Age constraints for the Trachilos footprints from Crete

Nature (from Scientific Reports volume 11) ^ | 11 October 2021 | Uwe Kirscher et al (list below)

[SunkenCiv]

We present an updated time frame for the 30 m thick late Miocene sedimentary Trachilos section from the island of Crete that contains the potentially oldest hominin footprints. The section is characterized by normal magnetic polarity. New and published foraminifera biostratigraphy results suggest an age of the section within the Mediterranean biozone MMi13d, younger than ~ 6.4 Ma. Calcareous nannoplankton data from sediments exposed near Trachilos and belonging to the same sub-basin indicate deposition during calcareous nannofossil biozone CN9bB, between 6.023 and 6.727 Ma. By integrating the magneto- and biostratigraphic data we correlate the Trachilos section with normal polarity Chron C3An.1n, between 6.272 and 6.023 Ma. Using cyclostratigraphic data based on magnetic susceptibility, we constrain the Trachilos footprints age at ~ 6.05 Ma, roughly 0.35 Ma older than previously thought. Some uncertainty remains related to an inaccessible interval of ~ 8 m section and the possibility that the normal polarity might represent the slightly older Chron C3An.2n. Sediment accumulation rate and biostratigraphic arguments, however, stand against these points and favor a deposition during Chron C3An.1n.

[SunkenCiv]

authors: Uwe Kirscher, Haytham El Atfy, Andreas Gärtner, Edoardo Dallanave, Philipp Munz, Grzegorz Niedźwiedzki, Athanassios Athanassiou, Charalampos Fassoulas, Ulf Linnemann, Mandy Hofmann, Matthew Bennett, Per Erik Ahlberg & Madelaine Böhme

• Controversial footprint discovery suggests human-like creatures may have roamed Crete | Red Badger | 09/01/2017

[SunkenCiv]

[LesbianThespianGymnasticMidget]

Cretans?

[Red Badger]

between 6.023 and 6.727 Ma?.....................What is that in Dog Years?................

[SunkenCiv]

The same, but of course, dogs are sometimes the entree’.

[Robert A Cook PE]

between 6.023 and 6.727 Ma?

Odd. I thought first "upright walking" humanoids were much younger than that: That 200,000 years is about the first point when you could a primate "human" ..

[SunkenCiv]

The Laetoli prints found in Tanzania, in an old volcanic ash layer, are 3.7 million years old, which of course means that these over-6-million YO prints in Crete probably face south. ;^)

[SunkenCiv]

Since it’s footprints, I think they were called Feetans at that time.

[PLMerite]

Pretentious magazine couldn't be bothered to have a photograph, so I found one:

[Openurmind]

About the Calcareous Nannofossils . Had many conversations with my good friend and paleontologist Mitch Covington about aging using this method. He does this for a living in another industry in the search for undersea oil deposits.

Some cool pics he has on his company site.

http://bugware.com/gallery.html

[Alas Babylon!]

Ma is million years ago.

https://www.thoughtco.com/how-we-talk-about-geologic-time-3974394

[Red Badger]

My Ma was old, but not THAT OLD!..............

[Alas Babylon!]

Here's where that photo comes from:

[Red Badger]

[Red Badger]

In the shape of Africa?................

[PIF]

That 200,000 years is about the first point when you could a primate “human” ..
—
300,000 BC - full anatomically correct humans supported by mDNA

[PIF]

better view of the prints and explainations

[Night Hides Not]

Never heard of dogs being on the menu in Crete. Goat is on the menu. I recall it as souvlaki. My favorite meals were on the wharf in Chania: squid (calamari), with a cucumber and tomato salad, half a loaf of bread, and a couple of beers.

Anthony Bourdain filmed an episode of his show at the same restaurant I dined at 40+ years ago.

[Alas Babylon!]

Dang, it sure does, doesn’t it?

[Red Badger]

The footprints show the migratory patterns, to the northeast to the Middle East and northwest to Gibraltar..............