The Context of Early Southeastern Prehistoric Cave Art: A Report on the Archaeology of 3rd Unnamed Cave

1998 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 663-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan F. Simek ◽  
Jay D. Franklin ◽  
Sarah C. Sherwood
Keyword(s):  
Lithic Technology ◽  
Archaic Period ◽  
High Quality ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Dark Zone ◽  
Cave Entrance ◽  
Karst Cavern ◽  
Age Determinations ◽  
Cave Art

In the deep recesses of “3rd Unnamed Cave,” a karst cavern in Tennessee, evidence for an ancient association between dark zone cave art and chert mining has recently been documented. The art comprises petroglyphs on the ceiling of a chamber more than 1 km from the cave entrance. On the floor below the art, natural sediments were excavated prehistorically to obtain high-quality chert nodules. Radiocarbon age determinations place the mining during the Terminal Archaic period. Studies in lithic technology, geoarchaeology, and petroglyph description are presented.

scholarly journals C14 dating of Survey material performed in 1974

1975 ◽  
Vol 75 ◽  
pp. 19-20
Author(s):  
A Weidick
Keyword(s):  
New Jersey ◽  
Wood Sample ◽  
Field Work ◽  
Plant Anatomy ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Apparent Age ◽  
Age Determinations

Thirteen radiocarbon age determinations of shell samples (12) and wood (1) are assembled in tbis account. The material dated was collected in connection with GGU field work. The samples have been dated at Isotopes Inc., Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.A. Determination of the wood sample was kindly made by Jette Dahl Møller, Institute of Plant Anatomy and Cytology, University of Copenhagen. Dating has also been carried out on a number of shelIs, dredged alive prior to 1950, in order to control the apparent age in shell dating determinations (Tauber & Funder, tbis report).

Mass Spectrometric Radiocarbon Dates from Three Rock Paintings of Known Age

2001 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 471-480 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ruth A. Armitage ◽  
James E. Brady ◽  
Allan Cobb ◽  
John R. Southon ◽  
Marvin W. Rowe
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometric ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Potential Problems ◽  
Rock Paintings ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Calendar Dates ◽  
Age Determinations

Radiocarbon age determinations are presented on three hieroglyphic texts from Naj Tunich cave in Guatemala containing Maya calendar dates. The ages obtained are on average 110–140 years older than the calendar dates. Several possible reasons are discussed for this discrepancy: one that is applicable to all radiocarbon dates on charcoal, one that applies to rock paintings, and one that is specific for the tropics. Possible problems with the ages ascribed to the Maya calendar dates are also discussed. Even with the potential problems that may exist, these dates still fall within 110–140 years of the ascribed calendar dates. Caution is urged in the interpretation of dates on charcoal pigments from rock paintings; consideration of the “old wood” and “old charcoal” factors is important.

Variation in Radiocarbon Age Determinations from the Crystal River Archaeological Site, Florida

Radiocarbon ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 801-810 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Cherkinsky ◽  
Thomas J Pluckhahn ◽  
Victor D Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Gulf Coast ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Shell Midden ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Soil Charcoal ◽  
Crystal River ◽  
Age Determinations

Archaeologists interested in radiocarbon dating shell midden sites express concern regarding the accuracy of shell dates and how such determinations should be interpreted. This article discusses the problem of dating shells from sites in the southeastern United States. New results are presented comparing shell, bone, and soil-charcoal age determinations from the Crystal River site, located along the west-central Gulf Coast of Florida. Crystal River is a large multimound site whose occupants engaged in long-distance exchange throughout eastern North America during the Woodland period (∼1000 BC to AD 1050). In the summer of 2012, test units were excavated in several contexts at the site, including both mounds and occupation areas. Samples were collected for 14C dating, which were then processed at the University of Georgia Center for Applied Isotope Studies. This article focuses on samples from the stratified shell midden, from which it was hoped to construct a local correction for marine shell that could be used to date other contexts. The soil-charcoal and bone collagen from these samples have very similar ages (bone samples ranging from about 100 cal BC to cal AD 530 and soil-charcoal from cal AD 345 to 560); however, the shell samples collected from the same stratigraphic units are significantly older than the terrestrial dates (ranging from 1300 to 390 cal BC). The difference in calibrated ages between organic materials and the shells ranges between 560 to 1140 yr. This phenomenon cannot be explained solely by the marine reservoir effect. It appears that all the shell samples formed in mixed marine (∼50–60%) contexts, as indicated by the stable isotope ratios and the amount of atmospheric carbon remaining in the samples. The age of the shell samples cannot be used to date archaeological events as they are influenced not only by the marine reservoir effect, but also the local hardwater effect, which makes them significantly older.

scholarly journals C14 dating of Survey material carried out in 1976

1977 ◽  
Vol 85 ◽  
pp. 127-129
Author(s):  
A Weidick
Keyword(s):  
Field Work ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
National Museum ◽  
East Greenland ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Carbon 14 ◽  
Geodetic Institute ◽  
Map Series ◽  
North Greenland ◽  
Age Determinations

Twenty-two radiocarbon age determinations of shell samples (18), wood (3) and gyttja (1) from North and East Greenland are summarised below. All the material was collected during GGU field work. The samples have been dated at the Geological Survey of Canada, Ottawa (marked GSC); Isotopes Inc., Westwood, New Jersey, USA (marked I) and at the Carbon-14 Dating Laboratory of the Geological Survey of Denmark and the National Museum, Copenhagen (marked K). The samples in East Greenland are located by coordinates taken from the Danish Geodetic Institute 1:250000 map series; in North Greenland from the U.S.A.F. World AeronauticaI Chart 1: 1000000, 5th edition.

