Dating of Cueva Cacao (NW-Argentina) sediments: hints for an early human occupation?

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Frank Schäbitz
• Subject Area: Prehistory and World Archaeology ; Physical Geography
• Term: from 2019 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 434559825

So far it is known, that starting in Africa, the spread of anatomically modern humans took until 14,000 years before they reached the south American continent. Fossil human hair, which was found by our local cooperation partners in the "Cueva Cacao" in northwestern Argentina, may hint to a much earlier occupation (>43,000). Using a series of radiocarbon datings from different layers of the cave sediments, including the one containing the fossil hair, we would like to study the stratigraphy of these sediments. The results may prove the early human occupation of that cave.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants