Taxonomy, taphonomy and chronology of the Pleistocene faunal assemblage at Ngalau Gupin cave, Sumatra

Smith, Holly E.; Price, Gilbert J.; Duval, Mathieu; Westaway, Kira; Zaim, Jahdi; Rizal, Yan; Aswan, Aswan; Puspaningrum, Mika Rizki; Trihascaryo, Agus; Stewart, Mathew; Louys, Julien

doi:10.1016/j.quaint.2021.05.005

Cited by 19 publications

(37 citation statements)

References 112 publications

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“…While the application of an even more vigorous dating program could test different depositional hypotheses, there remains a natural limit to how much resolution can be obtained using all dating techniques, given the existing age uncertainty provided (typically 10-15% at 1σ for palaeodosimetric methods such as ESR and Luminescence). In this context, additional analyses of other geological and taphonomic data can provide further resolution of the timing and order of events leading to fossil-bearing breccia (Smith et al, 2020(Smith et al, , 2021a(Smith et al, , 2021b.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Like in many caves in SE Asia (O'Connor et al, 2017;Smith et al, 2020), the sedimentary infilling at Ngalau Sampit is made of breccia deposits (Figure 4), which are cemented to the limestone cave walls and floors (Smith et al, 2021a), and unconsolidated deposits lying on the floor (Figure 5). This loose sediment most likely result from the erosion of the breccia (e.g.…”

Section: Recent Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This loose sediment most likely result from the erosion of the breccia (e.g. Smith et al, 2021a), and some more recent sedimentary inputs into the cave system. Field observations at several locations within the cave suggest that the breccia may be divided into fossiliferous and sterile units (Figures 4 and 5).…”

Section: Recent Investigationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The teeth were prepared as in Smith et al (2021a): the enamel layer was mechanically separated from the other dental tissues and both inner and outer surfaces were removed with a dentist drill to eliminate the volume that received an external alpha dose. The initial and removed thicknesses of the enamel layer were measured with a digital calliper.…”

Section: Sample Preparationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the present work, we date newly collected fossil material and associated sediments using three independent numerical methods, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR), U-series and Luminescence, in order to refine the age of the deposit as well as provide further inferences regarding its depositional history. Ngalau Sampit represents only the third site from the Pandag Highlands to be radiometrically dated, after Lida Ajer (Westaway et al, 2017) and Ngalau Gupin (Smith et al, 2021a), and only the second site explored and recorded by Dubois to have associated dates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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New Chronological Constraints for the Late Pleistocene Fossil Assemblage and Associated Breccia from Ngalau Sampit, Sumatra

et al. 2021

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We provide the first numerical age constraints for the palaeontological assemblage and associated sediment from Ngalau Sampit, Sumatra, one of M. Eugène F.T. Dubois' noted sites that he excavated in 1889, and of which we present a transcript of his unpublished report. A combination of U-series, Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) and Luminescence (pIR-IRSL) methods was employed. The three tooth samples yield 1σ consistent combined U-series/ESR ages (mean age of 105 ± 9 ka, 1 s.d.), supporting the chronological integrity of the fossil assemblage at Ngalau Sampit. Three breccia samples yield internally 1σ consistent pIR-IRSL age estimates (mean age of 93 ± 6 ka, 1 s.d.), suggesting that the breccia may represent one single depositional event. All these results are compatible with the U-series age estimates previously obtained on post-depositional carbonate formations. We cannot exclude that the existing, and systematic, age difference between ESR and pIR-IRSL methods (~12 ka on average) may reflect the difference in the dated events (death of the animals vs. sediment burial). However, this apparent deviation is most likely not significant (mean ages are in close agreement a 1σ) and results from the existing uncertainty around the evaluation of the gamma dose rate, which partly arises from the absence of in situ dosimetry. Despite this uncertainty, all the numerical ages consistently and systematically correlate the breccia and associated fossil assemblage to MIS 5 (a finer correlation to sub-stages within MIS 5 would most likely be too speculative at this stage). Ngalau Sampit represents only the third site from the Pandang Highlands to be radiometrically dated, after Lida Ajer and Ngalau Gupin, and the second site explored and recorded by Dubois to have associated dates. Finally, Ngalau Sampit is the only site in Sumatra that chronologically correlates to MIS 5, and thus with the regionally important site of Punung in Java.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%