HR: 11:20h
AN: NS32A-04    [Abstracts]
TI: The Magnetosusceptibility Stratigraphy (MS) Applied as a Correlation and High Precision Relative Dating Tool in Archaeology: Application to Caves in Spain and Portugal
AU: * Ellwood, B B
EM: ellwood@lsu.edu
AF: Department of Geology and Geophysics, Louisiana State University, E235 Howe-Russell Geoscieince Complex, Baton Rouge, LA 70803 United States
AU: Arbizu, M
EM: marbizu@geol.uniovi.es
AF: Departamento de GeologĦa. Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Jes£s Arias de Velasco s/n§,, Oviedo, 33005 Spain
AU: Arsuaga, J
EM: jlarsuaga@isciii.es
AF: Director del Centro de evoluci˘n y comportamientos humanos. Instituto de salud de la Universidad Carlos III, C/ Silesio Delgado 4, Madrid, 28029 Spain
AU: Harrold, F
EM: harroldfb@unk.edu
AF: University of Nebraska at Kearney, College of Natural and Social Sciences, Kearney, NE 68849 United States
AU: Zilhao, J
EM: joao.zilhao@netcabo.pt
AF: Faculdade de Letras de Lisboa, Departamento de Historia, Lisboa, P-1600-214 Portugal
AU: Ad n, G E
EM: gema@geol.uniovi.es
AF: Departamento de GeologĦa. Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Jes£s Arias de Velasco s/n§,, Oviedo, 33005 Spain
AU: Aramburu, A
EM: npparara@lg.ehu.es
AF: Departamento de MineralogĦa y PetrologĦa. Universidad de PaĦs Vasco, Campus de Leioa, C/ Sarriena s/n§, Vizcaya, 48940 Spain
AU: Fombella, M A
EM: dbvmfb@unileon.es
AF: Escuela de IngenierĦa Agraria. Instituto de recursos naturales. Universidad de Le˘n, Avenida de Portugal s/n§, Le˘n, 2407 Spain
AU: Bedia, I M
EM: imbedia@geol.uniovi.es
AF: Departamento de GeologĦa. Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Jes£s Arias de Velasco s/n§,, Oviedo, 33005 Spain
AU: Alvarez-La˘, D
EM: dalao@geol.uniovi.es
AF: Departamento de GeologĦa. Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Jes£s Arias de Velasco s/n§,, Oviedo, 33005 Spain
AU: GarcĦa, M
EM: mariagarcia@portugalmail.pt
AF: Departamento de GeologĦa. Universidad de Oviedo, C/ Jes£s Arias de Velasco s/n§,, Oviedo, 33005 Spain
AB: The magnetic susceptibility (MS) method, when carefully applied, can be used to correlatie between sediment sequences and to characterize the paleoclimate at the time the sediments were deposited in protected archaeological sites, such as within caves or deep rock shelters. This method works because the MS of sediments outside caves, that are eventually deposited in caves, is controlled by pedogenesis that in turn is driven by climate. Here we summarize the method and discuss ways designed to identify anomalous samples that should not be used in relative dating or for correlations. We will then present our results from Cueva del Conde located in the Province of Asturias, northwestern Spain, and compare those results with results from other caves from Spain and Portugal. Cueva del Conde was first excavated in 1915, with additional excavations and studies performed in 1962, 1965, and 1999. The current excavations began in 2001. This body of work identified a transitional sequence from Middle Paleolithic (Mousterian) to early Upper Paleolithic (Aurignacian) artifacts, including perhaps the earliest art known from the Upper Paleolithic, thus establishing Cueva del Conde as an important Paleolithic cave site. We collected a continuous series of 44 samples, each covering about 0.027 m of section, from an exposed 1.2 m sequence within the cave. This section has been excavated and studied by archaeologists working at the site and three 14C dates from charcoal have been reported. The MS for samples collected for this study were measured using the susceptibility bridge at LSU. The MS shows a systematic cyclicity that when constrained by the 14C ages can be correlated to our MS standard curve for Europe (Ellwood et al., 2001; Harrold et al., 2004), and thus to other sites in the region. This cyclicity we interpret to result from climate fluctuations. By comparison to our MS standard curves, we are able to assign MS relative ages to Cueva del Conde that extends the sequence from about 31,500 BP to greater than 36,000 BP (uncalibrated 14C ages). Our results show that the transition from the Middle to the Upper Paleolithic at this locality in northwestern Spain occurred during a time when climate was relatively cold. The implications of this work for correlation to equivalent age sites in Spain and Portugal will be discussed.
DE: 0925 Magnetic and electrical methods
DE: 1503 Archeomagnetism
DE: 1520 Magnetostratigraphy
SC: Near-Surface Geophysics [NS]
MN: 2005 Joint Assembly