Cation-ratio and accelerator radiocarbon dating of rock varnish on Mojave artifacts and landforms

R.I. Dorn; D.B. Bamforth; T.A. Cahill; J. C. Dohrenwend; B. D. Turrin; D.J. Donahue; A.J.T. Jull; A. Long; M.E. Macko; E.B. Weil; D.S. Whitley; T.H. Zabel

doi:10.1126/science.231.4740.830

USGS · 70014538

Cation-ratio and accelerator radiocarbon dating of rock varnish on Mojave artifacts and landforms

R.I. Dorn·D.B. Bamforth·T.A. Cahill·J. C. Dohrenwend·B. D. Turrin·D.J. Donahue·A.J.T. Jull·A. Long·M.E. Macko·E.B. Weil·D.S. Whitley·T.H. Zabel

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Abstract

The first accelerator radiocarbon dates of rock varnishes are reported along with potassium/argon ages of lava flows and conventional radiocarbon dates of pluvial lake shorelines, in an empirical calibration of rock varnish K + + Ca 2+ /Ti 4+ ratios with age in the Mojave Desert, eastern California. This calibration was used to determine the cation-ratio dates of 167 artifacts. Although cation-ratio dating is an experimental method, some dates suggest human occupation of the Mojave Desert in the late Pleistocene.

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Source-reported bounding extent: 34.317456232441515° to 35.63752245494534° latitude; -116.10107822219314° to -114.71218451844791° longitude. This indicates report coverage, not an exact sampling location. View area on OpenStreetMap.

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R.I. Dorn, D.B. Bamforth, T.A. Cahill, J. C. Dohrenwend, B. D. Turrin, D.J. Donahue, A.J.T. Jull, A. Long, M.E. Macko, E.B. Weil, D.S. Whitley, T.H. Zabel. 1986. Cation-ratio and accelerator radiocarbon dating of rock varnish on Mojave artifacts and landforms. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.231.4740.830

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