关于元谋人的地质时代问题——与刘东生等同志商榷

通过对元谋组进一步研究,同时综合地层、古生物化石、磁性地层、元谋人牙齿化石及新构造运动等方面材料,对元谋组时代进行了探讨,证明元谋组时代为早更新世。 元谋人化石产于元谋组的第四段25层中。地层层次清晰,没有紊乱,磁性地层重新研究得出第四段的磁极性相当松山反向期中的奥都维事件附近,元谋人的年代仍为距今170万年左右,而不是刘东生等认为的50—60万年。     

论狭义瓦根股蛤Waagenoperna(Waagenoperna)及其在华南“下侏罗统”的分布

我国华南湘赣等省下部中生界的艮口群、门口山组(?林山组)等沉积地层,长期被人据植物化石,视作印支构造旋回以后的陆相下侏罗统或上三叠统至下侏罗统。顾知微等于1963年前,为区域地层等工作所作初步化石鉴定中,所定的费尔干蚌Fergano-concha,西伯利亚蚌Sibireconcha,假铰蚌Pseudocardinia(=Acyrena),和偏顶蛤Modiolus(=Volsella)等名称,不久,已被他自己发觉为鉴定错误,这些地层因产瓦根股蛤和江西蛤     

辽宁营口藏山洞穴地点试掘报告

本文报道了藏洞穴地点试掘的结果。试掘地点的地层可分上、下两组：上组属晚更新统,下组属中更新统,大体与金牛山Ｃ地点下组的时代相当。在这一组中,发现了一些零星的用火遗迹和石制品。     

甘肃省党河地区的新生代地层和青藏高原隆升

甘肃省党河流域是亚洲渐新统的经典地区之一 ,但长期以来人们对这一地区的地层层序和时代的认识并不清楚 ,命名也很混乱。我们的考察表明该地区新生代地层包括渐新统狍牛泉组 (新建组 ) ,中新统铁匠沟组 (新建组 ) ,中新统—上新统和更新统四套 ;产有代表三个不同时代的哺乳动物群 :早渐新世晚期叮沟、晚渐新世燕丹图和早中新世西水沟三个哺乳动物群。该地区的岩性和地质构造表明 ,青藏高原在中新世时发生过强烈的抬升     

我国古人类和第四纪研究获新成果

我国地质科学工作者测出元谋猿人年龄为距今170万年,确定元谋组地层形成于距今150万—310万年间,并发现元谋盆地第四纪冰川活动遗迹。     

山东潍县武家村第四纪地层及哺乳类化石

本文根据武家村发现的第四纪哺乳类,海、陆相软体类化石,以及地层中所含的植物孢粉和岩性特征,把该地区第四纪地层初步划分为全新统、晚更新统、中更新统(陆相沉积)和早更新统(海相沉积)。     

云南永仁更新世初期哺乳动物化石

本文记述了1974年和1978年两次在云南永仁盆地湖相地层中两个化石地点发现的四种哺乳类化石,犀牛一种,象类化石三种。同时讨论了昭通剑齿象的地质时代,记述了一新种嵌齿象。永仁化石层可与毗邻的元谋盆地“元谋组”对比,时代为更新世初期。     

“东方人”时代的质疑

自发表元谋北部小河等地400万年的蝴蝶腊玛古猿和200万年的“东方人”化石以来,引起国内外人类学和地质古生物学界的极大兴趣。笔者有幸参加云南省主持的“人类起源研究”课题,负责元谋盆地古猿和“东方人”伴生动物化石的研究工作,曾几次前往产地进行地质考察,着重对其层位的调查和化石的系统采集,再次得出产“东方人”化石的竹棚村豹子洞箐地层层位与产“蝴蝶腊玛”古猿化石层相当的结论。从部分哺乳动物化石初步观察,其时代可能为稍晚于禄丰古猿时代(最晚中新世)的早(中)上新世。1987年6月,“云南地质”发表江能人等的一篇     

