Abstract
Deciphering the origin and depositional history of archaeological and paleontological deposits is fundamental to evaluate artifact and fossil contextualization. We present new rock magnetic data based on the anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) that allow the fabric analysis and characterization of depositional modes in cave sediments. This approach was tested on both fossiliferous and sterile deposits for Gran Dolina and Galeria localities from the Atapuerca karstic complex (Spain). Our AMS approach has allowed to determine paleoenvironmental conditions in both sites, as well as to establish where a given sedimentary unit preserves primary depositional fabrics or has possible post-depositional perturbation. In this sense, it is worth emphasizing that even the sampled horizons that have hominid remains Gran Dolina show no signs of fabric disruption or evidence for massive transport of the sedimentary particles.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 105241 |
Journal | Journal of Archaeological Science |
Volume | 123 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2020 |
Externally published | Yes |
Bibliographical note
Publisher Copyright:© 2020 Elsevier Ltd
Funding
Access and permission to collect samples in Atapuerca was granted by Junta de Castilla y León. The authors are deeply indebted to M. A. Martín (Grupo Espeleológico Edelweiss), for fruitful discussions concerning the development of the Atapuerca cave system. We also thank the Fundación Atapuerca for continuous support of this research. Financial support for this work was also obtained from Junta de Castilla y León and from MICINN Grants CGL2017-89603-R , and PGC2018-093925-B-C31-C32 . M. Duval's research has been supported by the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship grant FT150100215, and is currently funded by the Spanish Ramón y Cajal Grant RYC2018-025221-I, MINCIU. M.J. Sier's research is currently funded by the Spanish Juan de la Cierva post-doctoral Grant IJCI2017-34126, MINCIU. We are grateful for comments by Josh Feinberg and an anonymous reviewer that have improved the final version of the manuscript. Access and permission to collect samples in Atapuerca was granted by Junta de Castilla y León. The authors are deeply indebted to M. A. Martín (Grupo Espeleológico Edelweiss), for fruitful discussions concerning the development of the Atapuerca cave system. We also thank the Fundación Atapuerca for continuous support of this research. Financial support for this work was also obtained from Junta de Castilla y León and from MICINN Grants CGL2017-89603-R, and PGC2018-093925-B-C31-C32. M. Duval's research has been supported by the Australian Research Council Future Fellowship grant FT150100215, and is currently funded by the Spanish Ramón y Cajal Grant RYC2018-025221-I, MINCIU. M.J. Sier's research is currently funded by the Spanish Juan de la Cierva post-doctoral Grant IJCI2017-34126, MINCIU. We are grateful for comments by Josh Feinberg and an anonymous reviewer that have improved the final version of the manuscript.
Funders | Funder number |
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Josh Feinberg | |
MINCIU | |
Spanish Juan de la Cierva | IJCI2017-34126 |
Spanish Ramón y Cajal | |
Australian Research Council | RYC2018-025221-I, FT150100215 |
Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | PGC2018-093925-B-C31-C32, CGL2017-89603-R |
Consejería de Educación, Junta de Castilla y León | |
Junta de Castilla y León |
Keywords
- Archaeology
- Cave sediments
- Fabric analysis
- Karst
- Preferred grain orientation
- Quaternary