Magnetic Polarity Stratigraphy of the Upper Cenozoic Deposits of Near-Sea Dagestan (Russia) and the Age of the Early Paleolithic Site Rubas-1

Abstract

We studied magnetic polarity in four Upper Neogene (Akchagylian stage) sections of Near-Sea Dagestan. Paleomagnetic studies have shown that Shor-Dere section is the most complete section of Late Neogene—Late Quaternary in this territory. The section Rubas-1, which contains Paleolithic artifacts, corresponds to the upper part of the Shor-Dere section, while sections Ajinour and Rubas River are likely short fragments, so their correlation with the reference section is ambiguous. A composite magnetic polarity section of Near-Sea Dagestan was constructed on the base of correlation between Shor-Dere, Rubas-1 and, in part, Rubas River sections. Magnetic polarity pattern of the composite paleomagnetic section is well correlated with the polarity zonation of Akchagylian stage for the neighboring regions of the Caspian basin (Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan), the south of the European part of Russia and the Transcaucasia (the Northern Caspian and the Lower Volga region). Such correlation of the magnetic polarity with those from startotype regions of Akchagylian stage made it possible to identify magnetic polarity zones in the composite section with the magnetic polarity chrons of the Neogene and Quaternary Time Scale (2016). We suggest that the upper part of the composite section can be correlated with Matuyama Chron including Olduvai and Reunion subchrons, while the lower part attributes to Gauss Chron with Kaena subchron. The proposed correlation provides the basis for approximate age estimates for the studied strata and supposes the age of the stone industry from Rubas-1 site not later earlier than 2 million years ago.