Alexander Tsatskin

Pedosedimentary division, rock magnetism and chronology of the loess/palaeosol sequence at Roxolany (Ukraine)

Abstract The loess mantle of the VIII Dniestre terrace at Roxolany in the Black Sea area of Ukraine is subdivided into six units, which encompass the following palaeosol taxons: pedocomplexes (PK) with evidence for several soil-forming and sedimentary episodes; incipient monogenetic palaeosols; and horizons of carbonate concretions. These cyclical loess-palaeosol units provide a depositional record from the end of the Matuyama chron through the Holocene. The detailed pedosedimentary subdivision of loesses at Roxolany is generally consistent with magnetic susceptibility depth functions and seems to reflect global climatic variations. Earlier chronologies [Guidebook of the International Geological Congress. XXVII Session, 1984] are re-estimated on the basis of a revised position of the Matuyama–Brunhes boundary and by detailed rock magnetic and micromorphological studies. The strongly developed chernosem of PK 4 at approximately 22 m depth, showing features of rubefication and the highest magnetic susceptibility value, is viewed as a good stratigraphic marker of the Late Cromerian and seems to represent the climatic optimum of the Brunhes chron (oxygen isotope stage 13?). The uppermost PK 2 is represented in the lower part by a chernosem analogous to surface soils of the area and is argued to be no younger than the Last Interglacial (oxygen isotope stage 5e). The poor preservation of PK 2 seems to result from processes of soil degradation and deflation at the time of interglacial–glacial transition. The closely spaced palaeosols between PK 2 and PK 4 seem to relate to three independent interglacials. Highest resolution of the palaeoclimatic record is found at the final Matuyama chron from PK 9 to PK 8 and in incipient soils that contain either humic horizons with enhanced magnetic susceptibility or only horizons of large carbonate concretions.

Dating the Lower to Middle Paleolithic transition in the Levant: A view from Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Israel

The transition from the Lower to the Middle Paleolithic in the Levant is a crucial event in human evolution, since it may involve the arrival of a new human population. In the current study, we present thermoluminescence (TL) dates obtained from 32 burnt flints retrieved from the late Lower Paleolithic (Acheulo-Yabrudian) and Early Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian) layers of Misliya Cave, Mount Carmel, Israel. Early Middle Paleolithic industries rich in Levallois and laminar products were assigned mean ages ranging from ~250 to ~160 ka (thousands of years ago), suggesting a production of this industry during MIS 7 and the early part of MIS 6. The mean ages obtained for the samples associated with the Acheulo-Yabrudian (strengthened by an isochron analysis) indicate a production of this cultural complex ~250 ka ago, at the end of MIS 8. According to the Misliya TL dates, the transition from the Lower to the Middle Paleolithic in the site took place at the limit MIS 8/7 or during the early part of MIS 7. The dates, together with the pronounced differences in lithic technology strongly suggest the arrival of a new population during this period.

Earliest floral grave lining from 13,700–11,700-y-old Natufian burials at Raqefet Cave, Mt. Carmel, Israel

Flowering plants possess mechanisms that stimulate positive emotional and social responses in humans. It is difficult to establish when people started to use flowers in public and ceremonial events because of the scarcity of relevant evidence in the archaeological record. We report on uniquely preserved 13,700–11,700-y-old grave linings made of flowers, suggesting that such use began much earlier than previously thought. The only potentially older instance is the questionable use of flowers in the Shanidar IV Neanderthal grave. The earliest cemeteries (ca. 15,000–11,500 y ago) in the Levant are known from Natufian sites in northern Israel, where dozens of burials reflect a wide range of inhumation practices. The newly discovered flower linings were found in four Natufian graves at the burial site of Raqefet Cave, Mt. Carmel, Israel. Large identified plant impressions in the graves include stems of sage and other Lamiaceae (Labiatae; mint family) or Scrophulariaceae (figwort family) species; accompanied by a plethora of phytoliths, they provide the earliest direct evidence now known for such preparation and decoration of graves. Some of the plant species attest to spring burials with a strong emphasis on colorful and aromatic flowers. Cave floor chiseling to accommodate the desired grave location and depth is also evident at the site. Thus, grave preparation was a sophisticated planned process, embedded with social and spiritual meanings reflecting a complex preagricultural society undergoing profound changes at the end of the Pleistocene.

