On the earliest human occupation in Europe: Paleomagnetic constraints

Abstract

We carried out a detailed paleomagnetic survey at the Dmanissi archeological site (Republic of Georgia, Caucasus) in order to clarify the relative position of the site in the Plio-Pleistocene chronologic framework. In total, 27 standard paleomagnetic cores were obtained across the profile at the locality where the human mandible was found. Fifteen characteristic remanent magnetization directions have been used to determine the magnetic polarity of the studied units. The presence of a strong normal overprint is evident in most of the samples and is usually removed at about 250 degrees Celsius. Judging from the paleomagnetic analysis, it seems that the sediments containing the hominid and stone tools all show reverse polarity magnetization. This points to Matuyama age (post-Olduvai) for the site, in disagreement with previous studies.