南海北部莺琼盆地钙质超微化石年代地层研究

本文依据南海北部大陆架莺琼盆地67口钻井的钙质超微化石资料,结合ODP184航次、2004年国际地质年代表等国内外几十年以来的研究成果,探讨了研究区渐新统以来31个钙质超微化石属种的地质年代意义,厘定了18个化石带及3个联合化石带。讨论了乐东组、莺歌海组、黄流组、梅山组、三亚组、陵水组和崖城组的时代归属以及更新统与上新统、上新统与中新统、上中新统与中中新统、中中新统与下中新统、中新统与渐新统界线的钙质超微化石划分标志,建立起可与全球对比的莺琼盆地高精度年代地层格架。     

滇东泥盆系几个含鱼层的时代和对比

从鱼化石的角度对滇东泥盆系下述含鱼地层进行了分析,并认为:1)曲靖地区下泥盆统徐家冲组与坡松冲组或四川的平驿铺组、广西的那高岭组层位相当,时代为布拉格期;其层位低于含 duyunolepids-Kueichowlepis鱼类组合的贵州乌当组或舒家坪组,后者时代为埃姆斯期。2)滇东中泥盆统含两个不同时期的含鱼层,其中含Yinosteus-Wudinolepis鱼类组合的武定地区旧城组属中泥盆统早期,该鱼类组合现仅知分布于武定地区。而中泥盆统晚期含鱼地层,在曲靖地区由下而上包括穿洞组、上双河组和海口组三个岩石组;其中穿洞组＋上双河组与武定的鱼子甸组对比,而海口组与曲靖组为同时异相;武定茶花箐组与曲靖组对比。3)文中时上述地层中的某些鱼化石的层位或鉴定作了评述或厘定。     

Paleomagnetic dates of hominid remains from Yuanmou,China, and other Asian sites

Two hominid upper central incisors found in the Yuanmou Basin in southwest China in 1965 have affinities with Homo erectus fossils from Zhoukoudian, but exhibit primitive features. The Yuanmou hominid remains are alleged to be coeval with or older than African specimens dated at about 1.8 m.y.a. Recent age refinements of geomagnetic short reversal events and excursions permit assigning the Yuanmou hominid-bearing bed to the early Brunhes chron (about 0.7 m.y.a.). Magnetochronological assessments confirm that the Lantian calotte which has been dated to about 1.2 m.y.a., is the oldest reliable evidence for the emergence of Homo in eastern Asia as well as China, and that hominid fossils from Sangiran and Mojokerto, Java, do not exceed 1.1 Ma in age. These results refute the view that the genus Homo migrated into eastern Asia in the late Pliocene or the earliest Pleistocene.     

Baïraki – un site du Paléolithique inférieur sur le territoire de la Plaine d’Europe orientale

The paper presents the preliminary results of five years’ multidisciplinary researches (2010–2014 years) of the new Lower Palaeolithic Bayraki site, situated in the vicinity of Dubossary town in Moldavia, on the high terrace (VII) of the Dniester River. In the Lower and Middle Pleistocene deposits are discovered six layers including lithic artefacts of Lower Palaeolithic character. Two layers (I and II) relate to deposits dated by the Brunhes period and four layers (III, IV, V and VI) are attributed to the Matuyama period. The highest number of artefacts (884 objects) is issue from the layer V (the Jaramillo period), whose lithic industry has an Oldowan character. In other layers are found few flint archaeological objects and sporadic fragments of indeterminable bones. In the layer III is found a fossil horse mandibular (Equus sussenbornensis). At present, this site presents the oldest Low Pleistocene across all East European Plain.     

滇西北丽江盆地中更新世哺乳动物化石新材料

本文简记了滇西北丽江盆地的中更新世哺乳动物化石新材料.化石产自东元桥村南东元桥组的河流相灰黄、灰色砂层和砂砾层中,计有8属10种,即Megantereon sp.、Equussp.、Dicerorhinus sp.、Cervavitus ultimus、cf.Axis rugosus、cf.Axis yunnanensis、Rusayunnanensis、Rusa sp.、Muntiacus sp.、Bos sp..动物群中的一些属种出现于元谋盆地“元谋人”动物群中,表现出两地动物群的相似性,这为“元谋人” 时代的确定可能提供新资料.     

