Climate and habitat reconstruction of hominid sites in northern China with paleosol stable isotopes

The environment of early hominids in the Loess Plateau region of China is a highly debated subject. Interpretations of past habitats and climates derived from fossil faunal and floral assemblages, paleosols, and geochemistry are often contradictory. In order to understand paleoenvironments and the nature of hominid adaptations, evolution and behavioral change, more accurate reconstructions of their environments are needed. Stable isotope geochemistry of paleosols, including carbon isotopes of soil organic matter and pedogenic carbonates, and oxygen isotopes of pedogenic carbonates, can provide evidences for tree:grass ratios, air surface temperature and soil moisture conditions. These data can also help resolve disagreements about paleoenvironments at hominid sites from other lines of evidence and provide a secure understanding of the environmental contexts of early hominids. This framework can help to understand the adaptative strategies of Pleistocene hominids in northern China and the evolution of adaptability to colder environments.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Anthropology

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Wang, Hong

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ambrose, Stanley H.

• Anthropology, Archaeology
• Paleoecology
• Geochemistry

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1996 Wang, Hong

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

9780591089066
AAI9702711
(UMI)AAI9702711

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/21600