Abstract For over 30 years, the radiometric chronologies of Newman Rockshelter and Newman Orebody XXIX have been central to archaeological discussions on the Pleistocene Aboriginal occupation of the Hamersley Plateau and greater Pilbara region. Until 2009, these two sites were heralded as having the oldest evidence of human occupation on the plateau, dating to the last glacial maximum (LGM) ∼ 26–20 ka. More recently however, the excavations at several other rockshelters have shown that ancient Aboriginal peoples occupied the Hamersley Plateau many thousands of years before the onset of the last glacial cycle, when regional climatic conditions were wetter and more amenable. This paper presents the results of our re-excavation of both Newman Rockshelter and Newman Orebody XXIX. Our research has resulted in the compilation and analysis of large lithic datasets for each of these sites and the construction of geo-chronologies using modern radiometric techniques, including AMS-radiocarbon dating and optically stimulated luminescence dating. These new radiometric chronologies and artefact data indicate that both sites were occupied between 45 and 40 ka. Despite having significant early occupational evidence, neither of the rockshelters present strong evidence for sustained or persistent site use during the LGM proper ca. 23–19 ka; however, there is substantial evidence for more routine occupation of these localities during the terminal Pleistocene and Holocene.

中文翻译：

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重新审视东皮尔巴拉的早期占领：Newman Rockshelter 和 Newman Orebody XXIX 的新辐射年表和考古结果

摘要 30 多年来，Newman Rockshelter 和 Newman Orebody XXIX 的放射性年代学一直是关于更新世原住民占领哈默斯利高原和大皮尔巴拉地区的考古讨论的核心。直到 2009 年，这两个地点都被认为是高原上人类居住的最古老证据，可追溯到最后一次冰期最大值 (LGM) ∼ 26-20 ka。然而，最近在其他几个岩石避难所的发掘表明，古代原住民在最后一次冰期循环开始前数千年就占领了哈默斯利高原，当时区域气候条件更湿润、更适宜。本文介绍了我们重新挖掘 Newman Rockshelter 和 Newman Orebody XXIX 的结果。我们的研究成果是编译和分析了这些地点中的每一个的大型岩屑数据集，并使用现代辐射测量技术构建了地质年代学，包括 AMS 放射性碳测年和光激发光测年。这些新的辐射年表和人工制品数据表明，这两个地点都在 45 到 40 ka 之间被占用。尽管有重要的早期职业证据，但在 LGM 期间，这两个岩石避难所都没有提供持续或持久的场地使用的有力证据。23-19 卡；然而，有大量证据表明在更新世末期和全新世期间对这些地区进行了更常规的占领。包括 AMS-放射性碳测年和光受激发光测年。这些新的辐射年表和人工制品数据表明，这两个地点都在 45 到 40 ka 之间被占用。尽管有重要的早期职业证据，但在 LGM 期间，这两个岩石避难所都没有提供持续或持久的场地使用的有力证据。23-19 卡；然而，有大量证据表明在更新世末期和全新世期间对这些地区进行了更常规的占领。包括 AMS-放射性碳测年和光受激发光测年。这些新的辐射年表和人工制品数据表明，这两个地点都在 45 到 40 ka 之间被占用。尽管有重要的早期职业证据，但在 LGM 期间，这两个岩石避难所都没有提供持续或持久的场地使用的有力证据。23-19 卡；然而，有大量证据表明在更新世末期和全新世期间对这些地区进行了更常规的占领。