Humid periods in southern Arabia: windows of opportunity for modern human dispersal.

Rosenberg, T.M., Preusser, F., Fleitmann, D., Schwalb, K., Penkman, K., Schmid, T.W., Al-Shanti, M.A., Kadi, K. and Matter, A. (2011) Humid periods in southern Arabia: windows of opportunity for modern human dispersal. Geology, 39 (12). pp. 1115-1118. ISSN 0091-7613 doi: 10.1130/G32281.1

Abstract/Summary

Arabia is a key area for the dispersal of anatomically modern humans (AMH, Homo sapiens) out of Africa. Given its modern hostile environment, the question of the timing of dispersal is also a question of climatic conditions. Fresh water and food were crucial factors facilitating AMH expansions into Arabia. By dating relict lake deposits, four periods of lake formation were identified: one during the early Holocene and three during the late Pleistocene centered ca. 80, ca. 100, and ca. 125 ka. Favorable environmental conditions during these periods allowed AMH to migrate across southern Arabia. Between ca. 75 and 10.5 ka, arid conditions prevailed and turned southern Arabia into a natural barrier for human dispersal. Thus, expansion of AMH through the southern corridor into Asia must have taken place before 75 ka, possibly in multiple dispersals.

Item Type	Article
URI	https://reading-clone.eprints-hosting.org/id/eprint/29747
Item Type	Article
Refereed	Yes
Divisions	No Reading authors. Back catalogue items Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Scientific Archaeology Science > School of Archaeology, Geography and Environmental Science > Department of Archaeology
Publisher	Geological Society of America
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