Confirmation of a near 400 ka age for the Yabrudian industry at Tabun Cave, Israel

Abstract The important Lower and Middle Palaeolithic site of Tabun has been previously dated using ESR, U-series and TL. ESR ages throughout the site are substantially younger than TL dates, although these methods have been shown to agree at other sites in Israel and elsewhere. All previous ESR dates have been obtained on museum specimens using only attached sediments for dosimetry. Here we report the first ESR and U-series analyses of a tooth found in situ in an area equivalent to the lowest part of layer Ed. We obtain a combined ESR/U-series age of 387+49−36ka, in good agreement with a TL age of 340±33 ka for similar levels, and substantially older than an ESR/U-series age using attached or nearby sediment for dosimetry. We conclude that the most likely explanation for the previous shorter ESR chronology was the use of inappropriate gamma dose rates based on sediments attached to teeth.

A new scheme of terrestrial paleoclimate evolution during the last 1.5 Ma in the western Black sea region: integration of soil studies and loess magmatism

Abstract A refined pedostratigraphic scheme in the western Black sea region is proposed on the basis of paleopedological reconstructions coupled with magnetic susceptibility, and other rock magnetic parameters, and Mossbauer spectroscopy. The new scheme matches well with oxygen isotope stages despite local variations in erosion/deposition, strong welding of paleosols and subtle discrepancies in the position of the Matuyama/Brunhes boundary. These limitations are reduced by optimizing resolution of magnetic cycles and paleosol identification. Two humid/warm maxima during the Quaternary are found in pedocomplex PK4 at about 0.5 Ma (corresponding to oxygen isotope stages 13 and 15), and in pedocomplex PK8 related to the Jaramillo subchron. Comparison with the oxygen isotope curve shows that the apparent major driving force of regional soil/loess cyclicity is the 100 ka eccentricity period.

The earliest modern humans outside Africa

Earliest modern humans out of Africa Recent paleoanthropological studies have suggested that modern humans migrated from Africa as early as the beginning of the Late Pleistocene, 120,000 years ago. Hershkovitz et al. now suggest that early modern humans were already present outside of Africa more than 55,000 years earlier (see the Perspective by Stringer and Galway-Witham). During excavations of sediments at Mount Carmel, Israel, they found a fossil of a mouth part, a left hemimaxilla, with almost complete dentition. The sediments contain a series of well-defined hearths and a rich stone-based industry, as well as abundant animal remains. Analysis of the human remains, and dating of the site and the fossil itself, indicate a likely age of at least 177,000 years for the fossil—making it the oldest member of the Homo sapiens clade found outside Africa. Science, this issue p. 456; see also p. 389 Fossilized mouthparts indicate the presence of Homo sapiens in the Levant 160,000 years ago. To date, the earliest modern human fossils found outside of Africa are dated to around 90,000 to 120,000 years ago at the Levantine sites of Skhul and Qafzeh. A maxilla and associated dentition recently discovered at Misliya Cave, Israel, was dated to 177,000 to 194,000 years ago, suggesting that members of the Homo sapiens clade left Africa earlier than previously thought. This finding changes our view on modern human dispersal and is consistent with recent genetic studies, which have posited the possibility of an earlier dispersal of Homo sapiens around 220,000 years ago. The Misliya maxilla is associated with full-fledged Levallois technology in the Levant, suggesting that the emergence of this technology is linked to the appearance of Homo sapiens in the region, as has been documented in Africa.

