Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-21T13:48:41.902Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Luminescence dating of Youfangbei early late Pleistocene site, Nihewan Basin, North China

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 May 2021

Ying Lu ,
Xuefeng Sun ,
Hailong Zhao  and
Peiyang Tan
Ying Lu
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
Xuefeng Sun*
Affiliation:
School of Geography and Ocean Science, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, China
Hailong Zhao*
Affiliation:
School of History and Culture, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
Peiyang Tan
Affiliation:
School of History and Culture, Hebei Normal University, Shijiazhuang, 050024, China
*
*Corresponding authors email addresses:xuefeng@nju.edu.cn (X.F. Sun) and t5009@163.com (H.L. Zhao).
*Corresponding authors email addresses:xuefeng@nju.edu.cn (X.F. Sun) and t5009@163.com (H.L. Zhao).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Sites dated to the early late Pleistocene are still limited in North China, which has hindered the detailed analysis of the development of Paleolithic industries in the late Pleistocene in this area. The Youfangbei (YFB) site is a newly excavated small-flake-tool Paleolithic site near the Youfang (YF) microblade site in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Because the small-flake-tool industry still existed in the late part of the late Pleistocene and might be related to the emergence of microlithic industries, the relationship between the two sites needs to be determined through a chronological study. Two profiles were excavated, and most of the artifact assemblages were unearthed in the lower profile (T1) from a depth of 0.9 m from the bottom. In this study, the feldspar post-infrared infrared stimulated luminescence method was applied to determine the age of the YFB site. Results showed that the upper profile was deposited from 86–0.5 ka, and the cultural layer in T1 yielded age of 124–82 ka, corresponding to Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5, with an irregular but generally mild climate. The age of the YFB site is too old to be directly related to that of the YF site, but it partly bridges a chronological gap of human occupation in the Nihewan Basin.

Keywords

Nihewan BasinYoufangbeiPaleolithicluminescence datingMIS 5
Type
Research Article
Information
Quaternary Research , Volume 104 , November 2021 , pp. 159 - 169
Check for updates
Copyright
Copyright © University of Washington. Published by Cambridge University Press, 2021

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

REFERENCES

Aitken, M.J., 1998. An Introduction to Optical Dating. Oxford University Press, Oxford, pp. 60–82.Google Scholar
An, Z.S., Kukla, G.J., Porter, S.C., Xiao, J., 1991. Magnetic susceptibility evidence of monsoon variation on the Loess Plateau of Central China during the last 130,000 years. Quaternary Research 36, 29–36.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ao, H., An, Z.S., Dekkers, M.J., Wei, Q., Pei, S.W., Zhao, H., Zhao, H., et al. , 2012. High-resolution record of geomagnetic excursions in the Matuyama chron constrains the ages of the Feiliang and Lanpo Paleolithic sites in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 13, 1–19.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bǿtter-Jensen, L., Thomsen, K.J., Jain, M., 2010. Review of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) instrumental developments for retrospective dosimetry. Radiation Measurements 45, 253–257.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buylaert, J., Jain, M., Murray, A.S., Thomsen, K.J., Thiel, C., Sohbati, R., 2012. A robust feldspar luminescence dating method for middle and late Pleistocene sediments. Boreas 41, 435–451.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buylaert, J.P., Vandenberghe, D., Murray, A.S., Huot, S., Corte, F.D., Haute, P.V., 2007. Luminescence dating of old (>70 ka) Chinese loess: a comparison of single-aliquot OSL and IRSL techniques. Quaternary Geochronology 2, 9–14.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chen, T.M., Yuan, S.X., Gao, S.J., 1984. The study on Uranium-series dating of fossil bones and an absolute age sequence of main Paleolithic sites in North China. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 3, 259–269. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Chen, T.M., Yuan, S.X., Gao, S.J., Wang, L.X., Zhao, G.Y., 1982. Uranium-series dating of Xujiayao (Hsu-Chia-Yao) site. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 1, 91–95. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Deng, C.L., Hao, Q.Z., Guo, Z.T., Zhu, R.X., 2019. Quaternary integrative stratigraphy and timescale of China. Science China Earth Sciences 62, 324–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deng, C.L., Wei, Q., Zhu, R.X., Wang, H.Q., Zhang, R., Ao, H., Chang, L., Pan, Y.X., 2006. Magnetostratigraphic age of the Xiantai Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin and implications for early human colonization of Northeast Asia. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 244, 336–348.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Deng, C.L., Zhu, R.X., Zhang, R., Ao, H., Pan, Y.X., 2008. Timing of the Nihewan formation and faunas. Quaternary Research, 69,77–90.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duller, G.A.T., 2003. Distinguishing quartz and feldspar in single grain luminescence measurements. Radiation Measurements 37, 161–165.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Duller, G.A.T., 2015a. The Analyst software package for luminescence data: overview and recent improvements. Ancient TL 33, 35–42.Google Scholar
Duller, G.A.T., 2015b. Luminescence dating. In: Rink, J.W., Thompson, J.W. (Eds.), Encyclopaedia of Scientific Dating Methods. Dordrecht, SpringerReference, pp. 390–404.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Durcan, J.A., King, G.E., Duller, G.A.T., 2015. DRAC: dose rate and age calculator for trapped charge dating. Quaternary Geochronology 28, 54–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Du, S.S., 2003. A preliminary study on raw material exploitation in Middle–Upper Paleolithic sites in Nihewan Basin. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 22, 121–130. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Galbraith, R.F., Roberts, R.G., 2012. Statistical aspects of equivalent dose and error calculation and display in OSL dating: an overview and some recommendations. Quaternary Geochronology 11, 1–27.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Galbraith, R.F., Roberts, R.G., Laslett, G.M., Yoshida, H., Olley, J.M., 1999. Optical dating of single and multiple grains of quartz from Jinmium rock shelter, northern Australia: part I, experimental design and statistical models. Archaeometry 41, 339–364.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gao, X., 1999. A discussion on “Chinese Middle Paleolithic.” Acta Anthropologica Sinica 18, 1–15. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Gao, X., Norton, C.J., 2002. A critique of the Chinese ‘Middle Paleolithic.’ Antiquity 76, 397–412.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gao, X, Peng, F., Fu, Q.M., Li, F., 2017. New progress in understanding the origins of modern humans in China. Science China Earth Science 60, 2160–2179.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guan, Y., Wang, X., Wang, F., Olsen, J.W., Pei, S., Zhou, Z., Gao, X., 2020. Microblade remains from the Xishahe site, North China and their implications for the origin of Microblade technology in Northeast Asia. Quaternary International 535, 38–47.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guérin, G., Mercier, N., Adamiec, C., 2011. Dose-rate conversion factors: update. Ancient TL 29, 5–8Google Scholar
Guo, Y., Li, B., Zhang, J., Roberts, R.G., 2015. Luminescence-based chronologies for Palaeolithic sites in the Nihewan Basin, northern China: first tests using newly developed optical dating procedures for potassium feldspar grains. Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports 3, 31–40.Google Scholar
Guo, Y., Li, B., Zhang, J., Yuan, B., Xie, F., Roberts, R.G., 2016. Luminescence ages for three ‘Middle Palaeolithic’ sites in the Nihewan Basin, northern China, and their archaeological and palaeoenvironmental implications. Quaternary Research 85, 456–470.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guo, Y., Li, B., Zhang, J., Yuan, B., Xie, F., Roberts, R.G., 2017. New ages for the Upper Palaeolithic site of Xibaimaying in the Nihewan Basin, northern China: implications for small-tool and microblade industries in north-east Asia during Marine Isotope Stages 2 and 3. Journal of Quaternary Science 32, 540–552.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Guo, Y., Li, B., Zhao, H. 2020. Comparison of single-aliquot and single-grain MET-pIRIR De results for potassium feldspar samples from the Nihewan Basin, northern China. Quaternary Geochronology 56, 101040. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2019.101040.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Huntley, D.J., Baril, M.R., 1997. The K content of the K-feldspars being measured in optical dating or in thermoluminescence dating. Ancient TL 15, 11–13.Google Scholar
Hu, Y., Marwick, B., Zhang, J., Rui, X., Hou, Y., Yue, J., Chen, W., Huang, W., Li, B., 2019. Late middle Pleistocene Levallois stone-tool technology in southwest China. Nature 565, 82–85.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Jacobs, Z., Li, B., Farr, L., Hill, E., Hunt, C., Jones, S.C., Rabett, S.J., et al. , 2017. The chronostratigraphy of the Haua Fteah cave (Cyrenaica, northeast Libya)—optical dating of early human occupation during Marine Isotope Stages 4, 5 and 6. Journal of Human Evolution 105, 69–88.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jacobs, Z., Wintle, A.G., Duller, G.A.T., 2006. Interpretation of single grain De distributions and calculation of De. Radiation Measurements 41, 264–277.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Jia, L.P., 1978. The characteristics of microlith and its tradition, origin and distribution in China. Vertebrata Palasiatica 16, 137–143. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Jia, L.P., Gai, P., You, Y.Z., 1972. Report of the excavation at Shiyu site, Shanxi Province. Journal of Archaeology 1, 39–58. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Kato, S., 2015. On the emergence of microblade industry in North China. Huaxia Kaogu 2, 56–67. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Li, B., Li, S.H., 2012. A reply to the comments by Thomsen et al. on “Luminescence dating of K-feldspar from sediments: a protocol without anomalous fading correction.” Quaternary Geochronology, 8, 49–51.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, F., Chen, F.Y., Wang, Y.H., Gao, X., 2016.Technology diffusion and population migration reflected in blade technologies in northern China in the late Pleistocene. Science China Earth Sciences, 59, 1540–1553. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-016-5305-9.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, F., Gao, X., 2018. The origins of modern Homo sapiens in China: an archaeological perspective. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 37, 176–191. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Li, H., Li, Z., Lotter, M.G., Kuman, K., 2018. Formation processes at the early late Pleistocene archaic human site of Lingjing, China. Journal of Archaeological Science 96, 73–84.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lin, S., Ao, H., Cheng, P., Wei, Q., Zhang, P., Shu, P.X., Li, X.W., 2018. AMS 14C chronology of Yujiagou site in Nihewan Basin and its archeological significance. Journal of Earth Environment 9, 149–158. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Liu, J., Murray, A.S., Buylaert, J.P., Jain, M., Chen, J., Lu, Y., 2016, Stability of fine-grained TT-OSL and post-IR IRSL signals from a c. 1 Ma sequence of aeolian and lacustrine deposits from the Nihewan Basin (northern China). Boreas 45,703–714.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, P., Deng, C.L., Li, S.H., Zhu, R.X., 2010. Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Huojiadi Paleolithic site in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 298, 399–408.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, P., Wu, Z., Deng, C., Tong, H., Qin, H., Li, S., Yuan, B., Zhu, R., 2016. Magnetostratigraphic dating of the Shanshenmiaozui mammalian fauna in the Nihewan Basin, North China. Quaternary International 400, 202–211.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Liu, Y., Hu, Y., Wei, Q., 2013. Early to late Pleistocene human settlements and the evolution of lithic technology in the Nihewan Basin, North China: a macroscopic perspective. Quaternary International 295, 204–214.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, X.L., Ma, N., 2014. Preliminary study on the living environment of hominids at the Xujiayao site, Nihewan Basin. Marine Geology and Quaternary Geology 34, 153–161. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Li, Y.C., Zhang, Z., Ding, G., Xu, Q., Wang, Y., Chi, Z., Dong, J., Zhang, L., 2019. Late Pliocene and early Pleistocene vegetation and climate change revealed by a pollen record from Nihewan Basin, North China. Quaternary Science Reviews 222, 105905. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quascirev.2019.105905.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Li, Z.T., Li, B., Li, Y.C., Mei, H.J., Liu, L.J., Yu, S.Y., Wang, J.T., 2017. The Climate-environment background of Youfang site in Nihewan Basin during the transitional period from mid to Late Paleolithic period. Quaternary Sciences 37, 463–473.Google Scholar