Biochronological implications of the Arvicolidae (Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Lower Pleistocene hominid-bearing level of Trinchera Dolina 6 (TD6, Atapuerca, Spain).

Level TD6 of the Trinchera Dolina Section in the railway cutting of the Sierre de Atapuerca (Trinchera del Ferrocarril) has yielded a rich small mammal assemblage (26 species) in association with fossil human remains of Homo antecessor. The arvicolids of TD6 are identified as: Mimomys savini, Microtus seseae, Stenocranius gregaloides, Terricola arvalidens, Iberomys huescarensis, Allophaiomys chalinei, and Pliomys episcopalis. The rodent association also includes large rodents (i.e., Castor fiber, Marmota sp., and Hystrix refossa) and the small Allocricetus sp., Eliomys helleri, Micromys minutus, and Apodemus aff. flavicollis. The small vertebrate remains also include Insectivora (Beremendia fissidens, Sorex sp, Neomys sp., Crocidura sp., Galemys sp., Talpa sp., Erinaceus sp.), Chiroptera (Miniopterus schreibersii, Myotis sp., Rhinolophus sp.), and Lagomorpha (Oryctolagus sp., Lepus sp.), as well as lizards, birds and amphibians. The H. antecessor remains are derived from a 15 cm thick layer at the top of TD6 (TD6-T36-43), where A. chalinei, H. refossa and Marmota sp. do not occur. The paleomagnetic Matuyama/Brunhes boundary is found in the overlying level TD7 of the Gran Dolina Section. On the basis of the arvicolids, TD6 can be referred to the Biharian biochron. The Matuyama/Brunhes boundary is fixed in the late Biharian (Microtus-Mimomys rodent Superzone). The species M. savini (without M. pusillus), as well as the evolutionary stage of Microtus s.l., are characteristic of the Late Biharian. The evolutionary level of the species M. savini, T. arvalidens, S. gregaloides indicates that TD6 is older than West Runton (type Cromerian). In the Trinchera Dolina Section we are able to calibrate, for the first time, the evolutionary level of important biochronological markers with magnetostratigraphy. We propose that a radiation of Microtus s.l., along with the first appearance of primitive S. gregaloides, T. arvalidens and Iberomys, took place just before the Matuyama/Brunhes boundary. These species can be considered as characteristic elements of early Pleistocene faunas.     

Paleoclimatic trends in early and middle pliocene deep-sea sediments of the antarctic

Detailed micropaleontological investigation has established the distribution of major radiolarian assemblages in the Early to Middle Pliocene deep-sea sediments of the Antarctic region, with particular emphasis on the Gilbert Reversed Magnetic Epoch (t = 5.18 to 3.32 m.y. B.P.). Inter-core correlations, based on paleomagnetic stratigraphy and detailed radiolarian biostratigraphy, has provided a chronological framework for a detailed paleoclimatic investigation of the Gilbert Epoch. Early Gilbert sediments (t = 5.18 to 4.6 m.y. B.P.) contain a warm-Subantarctic assemblage marked by the presence of Anthocyrtidium ehrenbergi, “Eucyrtidium” spp., Carpocanium sp., Stylatractus universus and several collosphaerid species. Sediments of middle Gilbert age (t = 4.6 to 3.7 m.y. B.P.) contain a cool-Subantarctic assemblage marked by the presence of Stylodicta validispina, Cenosphaera cristata, Antarctissa longa, Triceraspyris pacifica and Lychnocanium grande rugosum. The late Gilbert—early Gauss sediments (t = 3.7 to 3.0 m.y. B.P.) contain an Antarctic assemblage marked by the presence of Antarctissa strelkovi, Antarctissa denticulata, Helotholus vema, Demospyris spongiosa and Eucyrtidium calvertense. The transition from a warm to a cold assemblage suggests a climatic deterioration occurring over a period of 1.6 m.y., significantly longer than the rapid climatic oscillations of the Pleistocene. Factor curves, produced by subjecting total faunal data to multivariate statistical analysis, have been interpreted in terms of paleoclimatic controls, resulting in a relative paleotemperature curve for the entire Gilbert Epoch. The maximum abundances of the Antarctic assemblage in the Gilbert and Gauss occurs between 3.7 and 3.2 m.y. ago coinciding closely with the 3.5 m.y. age of the first reported Patagonian glaciation in southernmost South America.     

