Using GIS and ecological variables to identify high potential areas for paleoanthropological survey: an example from northern Armenia

UNCG Author/Contributor (non-UNCG co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Charles P. Egeland, Professor (Creator)
Institution
The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG )
Web Site: http://library.uncg.edu/

Abstract: The timing and nature of the initial hominid dispersals from Africa during the Plio-Pleistocene (here 2.0-1.5 million years ago [MYR]) is an issue of great interest for paleoanthropology. However, the biological, technological, and ecological context of these dispersals remains cloudy due largely to a paucity of Eurasian paleoanthropological sites dating to this time period. Indeed, there are only a handful of well-accepted Plio-Pleistocene sites from Eurasia: Dmanisi in the Republic of Georgia at 1.77-1.81 MYR (de Lumley et al. 2002), the Nihewan and Yuanmou basins of China at 1.66-1.70 MYR (Zhu et al. 2008), and the Indonesian island of Java at least 1.66 MYR (Sangiran) but perhaps as early as 1.81 MYR (Mojokerto) (Larick et al. 2001; Swisher et al. 1994). Although the Levant, given its geographic location, is the most logical extra- African source of dispersing hominid populations, the earliest well-accepted occupations there ('Ubeidiya in Israel) date to somewhat later in time at 1.4 MYR (Belmaker et al. 2002).

Additional Information

Publication
Journal of Ecological Anthropology 14, 89-98
Language: English
Date: 2009
Keywords
GIS, Armenia, Plio-Pleistocene, paleoanthropology

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