A recognition palaeomagnetic study of volcanic and sedimentary rocks from Dmanissi (Caucasus): implications for the oldest human occupation in Europe

We report the initial results of a palaeomagnetic study from Dmanissi (Geor gia), which has yielded a human mandible and evidence of a lithic industry associated with a Late Pliocene-Early Pleistocene fauna. A preliminary comb ined palaeomagnetic-Ar/Ar study suggested an Olduvain age for the anthropol ogical level, thus, becoming the oldest sign of human occupation in Europe. Our palaeomagnetic and rock-magnetic study reveals the presence of reverse magnetizations in the sediments that host the human remains and artifacts, thereby ruling out an Olduvain age for the site. An underlying basaltic la va shows intermediate polarities that, given the isotopic age of the rock ( similar to 1.8 Ma), can be interpreted as the Matuyama-Olduvain transition. (C) 2000 Academie des sciences/Editions scientifiques et medicales Elsevie r SAS.