Lu, H., Sun, X., Wang, S., Cosgrove, R., Zhang, H., Yi, S., Ma, X., Wei, M., Yang, Z., 2011. Ages for hominin occupation in Lushi Basin, middle of South Luo River, central China. Journal of Human Evolution 60, 612–617.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Luo, C.W., Ma, Y.Z., Wang, K., Li, D., 2019. Vegetation and climate inferred from pollen record in East Asian region during MIS 5: a review. Advances in Earth Science 34, 540–551. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Murray, A.S., Wintle, A.G., 2000. Luminescence dating of quartz using an improved single-aliquot regenerative-dose protocol. Radiation Measurements 32, 57–73.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Murray, A.S., Wintle, A.G., 2003. The single aliquot regenerative dose protocol: potential for improvements in reliability. Radiation Measurements 37, 377–381.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nian, X.M., Gao, X., Xie, F., Mei, H.J., Zhou, L., 2014. Chronology of the Youfang site and its implications for the emergence of microblade technology in North China. Quaternary International 347, 113–121.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Nian, X.M., Zhou, L.P., Yuan, B.Y., 2013. Optical stimulated luminescence dating of terrestrial sediments in the Nihewan Basin and its implication for the evolution of ancient Nihewan lake. Quaternary Sciences 33, 403–414. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Prescott, J.R., Hutton, J.T., 1994. Cosmic ray contributions to dose rates for luminescence and ESR dating: large depths and long-term time variations. Radiation Measurements 23, 497–500.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Roberts, R.G., Jacobs, Z., Li, B., Jankowski, N., Cunningham, A.C., Rosenfeld, A.B., 2015. Optical dating in archaeology: thirty years in retrospect and grand challenges for the future. Journal of Archaeological Science 56, 41–60.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rui, X., Li, B., Guo, Y. 2020a. Testing the upper limit of luminescence dating based on standardised growth curves for met-pIRIR signals of k-feldspar grains from northern china. Quaternary Geochronology 57, 101063. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2020.101063.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rui, X., Li, B., Guo, Y. 2020b. The effect of residual signal on dose measurements using met-pIRIR signals from k-feldspar. Quaternary Geochronology 58, 101065. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.quageo.2020.101065.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rui, X., Li, B., Guo, Y.J., Zhang, J.F., Yuan, B.Y., Xie, F., 2019. Variability in the thermal stability of OSL signal of single-grain quartz from the Nihewan Basin, North China. Quaternary Geochronology 49, 25–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schick, K., Toth, N., Wei, Q., Clark, J.D., Etler, D., 1991. Archaeological perspectives in the Nihewan Basin, China. Journal of Human Evolution 21, 13–26.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Song, Y., Cohen, D.J., Shi, J., Wu, X., Kvavadze, C., Goldberg, P., Zhang, S., Zhang, Y., Bar-Yosef, O., 2017. Environmental reconstruction and dating of Shizitan 29, Shanxi Province: an early microblade site in North China. Journal of Archaeological Science 79, 19–35.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, X.F., Lu, H., Wang, S., Yi, S.G., Shen, C., Zhang, W.C., 2013. TT-OSL dating of Longyadong Middle Paleolithic site and paleoenvironmental implications for hominin occupation in Louann Basin (central China). Quaternary Research 79, 168–174.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, X.F., Lu, H.Y., Wang, S.J., Yi, S.G., 2012. Ages of Liangshan Paleolithic sites in Hanzhong Basin, Central China. Quaternary Geochronology 10, 380–386.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, X.F., Mercier, N., Falgueres, C., Bahain, J-.J., Despriee, J., Bayle, G., Lu, H.Y., 2010. Recuperated optically stimulated luminescence dating of middle-size quartz grains from the Paleolithic site of Bonneval (Eure-Et-Loir, France). Quaternary Geochronology 5, 342–347.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sun, X.F., Wen, S.Q., Lu, C.Q., Zhou, B.Y., Curnoe, D., Lu, H.Y., Li, H.C., et al. , 2021. Ancient DNA and multimethod dating confirm the late arrival of anatomically modern humans in southern China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 118(8), e2019158118. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2019158118.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sun, X.F., Yi, S., Lu, H., Zhang, W.C., 2017. TT-OSL and post-IR IRSL dating of the Dali Man site in central China. Quaternary International 434A, 99–106.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Thiel, C., Buylaert, J., Murray, A., Terhorst, B., Hofer, I., Tsukamoto, S., Frechen, M., 2011. Luminescence dating of the Stratzing loess profile (Austria)—testing the potential of an elevated temperature post-IR IRSL protocol. Quaternary International 234, 23–31.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Vandenberghe, D., De Corte, F., Buylaert, J.P., Kucera, J., Van den haute, P., 2008. On the internal radioactivity in quartz. Radiation Measurements 43, 771–775.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, F.G., Li, F., 2020. Discussions on the stratigraphy and age of the Xujiayao hominin. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 39, 161–172.[in Chinese]Google Scholar
