Journal
NATURE
Volume 555, Issue 7697, Pages 511-+Publisher
NATURE PORTFOLIO
DOI: 10.1038/nature25967
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Funding
- National Science Foundation [BCS-0524087, BCS-1138073, BCS-1460366]
- Hyde Family Foundations
- John Templeton Foundation
- Institute of Human Origins at Arizona State University
- Late Lessons from Early History program at ASU
- ASU Strategic Initiative Fund
- Australian Research Council [DP1092843]
- Leverhulme Trust
- American-Scandinavian Foundation
- NORAM
- AAAS-Pacific Division
- Alan E. Leviton Student Research Award
- UNLV Department of Geoscience
- Direct For Social, Behav & Economic Scie
- Division Of Behavioral and Cognitive Sci [1460376] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
- Direct For Social, Behav & Economic Scie
- Division Of Behavioral and Cognitive Sci [1460366] Funding Source: National Science Foundation
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Approximately 74 thousand years ago (ka), the Toba caldera erupted in Sumatra. Since the magnitude of this eruption was first established, its effects on climate, environment and humans have been debated(1). Here we describe the discovery of microscopic glass shards characteristic of the Youngest Toba. Tuff-ashfall from the Toba eruption-in two archaeological sites on the south coast of South Africa, a region in which there is evidence for early human behavioural complexity. An independently derived dating model supports a date of approximately 74 ka for the sediments containing the Youngest Toba Tuff glass shards. By defining the input of shards at both sites, which are located nine kilometres apart, we are able to establish a close temporal correlation between them. Our high-resolution excavation and sampling technique enable exact comparisons between the input of Youngest Toba. Tuff glass shards and the evidence for human occupation. Humans in this region thrived through the Toba event and the ensuing full glacial conditions, perhaps as a combined result of the uniquely rich resource base of the region and fully evolved modern human adaptation.
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