title: Stratigraphic context and direct dating of the Neandertal mandible from Cova del Gegant (Sitges, Barcelona).
abstract: Stratigraphic study of the Cova del Gegant's sedimentary fill revealed different cycles of accumulation of typical interior cave and delta facies. A precise chronology for these deposits, the faunal remains and stone tools contained therein was obtained by radiocarbon, U-Th and OSL. Our results indicate that the Upper Pleistocene archaeological sequence dates between 49.3 +/- 1.8 ka BP, the U-Th age of the overlying flowstone, and 60.0 +/- 3.9 ka BP, the OSL age of the basal deposits. We have also directly dated the site's Neandertal mandible to 52.3 +/- 2.3 ka by U-Th.
authors.affiliation: G.R.Q. Grup de Recerca del Quaternari, SERP, Dept. Prehistòria, H. Antiga i Arqueologia, Facultat de Geografia i Història. Universitat de Barcelona, C/Montalegre, Barcelona, Spain. grupquaternari@hotmail.com
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Daura
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sanz
authors.forename: A W G
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Pike
authors.forename: M E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Subirà
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fornós
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Fullola
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Julià
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zilhão
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005580:Fossils; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000737:chemistry*; D015186:Hominidae / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D006801:Humans; D008334:Mandible / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D013030:Spain; D013910:Thorium / Q000032:analysis; D014501:Uranium / Q000032:analysis; D014961:X-Ray Diffraction
chemical_list: D014501:Uranium; D013910:Thorium