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Holocene-aged human footprints from the Cuatrocienegas Basin, NE Mexico

Felstead, N.J.; Gonzalez, S.; Huddart, D.; Noble, S.R.; Hoffman, D.L.; Metcalfe, S.E.; Leng, M.J.; Albert, B.M.; Pike, A.W.G.; Gonzalez-Gonzalez, A.; Jiménez-López, J.C.

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Authors

N.J. Felstead

S. Gonzalez

D. Huddart

S.R. Noble

D.L. Hoffman

S.E. Metcalfe

M.J. Leng

B.M. Albert

A.W.G. Pike

A. Gonzalez-Gonzalez

J.C. Jiménez-López



Abstract

Two sets of well-preserved human footprints have been found in tufa sediments in the Cuatrociénegas Basin, NE Mexico, and here we present their U-series dates of 10.55 ± 0.03 ka and 7.24 ± 0.13 ka. The former are the oldest known footprints in Mexico, although their exact location is unknown, the latter form part of a trackway with eleven in situ human footprints. Oxygen (and to a lesser extent) carbon isotope data from the sediments suggest that the tufa with in situ footprints formed during a transition to a wetter (less arid) period, while pollen evidence indicates the basin floor presence of pecan (Carya) and willow (Salix sp.) before the onset of regional Chihuahuan Desert aridity. These footprints confirm the presence of humans, possibly nomadic hunter–gatherer groups, which persisted until the 18th Century AD.

Citation

Felstead, N., Gonzalez, S., Huddart, D., Noble, S., Hoffman, D., Metcalfe, S., …Jiménez-López, J. (2014). Holocene-aged human footprints from the Cuatrocienegas Basin, NE Mexico. Journal of Archaeological Science, 42, 250-259. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.11.010

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Nov 17, 2013
Online Publication Date Nov 23, 2013
Publication Date Feb 1, 2014
Deposit Date Jan 20, 2014
Publicly Available Date Jul 17, 2018
Journal Journal of Archaeological Science
Print ISSN 0305-4403
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 42
Pages 250-259
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jas.2013.11.010
Public URL https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1464796
Related Public URLs http://eprints.nottingham.ac.uk/30836/

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