Wang, H.Q., 2007. Magnetic properties of lacustrine sediments at the Donggutuo section in the Nihewan Basin and their environmental significance. Quaternary Sciences 27, 1081–1091. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Wang, Y.P., 2017. Late Pleistocene human migrations in China. Current Anthropology 58, S504–S513.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wang, Y.P., 2018 Emergence and dispersal of the micro-blade technology in North China. Acta Anthropologica Sinica, 37: 565-576.[in Chinese]Google Scholar
Wang, Y.P., 2019. The late Pleistocene flake tool industries in North China. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 38, 525–535. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Wang, Y.P., Wang, S.Z., 2014. New achievements and perspectives on Paleolithic archaeology during the MIS3 along the eastern foot of Songshan Mountain, Henan Province. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 33, 304–314. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Wei, Q., Li, J., Pei, S.W., 2011. Paleolithic sites and ancient hominids culture. In: Yuan, B.Y., Xia, Z.K., Niu, P.S. (Eds.), Nihewan Rift and Paleoanthropology. Beijing, Geological Publishing House, pp. 132–207.[in Chinese]Google Scholar
Wintle, A.G., and Murray, A.S., 2006. A review of quartz optically stimulated luminescence characteristics and their relevance in single-aliquot regeneration dating protocols. Radiation Measurements 41, 369-391.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Xia, Z.K., Han, J.Q., Jin, D.Q., Zhou, X.H., 1998. The Records of D18O and D13C for Climate Changes in Nihewan Basin during the Last Interglacial. Acta Scientiarum Naturalium Universitatis Pekinensis 34: 119-124.[in Chinese]Google Scholar
Xie, F., Cheng, S.Q., 1989. Report on the excavation of microliths site at Youfang, Yangyuan County, Heibei Province. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 8, 59–68. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Yang, S.X., Deng, C.L., Zhu, R.X., Petraglia, M.D., 2019. The Paleolithic in the Nihewan Basin, China: evolutionary history of an early to late Pleistocene record in Eastern Asia. Evolutionary Anthropology 29, 125–142. https://doi.org/10.1002/evan.21813.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Yang, S.X., Ding, Z.L., 2014. A 249 kyr stack of eight loess grain size records from northern China documenting millennial-scale climate variability. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems 15, 798–814.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yi, M.J., Gao, X., Li, F., Chen, F., 2016. Rethinking the origin of microblade technology: a chronological and ecological perspective. Quaternary International 400, 130–139.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yi, S.W., Li, X., Han, Z.Y., Lu, H.Y., Liu, J.F., Wu, J., 2018. High resolution luminescence chronology for Xiashu loess deposits of southeastern China. Journal of Asian Earth Sciences 155, 188–197.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yuan, S.X., 1993. AMS radiocarbon dating of Xinglong carved antler, Shiyu and Ximiao sites. Acta Anthropologica Sinica 12, 92–95. [in Chinese]Google Scholar
Zhang, J.J., Li, S.H., 2020. Review of the post-IR IRSL dating protocols of K-Feldspar. Methods and Protocols 3, 7. https://doi.org/10.3390/mps3010007.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zhang, J., Li, Y., Han, Y., Wang, J., Zhou, L.P., 2019. Luminescence dating of weathered sediments from the Paleolithic site of Fengshuzui in northern Hunan province, China. Quaternary Geochronology 49, 211–217.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhao, H., Li, S.H., 2005. Internal dose rate to K-feldspar grains from radioactive elements other than potassium. Radiation Measurements 40, 84–93.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhao, H., Lu, Y., Wang, C., Chen, J., Liu, J., Mao, H., 2010. ReOSL dating of aeolian and fluvial sediments from Nihewan Basin, northern China and its environmental application. Quaternary Geochronology 5, 159–163.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhu, R., An, Z., Potts, R., Hoffman, K.A., 2003. Magnetostratigraphic dating of early humans in China. Earth-Science Reviews 61, 341–359.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Zhu, R.X., Deng, C.L., Pan, Y.X., 2007. Magneto chronology of the fluvio-lacustrine sequences in the Nihewan Basin and its implications for early human colonization of Northeast Asia. Quaternary Sciences 27, 922–944.Google Scholar