Anatomically modern human in Southeast Asia (Laos) by 46 ka

• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1208104109
• Publication Date: 2012-08-21T04:30:12Z
• Authors: Fabrice Demeter; Laura L. Shackelford; Anne-Marie Bacon; Philippe Duringer; Kira Westaway; Thongsa Sayavongk...; José Braga; Phonephanh Sichan...; Phimmasaeng Khamd...; Jean-Luc Ponche; Hong Wang; Craig Lundstrom; Elise Patole-Edoumba; Anne-Marie Karpoff
• Keywords: [SHS.ARCHEO] Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory; Luminescence; [SHS.ARCHEO]Humanities and Social Sciences/Archaeology and Prehistory; Species Specificity; Fossils; Laos; Anthropology; Skull; Humans; Carbon Radioisotopes; Emigration and Immigration; Southeast Asia; History, Ancient

Uncertainties surround the timing of modern human emergence and occupation in East Southeast Asia. Although genetic archeological data indicate a rapid migration out Africa into Asia by at least 60 ka, mainland is notable for its absence fossil evidence early occupation. Here we report on cranium from Tam Pa Ling, Laos, which was recovered secure stratigraphic context. Radiocarbon luminescence dating surrounding sediments provide minimum age 51-46 direct U-dating bone indicates maximum ~63 ka. The has derived morphology features frontal, occipital, maxillae, dentition. It also differentiated western Eurasian archaic humans aspects temporal, dental morphology. In context an increasingly documented archaic-modern morphological mosaic among earliest Eurasia, Ling establishes definitively population ~50 ka cal BP. As such, it provides skeletal fully