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Compound-specific radiocarbon dating and mitochondrial DNA analysis of the Pleistocene hominin from Salkhit Mongolia

Author

Listed:
  • Thibaut Devièse

    (Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford)

  • Diyendo Massilani

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Seonbok Yi

    (Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu)

  • Daniel Comeskey

    (Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford)

  • Sarah Nagel

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Birgit Nickel

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Erika Ribechini

    (Università di Pisa)

  • Jungeun Lee

    (Seoul National University, Gwanak-ro 1, Gwanak-gu)

  • Damdinsuren Tseveendorj

    (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)

  • Byambaa Gunchinsuren

    (Mongolian Academy of Sciences)

  • Matthias Meyer

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Svante Pääbo

    (Max-Planck-Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology)

  • Tom Higham

    (Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford)

Abstract

A skullcap found in the Salkhit Valley in northeast Mongolia is, to our knowledge, the only Pleistocene hominin fossil found in the country. It was initially described as an individual with possible archaic affinities, but its ancestry has been debated since the discovery. Here, we determine the age of the Salkhit skull by compound-specific radiocarbon dating of hydroxyproline to 34,950–33,900 Cal. BP (at 95% probability), placing the Salkhit individual in the Early Upper Paleolithic period. We reconstruct the complete mitochondrial genome (mtDNA) of the specimen. It falls within a group of modern human mtDNAs (haplogroup N) that is widespread in Eurasia today. The results now place the specimen into its proper chronometric and biological context and allow us to begin integrating it with other evidence for the human occupation of this region during the Paleolithic, as well as wider Pleistocene sequences across Eurasia.

Suggested Citation

  • Thibaut Devièse & Diyendo Massilani & Seonbok Yi & Daniel Comeskey & Sarah Nagel & Birgit Nickel & Erika Ribechini & Jungeun Lee & Damdinsuren Tseveendorj & Byambaa Gunchinsuren & Matthias Meyer & Sva, 2019. "Compound-specific radiocarbon dating and mitochondrial DNA analysis of the Pleistocene hominin from Salkhit Mongolia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-7, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-08018-8
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-08018-8
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    Cited by:

    1. Patrick Cuthbertson & Tobias Ullmann & Christian Büdel & Aristeidis Varis & Abay Namen & Reimar Seltmann & Denné Reed & Zhaken Taimagambetov & Radu Iovita, 2021. "Finding karstic caves and rockshelters in the Inner Asian mountain corridor using predictive modelling and field survey," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 16(1), pages 1-26, January.

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