scholarly journals Maltese chert: An archaeological perspective on raw material and lithic technology in the central Mediterranean

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Huw Groucutt
Keyword(s):  
Lithic Technology ◽  
Raw Material ◽  
Archaeological Record ◽  
Distribution Characteristics ◽  
Central Mediterranean ◽  
The West ◽  
High Quality ◽  
High Frequencies ◽  
Maltese Islands ◽  
Megalithic Temples

The Maltese islands are renowned for their prehistoric archaeological record, particularly thefamous megalithic ‘temples’ and associated ceramics and artwork. The temples were built bya society lacking metal technology, who relied on stone and organic materials. Knapped stonetool (lithic) technology, to produce sharp edged tools for tasks like cutting, hide working, andwood shaping involved the use of both imported obsidian and high-quality chert – offeringinsights into themes of exchange and connectivity – and local chert. The local chert hasgenerally been described as low-quality, yet relatively little research has been conducted on its distribution, characteristics, and use. In this paper I report a survey of chert sources, identifying a wider distribution of chert outcrops along the west coast of Malta than previously discussed. Some general macroscopic properties are outlined, while there are also aspects of variability in the chert sources. Knapping experiments were then conducted on samples of chert collected, allowing clarification of its characteristics. These observations are used to offer some insightsinto lithic technology in Neolithic and Temple Period Malta, such as the hypothesis that the high frequencies of multidirectional flake production and subsequent ‘scraper retouch’ reflect adaptations to the characteristics of local chert.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Age Calibration of Marine Samples Back to 9000 Cal Yr BP

Radiocarbon ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 28 (2B) ◽  
pp. 980-1021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Minze Stuiver ◽  
G W Pearson ◽  
Tom Braziunas
Keyword(s):  
Special Issue ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Marine Samples ◽  
Calibration Curves ◽  
Age Correction ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Reservoir Age ◽  
Age Determinations

Calibration curves spanning several millennia are now available in this special issue of Radiocarbon. These curves, nearly all derived from the 14C age determinations of wood samples, are to be used for the age conversion of samples that were formed through use of atmospheric CO2. When samples are formed in reservoirs (eg, lakes and oceans) that differ in specific 14C content from the atmosphere, an age adjustment is needed because a conventional 14C age, although taking into account 14C (and 13C) fractionation, does not correct for the difference in specific 14C activity (Stuiver & Polach, 1977). The 14C ages of samples grown in these environments are too old, and a reservoir age correction has to be applied. This phenomenon has been referred to as the reservoir effect (Stuiver & Polach, 1977).

Holocene pollen assemblages from the Tiger Hills, Manitoba

1968 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 873-880 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Ritchie ◽  
Sigrid Lichti-Federovich
Keyword(s):  
Deciduous Forest ◽  
Pollen Assemblage ◽  
The Holocene ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Arboreal Pollen ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Weedy Species ◽  
Zone Ii ◽  
Shepherdia Canadensis ◽  
Age Determinations

Coring of three kettle lakes in the moraine area known as the Tiger Hills, Manitoba, yielded sections of sediment which span the Holocene for this region. Detailed pollen analysis of two of the sections suggests five main pollen assemblage zones for the Holocene, numbered I to V from above. Zone V is interpreted as a spruce-dominated vegetation associated with such pioneering species as Shepherdia canadensis and Artemisia, a type found at present as local fragments and having no regional equivalent. Zone IV also has no analogue among recent pollen spectra, and is interpreted as a mosaic of mixed coniferous–broadleaved deciduous forest stands, and extensive scrub with Juniperus and grassland. Zone III is dominated by non-arboreal pollen types and suggests grassland, while Zone II has an oak component, which indicates a savanna type. Zone I is the modern assemblage, with prominent representation by weedy species. Radiocarbon age determinations suggest that the area was occupied by the Zone V assemblage from about 12 800 B.P.

scholarly journals New 14C Dates for the Early Natufian of El-Wad Terrace, Mount Carmel, Israel

Radiocarbon ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 54 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 813-822 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mina Weinstein-Evron ◽  
Reuven Yeshurun ◽  
Daniel Kaufman ◽  
Eileen Eckmeier ◽  
Elisabetta Boaretto
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Southern Levant ◽  
Radiocarbon Age ◽  
Cultural Affiliation ◽  
The Core ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
First Results ◽  
Age Determinations ◽  
Good Agreement

The Natufian culture of the southern Levant played an integral role in the transition from simple huntergatherers to food-producing societies of the Neolithic, but the major Natufian hamlets are currently poorly dated. Moreover, none of these complex, continuously occupied base camps have delivered an adequate number of dates to enable an in-depth delineation of intra-Natufian developments. This paper presents the first results of our dating program at el-Wad terrace, Mount Carmel (Israel), one of the major Natufian hamlets of the “core area” of this culture. Thirteen accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon age determinations were obtained from 46 bone (both ungulate and human) and charcoal samples, originating in Early Natufian living surfaces, dwellings, and burials. The obtained dates are largely in agreement with the cultural affiliation of the samples (13–15 kyr cal BP). Two series of dates from different locations show good agreement with the stratigraphy. The ages of the burials clearly point to their being younger than the living surfaces seemingly associated with them. Presently, no burials may be linked with the major architectural phase of Early Natufian el-Wad. Our ongoing dating program and the processing of additional samples from refined contexts will help shed important light on the initial phases of the Natufian culture, habitation duration, intensity, and continuity, as well as the relationships between site features and stratigraphy.

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