关键词: 巢县人;钟乳石;铀系年代

Abstract: The chronological position of the paleoanthropological site of Yinshan in Anhui Province, East China, was re-examined by applying U-series dating to stalagmitic carbonate and fossil bone samples. Judging by the result of a stalagmitic sample taken from a travertin layer above the hominid fossil containing 2nd layer, Chaoxian Man should be older than 310 ka. It seems therefore possible to re-arrange it into the category of late "Homo erectus" instead of formerly accepted classification of early "Homo sapians". The reliability of the U-series age of stalagmitic carbonate has been discussed. The results of two fossil bones taken from the lower strata of the site, assigned to Early Pleistocene by the existence of several Tertiary survivals, may be cited as an evidence that consistancy between the results of two U-series methods does not necessarily guarantee its validity.

Key words: Chaoxian Man; Stalagmite; U-series dating