Investigations into the late Pleistocene and Holocene history of vegetation and climate in Santa Catarina (S Brazil)

Palynological studies have been carried out on three highland peat bogs, and one situated on the Atlantic coastal plain. In the highlands, the late Pleistocene (14,000 - 10,000 uncal B.P.) vegetation was dominated by campos (grassland). Scattered stands of Araucaria forests were preserved in deep valleys. In the region of the sites at Morro da Igreja and Serra do Rio Rastro, the dominance of campos vegetation continued until about 1000 B.P. while at the Serra da Boa Vista site there was an expansion of Atlantic pluvial forest elements followed by Araucaria forests at the beginning of the Holocene. A general expansion of A. angustifolia, clearly related to a change towards an increasingly moist climate, can be dated to the present millenium. On the coastal plains, the late Pleistocene vegetation was dominated by Myrtaceae which were replaced by tropical taxa in the Holocene. The lowland profile (Poço Grande) also covers part of the upper Holocene, where the rich flora of the Atlantic pluvial forests can be characterized by taxa including Alchornea, Urticales and Rapanea. Close to the coring site, there was a repeated alternation between two different dune communities (4840 - 4590 B.P.), followed by a lake stage with aquatic plant succession (4590 - 4265 B.P.), plant communities dominated by Rapanea (4265 - 4230 B.P.) and the spread of Alchornea (4230 - 3525 B.P.). Late Pleistocene climate conditions (14,000 - 10,000 B.P.) can be described as cold and relatively dry, possibly including an equivalent of the Younger Dryas period. In the Holocene, there were changes from a warm and drier climate (10,000 -3000 B.P.) to a cool and more moist regime (ca. 3000 -ca. 1000 B.P.) and finally to a cool and very moist period (from around 1000 B.P.).     

The fossil Bovidae (Artiodactyla, Mammalia) from Gesher Benot Ya'aqov, Israel: Out of Africa during the Early-Middle Pleistocene transition

We report the study of the collection of fossil bovid specimens from the Early-Middle Pleistocene Acheulian site of Gesher Benot Ya‘aqov. This locality, situated in the Levantine Corridor (the bottleneck that connects Africa and Eurasia) is a key site to explain the faunal and human dispersals out of Africa during the Matuyama/Brunhes boundary around 0.8 Ma. Two species of bovine (Bos sp., and Bovini gen. et sp. indet. cf. Bison sp.), one antelope (Gazella sp. cf. G. Gazella), and another indeterminate Bovidae gen. et sp. indet., have been recorded. The largest species, Bos sp., is an African immigrant related to the species from the Eritrean site of Buia, Bos buiaensis, which evolved from the buffalo of Olduvai Pelorovis oldowayensis, and colonized the Eurasian continent in parallel with the dispersal of the Acheulian culture into the northern continent. Numerous important species first recorded in several localities of Early-Middle Pleistocene transition from Eurasia are included in this dispersal out of Africa, including the megaherbivore, Palaeoloxodon antiquus, and the carnivores Crocuta crocuta, and later, Panthera leo and Panthera pardus. This faunal turnover is coincident with the change to colder climates that dominated the Middle Pleistocene.     

On the age of the hominid fossils at the Sima de los Huesos, Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain: paleomagnetic evidence

We report new paleomagnetic data for the Middle Pleistocene hominid-bearing strata in the Sima de los Huesos, North Spain. Sediments (brown muds with human and bear fossils and the underlying sterile clayey and sandy unit) preserve both normal and reversed magnetic components. The sterile unit has exclusively reversed magnetization, dating back to the Matuyama Chron, and thus is Lower Pleistocene in age. The overlying fossiliferous muds have a dominant normal magnetization that overprints a partially resolved reversed magnetization. These data are compatible with one of the reversal events that occurred during the Brunhes Chron. Combined with the existing U-series dates and evidence from the macro- and microfauna, these paleomagnetic results suggest an age of the hominid fossils between 325 to 205 ka, whereas the underlying sand and silts are older than 780 ka.