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Resolving an Anomolous Radiocarbon Determination on Mastodon Bone from Monte Verde, Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Debra George ,
John Southon  and
R. E. Taylor
Debra George
Affiliation:
Molecular Anthropology Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Davis, CA95616
John Southon
Affiliation:
Keck Carbon Cycle Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3100
R. E. Taylor
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, CA 92521; Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024; Keck Carbon Cycle Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Laboratory, Department of Earth System Science, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697-3100
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Abstract

Previous 14C determinations obtained on two segments of a single mastodon bone recovered from Monte Verde, Chile, were highly discordant, differing by more than 5,000 years. Because of the significance of this site in discussions concerning the earliest peopling of the Western Hemisphere, additional 14C and new δ13C values have been obtained on organic fractions isolated from both segments. The constituent amino acid profiles indicate that both bone segments retain significant amounts of protein (mostly collagen) residues. Four accelerator mass spectrometry-based 14C values obtained on total amino acids and ultrafiltered gelatin fractions—two from each segment—are statistically identical and indicate an age of 12,460 (± 30) BP for the mastodon. This value is concordant with 14C values obtained on other culturally affiliated organics associated with the MV-II levels at this site.

Résumé

Résumé

Anteriormente, las determinaciones 14C obtenidas de dos segmentos de un solo hueso de mastodonte recolectado del depósito arqueológico en Monte Verde, Chile, no correspondían, registrando una diferencia de mas de 5,000 años. Debido a la importancia de este sitio en el diálogo sobre el poblamiento del nuevo mundo, han sido analizadas muestras adicionales de los mismos segmentos de hueso. Los valores de 14C y δ13 son derivados de fracciones orgánicas aislados de ambos segmentos. Los perfiles de aminoácidos indican que ambos segmentos guardaron cantidades significativos de proteína (la mayoría en forma de colágeno) residual. Cuatro valores 14C (AMS) obtenidos de las dos fracciones aminoácidos total y gelatina ultrafiltrada—dos de cada segmento—son idénticos, según las estadísticas, e indican una edad de 12,460(± 30) años AP (antes presente) para el mastodonte. Este valor es consistente con los valores de 14C obtenidos en otros materiales orgánicos culturalmente asociados con las capas MV-II del sitio.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 70 , Issue 4 , October 2005 , pp. 766 - 772
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2005

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