Elsevier Editorial System(Tm) for Quaternary International Manuscript Draft Manuscript Number: QUATINT-D-13-00568R1 Title: Paleo
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LJMU Research Online Gonzalez, S, Huddart, D, Israde-Alcantara, I, Dominguez-Vazquez, G, Bischoff, J and Felstead, N Paleoindian sites from the Basin of Mexico: Evidence from stratigraphy, tephrochronology and dating http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/3138/ Article Citation (please note it is advisable to refer to the publisher’s version if you intend to cite from this work) Gonzalez, S, Huddart, D, Israde-Alcantara, I, Dominguez-Vazquez, G, Bischoff, J and Felstead, N (2015) Paleoindian sites from the Basin of Mexico: Evidence from stratigraphy, tephrochronology and dating. Quaternary International, 363. pp. 4-19. ISSN 1873-4553 LJMU has developed LJMU Research Online for users to access the research output of the University more effectively. Copyright © and Moral Rights for the papers on this site are retained by the individual authors and/or other copyright owners. 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For more information please contact [email protected] http://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/ Elsevier Editorial System(tm) for Quaternary International Manuscript Draft Manuscript Number: QUATINT-D-13-00568R1 Title: Paleo-Indian Sites from the Basin of Mexico: Evidence from Stratigraphy, Tephrochronology and Dating Article Type: Human-Env Interaction,Peopling of Americ Keywords: Late Pleistocene, Mexico, tephra, mammoths, Paleoindians, meteorite burst, Corresponding Author: Prof. Silvia Gonzalez, PhD Corresponding Author's Institution: Liverpool John Moores University First Author: Silvia Gonzalez, Professor Order of Authors: Silvia Gonzalez, Professor; David Huddartt, Prof; Isabel Israde Alcantara, Dr; Gabriela Dominguez Vazquez, Dr; James Bischoff, Dr; Nicholas Felstead, Dr Manuscript Region of Origin: MEXICO Abstract: We present new data on the stratigraphy, dating and tephrochonology at the most important Paleoindian sites in the Basin of Mexico. These include: a) Peñon Woman III, with the oldest directly radiocarbon dated human remains (10,755± 75 yr BP); b) Tlapacoya, with two human crania dated to just over 10 ka BP; c) Tocuila, an important mammoth site with incorporation of fossils and suggested bone tools within the Upper Toluca Pumice (UTP) lahar (volcanic mudflow). The Tocuila site also includes potential evidence for a layer associated with the Younger Dryas meteorite airburst, with charcoal, iron microspherules, micro-tektites (melted glass) and volcanic ash, dated to 10,800 ± 50 yr BP and d) the Santa Isabel Iztapan mammoths I and II with lithics of Scottsbluff, Lerma and Angostura types and obsidian prismatic blades but lacking the characteristic fluted Clovis type points normally associated with mammoth kills and butchering and dated after the Pumice with Andesite (PWA) layer ~14,500 BP, to 10, 900 yr BP, before the Younger Dryas interval. These results show that these lithic traditions in Central Mexico are older than in the Great Plains of USA. Several tephra markers are recognised in the sites that help to constrain the stratigraphy and dating of the archaeological sequences. However tephra reworking in marginal lake sites is present and has been carefully considered, especially for the PWA tephra. Author Agreement Form Quaternary International We the undersigned declare that this manuscript is original, has not been published before and is not currently being considered for publication elsewhere. We confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved by all named authors and that there are no other persons who satisfied the criteria for authorship but are not listed. We further confirm that the order of authors listed in the manuscript has been approved by all of us. We understand that the Corresponding Author is the sole contact for the Editorial process. He/she is responsible for communicating with the other authors about progress, submissions of revisions and final approval of proofs. Signed by all authors as follows: Silvia Gonzalez, David Huddart, Isabel Israde Alcantara, Gabriela Dominguez Vazquez and James Bischoff *Cover Letter Dear Editors for the Special Volume For Quaternary International Francisco Javier Aceituno and Miguel Eduardo Delgado Present Liverpool John Moores University 26 September 2013 Dear Francisco and Miguel Thank you very much for the invitation to submit this paper for your special volume. Sorry that took so long but finally is finished. The paper includes new