The eastern Kendeng Hills (Java, Indonesia) and the hominin-bearing beds of Mojokerto, a re-interpretation

The eastern Kendeng Hills (Java, Indonesia) expose a 1000 m thick series that is used as stratigraphic standard, representing the emergence of Java from sea. fluvial top rich in vertebrate fossils and yielded Mojokerto (Perning) hominin skullcap, which regarded earliest evidence Homo erectus on Java, with age estimates ranging between 1.9 1.49 Ma. commonly an uninterrupted record coastal progradation. However, recent studies show has been complex process, under influence tectonism, volcanism, sea-level fluctuations dynamics, leaving fragmented depositional varies site to site. This at odds prevailing practice long-distance correlations questions existing interpretations reference sections. Here we present results fieldwork-based re-interpretation this key record, identified fill previously unrecognized Plio-Pleistocene embayment, surrounded by elongate uplift zones. Clinoform-bedded sandstones relate stage explosive, high-silica supplying large volumes ash. embayment incised covered deposits, Middle Pleistocene Brantas. strata have cyclic build-up, probably controlled stages aggradation degradation. Based reconstruction cycles, provisionally link conglomerate bed was found MIS14 (∼550ka). We infer published radiometric ages derive reworked volcanic clasts make up incisive lag are not representative for deposition. Our study places new landscape context changes our view timing migration Java. • marine clays embayment. vertebrate-bearing represent ancient Brantas drainage system. erosively overlie cannot be delta topsets. relates fluctuations. skullcap tied MIS14, ∼550ka.