匼河遗址6054地点黄土-古土壤剖面磁性地层学的年代研究

发现于1957年的匼河文化遗址的年代一直存在较大的争议。近四十年来,考古学和地学工作者虽然从化石、地层等多方面研究,但仍未得出令人信服的可靠结论。受许家窑遗址及小长梁遗址的最新磁性地层学研究结果的启示,过去两年对山西南部匼河遗址从磁性地层学的角度进行了深入、系统的研究,研究发现匼河遗址剖面的磁化率曲线呈顶部高,中间2.5m到13m处较宽阔的低值带,具有华北黄土高原黄土L9的特征,底部又呈高值的分布趋势,这种磁化率的分布关系与洛川标准剖面的S7-S12有较好的对应关系,从而得出文化层以上地层剖面的年代范围为0.7-1.02Ma,由此可推算位于底部磁化率高值带以下的文化层的年代至少早于1.02Ma,完全不同于匼河文化遗址0.247Ma的现行认识,而与苏朴、朱日祥等人对许家窑、小长梁遗址,马圈沟遗址年代的最新认识趋向一致。

MAGNETOSTRATIGRAPHIC AGE OF PLEISTOCENE LOESS/ PALEOSOL SECTIONS AT KEHE, SHANXI

The age of the Kehe Paleolithic Site discovered in 1957 has been a matter of dispute for decades. Extensive paleontological and stratigraphic studies of this site during the last 40 years have not resulted in any firm conclusions regarding its age. The present work was inspired by the new magnetostratigraphy results of Xujiayao Paleolithic Site, Xiaochangliang Paleolithic Site and Mujuangou Paleolithic Site. During the last two years we have sampled Locality 6054 of Kehe Paleolithic Site in South Shanxi and performed magnetostratigraphy investigations. The susceptibility of Kehe shows higher values at the top of the section with an interval of lower susceptibility values between 2.5m and 13m. This interval has the character of the loess L9 in North China. The bottom of the section again shows higher values. Stratigraphic variations in susceptibility can be correlated with S7-S12 therefore proposed that the age of the Kehe section interval of the Luochuan Standard Section, and it is above the cultural layer is about 0. 7Ma-1.02Ma. Based on this correlation, the age of the cultural layer, which is below the high susceptibility interval at the bottom of the section, is at least 1.02 Ma. This inferred old age is at variance with the generally accepted age of the Kehe Paleolithic Site, believed to be around 0. 247Ma. The present result, however, is in accord with the new time frames proposed by Su Pu and Zhu Ri-xiang regarding the Xujiaoyao Paleolithic Site, Xiaochangliang Paleolithic Site and Majuangou Paleolithic Site.