stratigraphic, teprochronology and dates regarding the most important Paleoindian sites for the Basin of Mexico together with their evaluation and Interpretation. The impact of volcanic activity is a very important factor also the potential if controversial YD Meteorite impact for which we have found evidence in the basin. Best regards Prof Silvia Gonzalez Prof of Quaternary Geology and Geoarcheology Liverpool John Moores University *Manuscript Click here to view linked References 1 Paleo-Indian Sites from the Basin of Mexico: Evidence from stratigraphy, tephrochronology and dating. Silvia Gonzalez, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK. Corresponding Author: Email: [email protected] David Huddart, School of Natural Sciences and Psychology, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool L3 3AF, UK. Email: [email protected] Isabel Israde -Alcántara, Department of Geology and Mineralogy. IIM, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México. Email: [email protected] Gabriela Domínguez-Vázquez, Faculty of Biology, Universidad Michoacana de San Nicolás de Hidalgo, Morelia, Michoacán, México. Email: [email protected] James Bischoff, United States Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA, USA. Email: [email protected] Nicholas Felstead, Department of Geography, Durham University, UK. Email: [email protected] Abstract We present new data on the stratigraphy, dating and tephrochonology at the most important Paleoindian sites in the Basin of Mexico. These include: a) Peñon Woman III, with the oldest directly radiocarbon dated human remains (10,755± 75 yr BP); b) Tlapacoya, with two human crania dated to just over 10 ka BP; c) Tocuila, an important mammoth site with incorporation of fossils and suggested bone tools within the Upper Toluca Pumice (UTP) lahar (volcanic mudflow). The Tocuila site also includes potential evidence for a layer associated with the Younger Dryas meteorite airburst, with charcoal, iron microspherules, micro-tektites (melted glass) and volcanic ash, dated to 10,800 ± 50 yr BP and d) the Santa Isabel Iztapan mammoths I and II with lithics of Scottsbluff, Lerma and Angostura types and obsidian prismatic blades but lacking the characteristic fluted Clovis type points normally associated with mammoth kills and butchering and dated after the Pumice with Andesite (PWA) layer ~14,500 BP, to 10, 900 yr BP, before the Younger Dryas interval. These results show that these lithic traditions in Central Mexico are older than in the Great Plains of USA. Several tephra markers are recognised in the sites that help to constrain the stratigraphy and dating of the archaeological sequences. However tephra reworking in marginal lake sites is present and has been carefully considered, especially for the PWA tephra. 2 Keywords: Late Pleistocene, Mexico, tephra, dating, mammoths, Paleoindians. 1.Introduction The main objectives of this paper are to present and discuss the complexities of the sedimentology, tephrostratigraphy and dating related to the most important Paleoindian sites in the Basin of Mexico: Peñon Woman III, Tlapacoya, Tocuila Mammoths and Santa Isabel Iztapan I and II Mammoths. The overall aim is to investigate the influence of volcanic processes and a potential meteorite airburst event on the development of human and animal populations during the Late Pleistocene/ Early Holocene. The sites are located at around 2240m a.s.l. in the flat-floored, Basin of Mexico, which has been a closed hydrographic system for the past 700 ka. Magnetic polarity stratigraphy does not give tight constraints but suggests a Brunhes age (Urrutia and Martin del Pozzo 1993). The basin contained a large lake approximately 1000 km2 in area, extending within a series of sub-basins (Figure 1), prior to artificial recent drainage. The basin limits to the east are the volcanoes of the northern Sierra Nevada (Tláloc and Telapon). Pyroclastic flows, ashes, block-and-ash flows, lahars and fluvial sediments make up an extensive volcaniclastic piedmont linking these volcanoes to the lake basin. Other potential sources of volcaniclastic sediment are from the monogenetic volcanoes in the basin and the strato-volcano Nevado de Toluca from which a Plinian eruption produced the extensive Upper Toluca Pumice (UTP) and the strato-volcano Popocatépetl, the source of the Pumice with Andesite (PWA), south- west and south-east respectively (Figure 1). The basin climate today is subtropical with summer rainfall predominant (c.500-1000 mm), but around the basin the mountains provide a wide range of temperature, rainfall and vegetation environments. Climatic change in the last 50,000