relative to the Hadar Formation, above the SHT, at Hadar, where typical rates are 30 cm/kyr (Campisano and Feibel, 2007), but is low compared to Middle Ledi, where rates for the same stratigraphic zone are 82 cm/kyr to 95 cm/kyr (Dupont-Nivet et al, 2008). It is, therefore, not unreasonable for the stratigraphic level of the SHT to be above the fossils and exposures at Burtele, though such a position would likely reflect a change in basin dynamics relative to lower sediment accumulation rates of the WMC-MSD-MKM section at the core Waki-Mille area.…”

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confidence: 91%

Tephrostratigraphy of the Waki-Mille area of the Woranso-Mille paleoanthropological research project, Afar, Ethiopia

Saylor

Angelini

Deino

et al. 2016

Journal of Human Evolution

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Tephra geochemistry and (40)Ar/(39)Ar geochronology are reported for the Waki-Mille area in the northwestern part of the Woranso-Mille paleoanthropological project area in the west central Afar region of Ethiopia. Previous studies documented dentognathic fossils that are morphologically intermediate between Australopithecus anamensis and Australopithecus afarensis and some that are attributed to Australopithecus afarensis. Additional dentognathic remains from the study area were assigned to the newly identified species Australopithecus deyiremeda. These fossil hominin taxa were recovered from volcanic and sedimentary strata containing tuffs ranging in age from more than 3.77 million years ago (Ma) to less than 3.469 Ma. One of the tuffs was correlated based on geochemistry, feldspar mineralogy, and age to the Lokochot Tuff of the Omo-Turkana Basin of southern Ethiopia and Kenya. Variations in major and minor element abundances in volcanic glass demarcate ten geochemically distinct tuffs and tuff sequences, including three that are geochemically similar to widespread regional tuffs, specifically the Lomogol, Lokochot, and β- Tulu Bor/Sidi Hakoma tuffs. A new (40)Ar/(39)Ar age for the Waki Tuff, which is geochemically similar to the Lomogol Tuff, is 3.664 ± 0.016 Ma. Other tuffs in the Waki-Mille area are geochemically dissimilar to regional tuffs documented to date. Identification of tuffs based on character, stratigraphic position, and geochemistry refines local stratigraphic correlations and delineates the geographic distributions of precisely dated fossiliferous levels within the Waki-Mille area.

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confidence: 91%

Tephrostratigraphy of the Waki-Mille area of the Woranso-Mille paleoanthropological research project, Afar, Ethiopia

Saylor

Angelini

Deino

et al. 2016

Journal of Human Evolution

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“…There were no significant differences in the results from these laboratories. Demagnetization procedures followed methods described in Dupont-Nivet et al (2008) and Joordens et al (2011). Detailed analysis of pilot samples for both studied areas revealed the same type of demagnetization behaviors, very similar to those obtained from Area 102 presented in Joordens et al (2011).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 53%

Improved age control on early Homo fossils from the upper Burgi Member at Koobi Fora, Kenya

