Abstract
Sediments filling the cave of El Castillo, in Cantabrian Spain, contain Acheulian, Mousterian, and Upper Palaeolithic industries. Bischoffet al. (1992) obtained a U-series isochron date of 89±10ka on a travertine layer separating Acheulian layers from the lowest Mousterian bed; layer 23. We have obtained electron spin resonance (ESR) ages on tooth enamel from the immediately overlying Mousterian-bearing layers 22 and 21, yielding an average age for the two layers of 70±8ka. Early and linear uptake ages are indistinguishable, due to low uranium contents in the teeth. This age is consistent with the age for the underlying travertine. Assuming a constant deposition rate, this age is also consistent with thec. 40ka age for the overlying early Aurignacian layer 18.
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
