通过在汉江上游河谷进行地貌学和沉积学野外考察观测,并对郧县人遗址沉积地层系统采样,进行磁化率、烧失量、粒度和地球化学元素等一系列理化指标的测试分析,结果表明,郧县人遗址地层剖面下部为汉江第三级阶地具有二元结构的河床相卵石层和河漫滩相中砂层,上部为风成黄土和古土壤覆盖层。这种风成沉积物与汉江河流悬移质沉积物性质完全不同。根据地层对比和古地磁B/M界限位置,及其与深海沉积物氧同位素气候年代序列的对比,可以确定郧县人遗址地层剖面顶部为第8层古土壤(Ss),对应MIS19,形成于785~760ka;其下为第9层黄土(L9),对应MIS20,形成于815~785ka。含有郧县人头盖骨和哺乳动物化石的钙结核层出现在黄土(L9)的上部,年龄为800~785ka,对应于MIS20冰期后段最为寒冷的时期。
Geomorphological and sedimentological investigations and observations were carried out in the upper Hanjiang River valley. The sediments in the profile at the site of Homo erectus yunxianensis was sampled systematically. Magnetic susceptibility, loss-on-ignition, particle size distribution and geochemi- cal elements were analyzed in the laboratory. The results show that the medium sand and gravel of the lower part of the profile are fluvial deposit of the third terrace of the Hanjiang River, and the upper part is a blanket of eolian loess and palaeosol deposited from dust storms. According to Stratigraphical correlation and palaeomagnetic dating, the carbonate nodules enwrapping the fossils of Homo erectus yunxianensis and other animals were formed during 810-785 ka. The palaeosol overlying the fossil layer is defined as the S8 that was developed during the MIS19, and the loess below the fossil layer is defined as L9 that was deposi- ted during MIS20. These loess and palaeosol are similar to those over the Loess Plateau and correlatable with those in the Luochuan loess profile. They are very different from the fluvial deposits in the Hanjiang River valley. These results are very important in understanding the environment of Homo erectus yunx- ianensis in the upper Hanjiang River valley.