摘要
安徽东至华龙洞遗址沉积过程及其年代的确定,对于古人类演化及其生存环境与适应生存行为的研究具有重要的意义。本文综合分析华龙洞遗址及周边区域地质、地貌和沉积特征,分析发掘过程中采取的洞穴次生碳酸盐沉积以及动物化石的^(230)Th-^(234)U-^(238)U测年结果,确认华龙洞遗址是古洞穴坍塌过程中由洞穴堆积物和围岩碎块混杂堆积而形成的,从古洞穴到遗址堆积大致经历洞穴形成发育期、稳定沉积期和快速坍塌堆积三个阶段,古洞穴坍塌和遗址混合堆积物的形成发生在距今21.6万年之后,含有化石的古洞穴堆积物是遗址混合堆积的主要组成。已有年代和遗址堆积物中新发现钙板的^(230)Th-^(234)U-^(238)U测年结果表明,洞穴稳定沉积期至少经历两个时期的洞穴堆积过程,早期沉积大于60万年,晚期沉积从距今大约33.1万年到大约27.5万年前。综合目前获得的所有洞穴次生碳酸盐与化石牙齿和骨骼的^(230)Th-^(234)U-^(238)U测年数据,研究推测华龙洞遗址人类最为完整的头骨化石埋藏年代可以确定在距今27.5万~33.1万年,属中更新世晚期。本研究表明,代表性化石标本的铀系测年可为遗址的年代学研究提供一定的约束,对遗址动物群及古人类演化研究具有重要意义。
Resolving sedimentary processes and constraining the ages of the Hualongdong site in Dongzhi County,Anhui Province,are crucial for researching ancient human evolution,as well as its living environment and adaptive survival behaviors.This paper comprehensively analyzes the geological,geomorphological,and sedimentary characteristics of the deposits at the Hualongdong site and its surroundings.In addition,we also examine the ^(230)Th-^(234)U-^(238)U dating results of the speleothem debris and animal fossils collected during the excavation.It is confirmed that the deposits at the Hualongdong site formed from a mixture of cave deposits and surrounding rock fragments during the collapse of an ancient karst cave.The transition from the ancient karst cave to the accumulation at the Hualongdong site occurred in three main stages:the cave formation and development period,a relatively stable deposition period,and a rapid collapse and accumulation period.The collapse of the ancient karst cave and the formation of mixed deposits at the site occurred later than approximately 216 thousand years before present(ka BP),and ancient cave deposits containing fossils are the main components of the mixed accumulation at the site.Along with the dating results attained previously,the ^(230)Th-^(234)U-^(238)U dating results of the recently discovered flowstone within the deposits indicate that the cave underwent at least two accumulation periods during its stable sedimentation phase,with early deposition occurring prior to 600 ka BP and later deposition spanning from around 331 to 275 ka BP.The mixing of deposition across at least two depositing episodes adds complexity to the chronological study of the site.By integrating the ^(230)Th-^(234)U-^(238)U dating results of all available speleothem,fossil teeth and bones,this study speculates that the burial age of the most complete human skull fossil discovered at the Hualongdong site can be bracketed between 275 and 331 ka BP,placing it in the late Middle Pleistocene.We suggested that Uranium-series dating of representative fossil specimens can offer vital insights for the chronological study of the site and is strongly recommended for understanding the evolution of the fauna and ancient humans at this site.
作者
蔡演军
裴树文
金泽田
CAI Yanjun;PEI Shuwen;JIN Zetian(Institute of Global Environment Change,Xi’an Jiaotong University,Xi’an 710054;Key Laboratory of Vertebrate Evolution and Human Origins,Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology,Chinese Academy of Sciences,Beijing 100044;Key Scientific Research Base on Paleolithic Human Evolution and Paleogenetics(IVPP),SACH,Beijing 100044;Administration of Culture and Tourism of Dongzhi County,Dongzhi 247200)
出处
《人类学学报》
北大核心
2025年第5期742-753,共12页
Acta Anthropologica Sinica
基金
西安交通大学青年拔尖人才(A类)。
