Problems of radiocarbon dating deposits from newly deglaciated terrain: examples from the Scottish Lateglacial in Studies in the Lateglacial of North-West Europe.

Auteurs :
SUTHERLAND, D. G.
LOWE, J. J.
GRAY, J. M.
ROBINSON, J. E.

Description :
Errors that are likely to influence the accuracy of radiocarbon dates from recently deglaciated terrain are considered. Younging errors which can result from such factors as late melt-out or sediment mixing are contrasted with errors that produce an ageing in the radiocarbon dates due to the hard-water effect and to the unique chemical and hence biological character of recently deglaciated terrain. Means of detecting the presence of these errors and the possibility of their removal by laboratory pre-treatment are discussed. Although each radiocarbon-dated site must be considered on its own merits, it is concluded that current practice can neither detect nor remove all the contaminants and that radiocarbon dates from recently deglaciated terrain are likely to be in error, the most probable errors resulting in an ageing of the sample and hence too early an estimate of deglaciation. Throughout, examples are taken from the Lateglacial period in the Scottish Highlands.


Type de document :
Congrès

Source :
Symposium of the Quaternary Research Association held at University College, 1979, p. 139-149

Date :
1980

Identifiants :
isbn : 0-08-024001-1

Editeur :
Pays édition : Inconnu