Open AccessIntegrative geochronology calibrates the Middle and Late Stone Ages of Ethiopia’s Afar Rift
Author(s) -
Elizabeth M. Niespolo,
Giday WoldeGabriel,
William K. Hart,
Paul R. Renne,
Warren D. Sharp,
M. Steven Shackley,
Stanley H. Ambrose,
Berhane Asfaw,
Yonas Beyene,
Marianne F. Brasil,
Joshua P. Carlson,
Yonatan Sahle,
Tim D. White
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
proceedings of the national academy of sciences of the united states of america
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1091-6490
pISSN - 0027-8424
DOI - 10.1073/pnas.2116329118
Subject(s) - geochronology , paleontology , fauna , middle stone age , geology , pleistocene , radiocarbon dating , homo sapiens , paleoanthropology , stone tool , archaeology , geography , biology , ecology
Significance Understanding the evolution, dispersals, behaviors, and ecologies of early AfricanHomo sapiens requires accurate geochronological placement of fossils and artifacts. We introduce open-air occurrences of such remains in sediments of the Middle Awash study area in Ethiopia. We describe the stratigraphic and depositional contexts of our discoveries and demonstrate the effectiveness of recently developed uranium-series dating of ostrich eggshell at validating and bridging across more traditional radioisotopic methods (14 C and40 Ar/39 Ar).Homo sapiens fossils and associated Middle Stone Age artifacts are placed at >158 and ∼96 ka. Later Stone Age occurrences are dated to ∼21 to 24 ka and ∼31 to 32 ka, firmly dating the upper portion of one of the longest records of human evolution.