Earliest evidence of human occupations and technological complexity above the 45th North parallel in Western Europe. The site of Lunery-Rosieres la-Terre-des-Sablons (France, 1.1 Ma).
Early hominin occupations
Early pleistocene
Lunery
Raw materials
Technology
Western Europe
Journal
Scientific reports
ISSN: 2045-2322
Titre abrégé: Sci Rep
Pays: England
ID NLM: 101563288
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
23 Jul 2024
23 Jul 2024
Historique:
received:
15
05
2024
accepted:
07
07
2024
medline:
24
7
2024
pubmed:
24
7
2024
entrez:
23
7
2024
Statut:
epublish
Résumé
The site of LuneryRosieres la-Terre-des-Sablons (Lunery, Cher, France) comprises early evidence of human occupation in mid-latitudes in Western Europe. It demonstrates hominin presence in the Loire River Basin during the Early Pleistocene at the transition between an interglacial stage and the beginning of the following glacial stage. Three archaeological levels sandwiched and associated with two diamicton levels deposited on the downcutting river floor indicate repeated temporary occupations. Lithic material yields evidence of simple and more complex core technologies on local Jurassic siliceous rocks and Oligocene millstone. Hominins availed of natural stone morphologies to produce flakes with limited preparation. Some cores show centripetal management and a partially prepared striking platform. The mean ESR age of 1175 ka ± 98 ka obtained on fluvial sediments overlying the archaeological levels could correspond to the transition between marine isotopic stages (MIS) 37 and 36, during the normal Cobb Mountain subchron, and in particular at the beginning of MIS 36. The Lunery site shows that hominins were capable of adapting to early glacial environmental conditions and adopting appropriate strategies for settling in mid-latitude zones. These areas cannot be considered as inhospitable at that time as Lunery lies at some distance from the forming ice cap.
Identifiants
pubmed: 39043764
doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-66980-4
pii: 10.1038/s41598-024-66980-4
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Historical Article
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
16894Subventions
Organisme : ERC Adv grant
ID : 101052653
Informations de copyright
© 2024. The Author(s).
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