Radiocarbon and mammoth bones: What's in a date

摘要

The Radiocarbon dating method has developed into a reliable dating method for organic sample materials. The latest calibration curve released enables numerical dating covering the complete dating range of the method. However, the category of fossil bones is the subject of discussion concerning validity of the dates, in particular for the oldest part of the C-14 timescale. This is a complex interplay of sample material integrity, contamination issues and proper blanks. In practice, a safe upper limit for C-14 dates of bone material appears to be 45,000 BP (50,000 calBP). (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd and INQUA. All rights reserved.