scholarly journals New hominin remains and revised context from the earliest Homo erectus locality in East Turkana, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashley S. Hammond ◽  
Silindokuhle S. Mavuso ◽  
Maryse Biernat ◽  
David R. Braun ◽  
Zubair Jinnah ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Homo Erectus ◽  
Isotope Data ◽  
Geological Context

AbstractThe KNM-ER 2598 occipital is among the oldest fossils attributed to Homo erectus but questions have been raised about whether it may derive from a younger horizon. Here we report on efforts to relocate the KNM-ER 2598 locality and investigate its paleontological and geological context. Although located in a different East Turkana collection area (Area 13) than initially reported, the locality is stratigraphically positioned below the KBS Tuff and the outcrops show no evidence of deflation of a younger unit, supporting an age of >1.855 Ma. Newly recovered faunal material consists primarily of C4 grazers, further confirmed by enamel isotope data. A hominin proximal 3rd metatarsal and partial ilium were discovered <50 m from the reconstructed location where KNM-ER 2598 was originally found but these cannot be associated directly with the occipital. The postcrania are consistent with fossil Homo and may represent the earliest postcrania attributable to Homo erectus.

scholarly journals Contemporaneity of Australopithecus, Paranthropus, and early Homo erectus in South Africa

Science ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 368 (6486) ◽  
pp. eaaw7293 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andy I. R. Herries ◽  
Jesse M. Martin ◽  
A. B. Leece ◽  
Justin W. Adams ◽  
Giovanni Boschian ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Taxonomic Diversity ◽  
Homo Erectus ◽  
Early Homo ◽  
Endemic Evolution ◽  
Geological Context

Understanding the extinction of Australopithecus and origins of Paranthropus and Homo in South Africa has been hampered by the perceived complex geological context of hominin fossils, poor chronological resolution, and a lack of well-preserved early Homo specimens. We describe, date, and contextualize the discovery of two hominin crania from Drimolen Main Quarry in South Africa. At ~2.04 million to 1.95 million years old, DNH 152 represents the earliest definitive occurrence of Paranthropus robustus, and DNH 134 represents the earliest occurrence of a cranium with clear affinities to Homo erectus. These crania also show that Homo, Paranthropus, and Australopithecus were contemporaneous at ~2 million years ago. This high taxonomic diversity is also reflected in non-hominin species and provides evidence of endemic evolution and dispersal during a period of climatic variability.

Oxygen, Hydrogen, Boron and Lithium Isotope Data of a Natural Spring Water with an Extreme Composition: A Fluid from the Dehydrating Slab?

2017 ◽  
Vol 23 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 299-313 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiziano Boschetti ◽  
Lorenzo Toscani ◽  
Paola Iacumin ◽  
Enricomaria Selmo
Keyword(s):  
Spring Water ◽  
Lithium Isotope ◽  
Isotope Data ◽  
Natural Spring Water ◽  
Natural Spring

scholarly journals Upper limits on the extent of seafloor anoxia during the PETM from uranium isotopes

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew O. Clarkson ◽  
Timothy M. Lenton ◽  
Morten B. Andersen ◽  
Marie-Laure Bagard ◽  
Alexander J. Dickson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Cycle ◽  
Global Scale ◽  
Uranium Isotopes ◽  
Biogeochemical Model ◽  
Emission Scenarios ◽  
Isotope Data ◽  
Upper Limit ◽  
Thermal Maximum ◽  
Upper Limits ◽  
Anoxic Events

AbstractThe Paleocene Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM) represents a major carbon cycle and climate perturbation that was associated with ocean de-oxygenation, in a qualitatively similar manner to the more extensive Mesozoic Oceanic Anoxic Events. Although indicators of ocean de-oxygenation are common for the PETM, and linked to biotic turnover, the global extent and temporal progression of de-oxygenation is poorly constrained. Here we present carbonate associated uranium isotope data for the PETM. A lack of resolvable perturbation to the U-cycle during the event suggests a limited expansion of seafloor anoxia on a global scale. We use this result, in conjunction with a biogeochemical model, to set an upper limit on the extent of global seafloor de-oxygenation. The model suggests that the new U isotope data, whilst also being consistent with plausible carbon emission scenarios and observations of carbon cycle recovery, permit a maximum ~10-fold expansion of anoxia, covering <2% of seafloor area.

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