Late Pleistocene palynological sequence from Ohalo II, Sea of Galilee, Israel

A new high-resolution palynological record from the Sea of Galilee (Israel), roughly spanning the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) obtained from a trench dug in the vicinity of the well-dated prehistoric site of Ohalo II (23–24 ka cal. BP) — combined with detailed litho-stratigraphic and magnetic susceptibility analyses — provides evidence of vegetation, lake levels and climate change in the northern Jordan Valley. The sequence begins with laminated marls of the last Lake Lisan high stand and ends with the near-shore deposits containing the prehistoric site. Palynologically, the early phase of the high stand (pollen zone 1) is characterised by high-AP (mainly Quercus ithaburensis), reflecting a relatively humid climate. During its later part (zone 2), the increase in Artemisia indicates a regional drying. Several fluctuations in lake levels and humidity are recorded (pollen zones 3–4) prior to human occupation at the prehistoric camp, during a renewed humid climate (pollen zone 5); in its early phase Quercus calliprinos spread again in the mountainous areas around the lake, while the maquis of the later phase was typified by the deciduous Q. ithaburensis. The fact that a variety of data sets were retrieved from the very same section renders their correlation and combined environmental interpretation reliable and unique for this time period in the southern Levant. The reconstructed palaeoenvironmental picture indicates a rather mild LGM in the northern Jordan Rift. Although there are 17 14C and U-Th dates from the studied section, dating inconsistencies prevent direct correlations between the observed regional fluctuations and global events.

Improved Paleopedological Reconstruction of Vertic Paleosols at Novaya Etuliya, Moldova Via Integration of Soil Micromorphology and Environmental Magnetism

The integration of micromorphology, environmental magnetism and Mossbauer spectroscopy along with identification of pedogeomorphic classes of paleosols may improve the quality of Pleistocene paleopedological reconstructions and their applicability to loess stratigraphy. Our case study from the SW Black Sea area demonstrates that microfabrics, mineralogy and magnetism of paleosols older than 0.5Ma are comparable with certain types of Mediterranean soils from Israel and Turkey. The diversity of paleosols in terms of pedogeomorphic, genetic, and diagenetic typology is prominent. Two welded accretionary paleosols, i.e. pedocomplexes PK4 (∼0.5Ma) and PK8 (∼0.9–1.0Ma), have a distinct rubefied A (AB) horizon with micromorphological features of high biological activity, quasi-isotropic humus-clayey groundmass and compacted excremental fabric. Vertic micromorphological features, more intense in the older PK8, are superposed upon bio-related microstructures. Both paleosols show magnetic enhancement in a topsoil due to increased concentration of pedogenic ,20nm superparamagnetic (SP) and stable single domain magnetite which is partly oxidized. In these PKs the concentration of ferrimagnetics is correlated with antiferromagnetic SP hematite/goethite and paramagnetic Fe(III)-clay content. In contrast, other .0.5Ma old paleosols which are related to a transformational welded type, show a small magnetic susceptibility signal, a high concentration of paramagnetic clays and SP Fe oxyhydroxides. Fe/Mn impregnations are juxtaposed in the microfabric with abundant soft masses of micritic calcite and aggregates of stress coatings. The latter may have originated from decay of clay coatings under intermittent waterlogged conditions. In the time interval ∼0.5–∼1.5Ma the rubefied and magnetically enhanced pedocomplexes PK4 and PK8 are proposed as key stratigraphic markers in South Eastern Europe.

Polygenic Red Calcic Soils in Coastal Middle Palaeolithic Environments, Israel: Taxonomy and Pedosedimentary Reconstructions

This paper reports the results of the ongoing multidisciplinary research of the Late Pleistocene palaeosol sequences in cemented aeolianite in the Carmel coastal plain. The sequence at the Habonim quarry (Tsatskin et al. 2009) is proposed as type section for the Habonim pedocomplex, related to the Last Interglacial sensu lato at least. In other localities in the Carmel coast numerical dates obtained thus far substantially deviate from those at Habonim. Although lacking the degree of chronological resolution found at the type section, other palaeosols with Mousterian finds are also polygenetic and include several pedogeomorphic stages. This allows us to roughly correlate red calcic palaeosols with the Habonim pedocomplex. Macrorhizoliths embedded in such welded palaeosol sequences are shown to post-date the major phase of pedogenesis. The major palaeosol at the site near Atlit is taxonomically identified as polygenetic Hamra or Hamra-Husmas (Israeli classification), which developed under wetter than today climate, stronger desert dust deposition, carbonate leaching, and reddening. Before burial, the palaeosol likely developed in an unstable environment under accelerated sand accretion, plausible dust events, and incipient calcretization. Comparisons with surface sandy soils, though poorly preserved in the studied area, are attempted.