New Marine Reservoir Correction Values (Δr) Applicable to Dates on Neolithic Shells From the South Coast of Korea

Abstract

Shells from Neolithic shell midden sites have been routinely dated in Korea, but they have not been calibrated based on the correction values (ΔR) for the marine reservoir effect (MRE). A lack of proper calibration has left dates on shells incomparable to those on terrestrial samples, and thus unusable in building the chronological sequence of shell middens. Here, we report the two new ΔR values of a pre-bomb (pre-1950) blue mussel from the south coast. We applied the two new and the two previously reported ΔR values to the three dates on marine shells from the Bibongri shell midden in southeastern Korea. Our ΔR adjusted calibration and the comparison to dates on charcoal and bone remains clarify an ambiguity in the stratigraphy and the Early Neolithic chronology at Bibongri. Our contribution is to provide the ΔR values that can be further applied to other Neolithic shell middens along the south coast.

Evolution of the paleo-Daesan Bay (Nakdong River, South Korea) as a result of Holocene sea level change

“…100 years). Recently, Kim et al (2021) tested ΔR values in the Pacific database by dating the pre-bomb (pre-1950) blue mussel shell ( Mytilus edulis ) from the southern coastal region of Korea and suggested similar results with ΔR value of −83 ± 16. Thus, each radiocarbon date of three oyster fragments deposited in the bay environment can be considered growth ages within ca.…”

“…8000–3200 cal yr BP in the area surrounding paleo-Daesan Bay. It is important to note that past studies in this area (e.g., Kaneko, 2008; Kwak et al, 2020; Kim et al, 2021) have focused on the human activity and their relics over hundreds of years, revealing diverse seasonal marine and terrestrial resources during the Middle Holocene (Kaneko, 2008; Kwak et al, 2020; Kim et al, 2021). These prehistorical studies should incorporate information regarding inland coastal evolution (e.g., paleo-Daesan Bay) during the Middle–Late Holocene.…”

“…1), located 70 km from the Nakdong River mouth, is considered to have been affected by Holocene transgression based on remains and relics, including wooden boats, shell middens, and marine diatoms (Hwang et al, 2013, and references therein). Recently, it has been suggested that this Bibong-ri site had been used by people who shared the Neolithic pottery tradition over hundreds of years and their relics reveal the use of diverse seasonal marine and terrestrial resources throughout the year based on the archaeobotanical and zooarchaeoloical studies (Kaneko, 2008; Kwak et al, 2020; Kim et al, 2021). To interpret past human activities and their remains in terms of the influence of marine environments, it is essential to constrain possible sea level changes and their spatial influence using high-resolution dating and the exact timing of seawater influences.…”