Joordens

Dupont‐Nivet

Feibel

et al. 2013

Journal of Human Evolution

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To address questions regarding the evolutionary origin, radiation and dispersal of the genus Homo, it is crucial to be able to place the occurrence of hominin fossils in a high-resolution chronological framework. The period around 2 Ma (millions of years ago) in eastern Africa is of particular interest as it is at this time that a more substantial fossil record of the genus Homo is first found. Here we combine magnetostratigraphy and strontium (Sr) isotope stratigraphy to improve age control on hominin-bearing upper Burgi (UBU) deposits in Areas 105 and 131 on the Karari Ridge in the eastern Turkana Basin (Kenya). We identify the base of the Olduvai subchron (bC2n) plus a short isolated interval of consistently normal polarity that we interpret to be the Pre-Olduvai event. Combined with precession-forced (~20 kyr [thousands of years]) wet-dry climate cycles resolved by Sr isotope ratios, the magnetostratigraphic data allow us to construct an age model for the UBU deposits. We provide detailed age constraints for 15 hominin fossils from Area 131, showing that key specimens such as cranium KNM-ER 1470, partial face KNM-ER 62000 and mandibles KNM-ER 1482, KNM-ER 1801, and KNM-ER 1802 can be constrained between 1.945 ± 0.004 and 2.058 ± 0.034 Ma, and thus older than previously estimated. The new ages are consistent with a temporal overlap of two species of early Homo that can be distinguished by their facial morphology. Further, our results show that in this time interval, hominins occurred throughout the wet-dry climate cycles, supporting the hypothesis that the lacustrine Turkana Basin was a refugium during regionally dry periods. By establishing the observed first appearance datum of a marine-derived stingray in UBU deposits at 2.058 ± 0.034 Ma, we show that at this time the Turkana Basin was hydrographically connected to the Indian Ocean, facilitating dispersal of fauna between these areas. From a biogeographical perspective, we propose that the Indian Ocean coastal strip should be considered as a possible source area for one or more of the multiple Homo species in the Turkana Basin from over 2 Ma onwards.

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“…Blanks were monitored every 3 to 4 steps and typical 40 Ar blanks range from 1 x 10 -16 to 2 x 10 -16 mol. Ar isotopic data corrected for blank, mass discrimination and radioactive decay are given in Supplementary Table A -Nivet et al, 2008) (Fig. 4).…”

Section: Accepted Manuscriptmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evidence for climatic changes around the Matuyama-Brunhes Boundary (MBB) inferred from a multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental study of the GBY#2 core, Jordan River Valley, Israel

Proborukmi

Urban

Mischke

et al. 2018

Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology

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International audienceThe Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov (GBY) in the Upper Jordan Valley revealed important data on environment and material culture, as well as evidence for hominin behavioural and cognitive patterns documented at the margins of the Hula Palaeo-lake. A 50 m long core (GBY#2) drilled at the archaeological site has provided a long Pleistocene geological, environmental and climatological record, which expands the existing knowledge of hominin-habitat relationships. Bracketed by two basalt flows dated by 40Ar/39Ar and based on the identification of the Matuyama-Brunhes Boundary (MBB) and correlation with the GBY excavation site, the sedimentary sequence provides the climatic history around the MBB. Multi-proxy data including pollen and non-pollen palynomorphs, macro-botanical remains, molluscs and ostracods provide evidence for lake and lake-margin environments during Marine Isotope Stages (MIS) 20 and 19. Semi-moist conditions were followed by a pronounced dry phase during MIS 20, and warm and moist conditions with Quercus-Pistacia woodlands prevailed during MIS 19. In contrast to the reconstructed climate change from relatively dry to moister conditions, the depositional environment developed from an open-water lake during MIS 20 to a lake margin environment in MIS 19. Generally shallower conditions at the core site in MIS 19 resulted from the progradation of the lake shore due to the filling of the basin. Micro-charcoal analysis suggests a likelihood of human-induced fire in some parts of the core, which can be correlated with artefact-containing layers of the GBY excavation site. The Hula Palaeo-lake region provided an ideal niche for hominins and other vertebrates during global glacial-interglacial climate fluctuations at the end of the Early Pleistocene

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Magnetostratigraphy of the eastern Hadar Basin (Ledi-Geraru research area, Ethiopia) and implications for hominin paleoenvironments

Abstract: THIS PAPER IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF CHARLES LOCKWOOD.

Cited by 10 publications

References 74 publications

Tephrostratigraphy of the Waki-Mille area of the Woranso-Mille paleoanthropological research project, Afar, Ethiopia

Tephrostratigraphy of the Waki-Mille area of the Woranso-Mille paleoanthropological research project, Afar, Ethiopia

Improved age control on early Homo fossils from the upper Burgi Member at Koobi Fora, Kenya

Evidence for climatic changes around the Matuyama-Brunhes Boundary (MBB) inferred from a multi-proxy palaeoenvironmental study of the GBY#2 core, Jordan River Valley, Israel

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