Premiers hommes de la porte orientale de l’Europe. Recherches et découvertes sur les sites d’Oldowan, Nord du Caucase

Cet article présente les résultats de fouilles et de recherches multidisciplinaires sur le site extraordinaire Muhkai II d’Oldowan, dans le Nord du Caucase (république du Dagestan, Russie) de 2008 à 2012. Les matériaux archéologiques et paléontologiques, de même que les résultats d’analyses paléomagnétiques et palynologiques obtenus à partir de 34 niveaux du site, sont ici présentés. Tout ceci fournit l’opportunité d’une nouvelle approche à propos de l’itinéraire et de l’époque des premiers peuplements humains dans les moyennes latitudes de l’Europe occidentale, incluant l’Europe sub-orientale. D’après les résultats obtenus, leur installation remonterait à environ 2 Ma BP et la trajectoire de migration a été localisée le long du rivage occidental de la mer Caspienne.This article presents the results of excavations and multidisciplinary investigations of the extraordinary Oldowan site of Muhkai II in the northern Caucasus (Republic of Dagestan, Russia) from 2008 to 2012. Archaeological and palaeontological materials are summarized together with data from palaeomagnetic and palynological analyses, obtained from 34 cultural layers at the site. This gives an opportunity for a new approach to the question of the timing and route of the first human settlement of the middle latitudes of western Eurasian, including south-eastern Europe. Judging by the data obtained, this occurred around 2 million years BP and a route of migration was located along the western shore of the Caspian Sea.</p

Paleosecular Variations of the Geomagnetic Field Isolated in Pliocene–Quaternary Sediments of Western Turkmenistan

Abstract: Akchagyl deposits of Western Turkmenistan were studied in order to identify the spectrum of paleosecular variations in the geomagnetic field in Pliocene–Quaternary sediments. The detrital nature of remanent magnetization is established. The spectra of geomagnetic field variations in the Gauss direct polarity intervals (Zau section) and Matuyam reverse polarity intervals (Issu section) in Western Turkmenistan were studied. The spectrum of secular variations in the geomagnetic field is distinguished, in particular, by periods of 8–10, 25–30, and 45–50 ka. The selected periods are stable throughout the Pleistocene and agree well with the results obtained from corresponding deposits in Armenia and Azerbaijan. It should be noted that the revealed discrete series often differ for different elements of the field and different time intervals. © 2020, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd