Radiocarbon dating of interstratified Neanderthal and early modern human occupations at the Chatelperronian type-site.
The question of the coexistence and potential interaction between the last Neanderthal and the earliest intrusive populations of anatomically modern humans in Europe has recently emerged as a topic of lively debate in the archaeological and anthropological literature. Here we report the results of radiocarbon accelerator dating for what has been reported as an interstratified sequence of late Neanderthal and early anatomically modern occupations at the French type-site of the Chatelperronian, the Grotte des Fées de Châtelperron, in east-central France. The radiocarbon measurements seem to provide the earliest secure dates for the presence of Aurignacian technology--and from this, we infer the presence of anatomically modern human populations--in France.
Gravina
Brad
B
Department of Archaeology, Cambridge University, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DZ, UK.
Mellars
Paul
P
Ramsey
Christopher Bronk
CB
D000818:Animals; D001106:Archaeology; D001842:Bone and Bones; D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes; D005580:Fossils; D005602:France; D049690:History, Ancient; D015186:Hominidae; D006801:Humans; D010163:Paleontology; D011157:Population Dynamics
D002250:Carbon Radioisotopes