Age constraints for the Trachilos footprints from Crete

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Uwe Kirscher - , University of Tübingen, Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (Author)
  • Haytham El Atfy - , University of Tübingen, Mansoura University (Author)
  • Andreas Gärtner - , Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (Author)
  • Edoardo Dallanave - , University of Bremen (Author)
  • Philipp Munz - , University of Tübingen (Author)
  • Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki - , Uppsala University (Author)
  • Athanassios Athanassiou - , Ephorate of Palaeoanthropology-Speleology (Author)
  • Charalampos Fassoulas - , University of Crete (Author)
  • Ulf Linnemann - , Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (Author)
  • Mandy Hofmann - , Senckenberg Gesellschaft für Naturforschung (Author)
  • Matthew Bennett - , Bournemouth University (Author)
  • Per Erik Ahlberg - , Uppsala University (Author)
  • Madelaine Böhme - , University of Tübingen, Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment (Author)

Abstract

We present an updated time frame for the 30 m thick late Miocene sedimentary Trachilos section from the island of Crete that contains the potentially oldest hominin footprints. The section is characterized by normal magnetic polarity. New and published foraminifera biostratigraphy results suggest an age of the section within the Mediterranean biozone MMi13d, younger than ~ 6.4 Ma. Calcareous nannoplankton data from sediments exposed near Trachilos and belonging to the same sub-basin indicate deposition during calcareous nannofossil biozone CN9bB, between 6.023 and 6.727 Ma. By integrating the magneto- and biostratigraphic data we correlate the Trachilos section with normal polarity Chron C3An.1n, between 6.272 and 6.023 Ma. Using cyclostratigraphic data based on magnetic susceptibility, we constrain the Trachilos footprints age at ~ 6.05 Ma, roughly 0.35 Ma older than previously thought. Some uncertainty remains related to an inaccessible interval of ~ 8 m section and the possibility that the normal polarity might represent the slightly older Chron C3An.2n. Sediment accumulation rate and biostratigraphic arguments, however, stand against these points and favor a deposition during Chron C3An.1n.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number19427
JournalScientific reports
Volume11
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2021
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 34635686

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas