Six Decades of Radiocarbon Dating in New World Archaeology

Abstract

ABSTRACT. Radiocarbon ( 14 C) dating provided New World archaeological research with the first continent-wide common chronometric scale that transcended the mostly relative site-and region-specific chronological sequences that had been assembled during the preceding century of fieldwork. 14 C data continue to play a critical role in establishing a chronometric framework for the 5-century-long debate concerning the timing of the initial peopling of the New World. Other issues where 14 C results have been of particular importance include the origins and development of New World agriculture and determination of the relationship between the Western and Classic Maya long-count calendar. The introduction of a third-generation measurement technology of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) beginning in the late 1970s has provided a means of obtaining analyses on milligram and microgram amounts of carbon permitting more detailed critical approaches to increasing the accuracy of 14 C values on certain sample types-particularly human skeletal materials. It also provided a more effective means of allowing greater dating precision in situations where such data had an important bearing on the validity of inferences about the rates of cultural evolutionary change in New World societies.

The older, the better? On the radiocarbon dating of Upper Palaeolithic burials in Northern Eurasia and beyond

“…Stafford et al 1991). This situation is evident from the radiocarbon dating of the Kennewick and Anzick remains in North America (Taylor 2009). For the latter, the use of different amino acids and bulk collagen resulted in ages between c .…”

Reconstructing water level in Hoyo Negro, Quintana Roo, Mexico, implications for early Paleoamerican and faunal access

“…She was 80% intact and was considered to be in fair taphonomic condition (Gonz alez et al, 2008). Radiocarbon dating of amino acids indicated that the remains were from 13.4 to 13.8 Ka (Gonz alez et al, 2013) although the age has been questioned due to the leaching and degradation of amino acids necessary to calculate an accurate date (Chatters et al, 2014;Taylor, 2009). No primary environmental data were collected to assess its taphonomic history or the skeletal age.…”

“…Hard-water effects and collagen leaching result in contamination which can make dating difficult (e.g. Dixon, 1999;Gonz alez et al, 2008;Taylor, 2009). Dating of associated artifacts can be used, but is problematic, particularly in HN, were there is little sediment coverage to provide any stratigraphic association or context (Chatters, 2000;Chatters et al, 2014).…”

Morphological variation of the early human remains from Quintana Roo, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico: Contributions to the discussions about the settlement of the Americas

“…The absolute dating was accomplished by using different radiometric techniques (AMS and U/Th), both on bone and on charcoal. However, AMS dates on human bones must be taken with caution, as the amount of preserved collagen is very small in these cases [48], which can affect the accuracy of the date. For example, the Las Palmas individual was dated to 8,050+/-130 BP using AMS, and to 12,000-10,000 BP using U/Th techniques, illustrating the range of possible error.…”