Abstract
We present an updated time frame for the 30 m thick late Miocene sedimentary Trachilos section from the island of Crete that contains the potentially oldest hominin footprints. The section is characterized by normal magnetic polarity. New and published foraminifera biostratigraphy results suggest an age of the section within the Mediterranean biozone MMi13d, younger than ~ 6.4 Ma. Calcareous nannoplankton data from sediments exposed near Trachilos and belonging to the same sub-basin indicate deposition during calcareous nannofossil biozone CN9bB, between 6.023 and 6.727 Ma. By integrating the magneto- and biostratigraphic data we correlate the Trachilos section with normal polarity Chron C3An.1n, between 6.272 and 6.023 Ma. Using cyclostratigraphic data based on magnetic susceptibility, we constrain the Trachilos footprints age at ~ 6.05 Ma, roughly 0.35 Ma older than previously thought. Some uncertainty remains related to an inaccessible interval of ~ 8 m section and the possibility that the normal polarity might represent the slightly older Chron C3An.2n. Sediment accumulation rate and biostratigraphic arguments, however, stand against these points and favor a deposition during Chron C3An.1n.
Highlights
We present an updated time frame for the 30 m thick late Miocene sedimentary Trachilos section from the island of Crete that contains the potentially oldest hominin footprints
This section belongs to the Platanos Basin and the Vrysses Group of northwestern Crete (Fig. 1b)[8]. These footprints, which possess a suite of characteristic trace fossil features including expulsion rims, pull-up structures and toe drag marks, indicate the track-maker had a distinctive foot morphology. This morphology includes characters that are currently considered be unique to hominins such as the presence of a forefoot ball, a non-divergent and robust hallux placed alongside digit II on the distal margin of the sole and digits II through IV becoming progressively shorter
Results from alternating field (AF) demagnetization of anhysteretic remanent magnetizations (ARM) and from stepwise isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) acquisition indicate the presence of low magnetic coercivity magnetite likely of bacterial origin (Fig. 2c + d)
Summary
We present an updated time frame for the 30 m thick late Miocene sedimentary Trachilos section from the island of Crete that contains the potentially oldest hominin footprints. Results from alternating field (AF) demagnetization of anhysteretic remanent magnetizations (ARM) and from stepwise isothermal remanent magnetization (IRM) acquisition indicate the presence of low magnetic coercivity magnetite likely of bacterial origin (Fig. 2c + d).
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