Submitted by Several_Cabinet_9725 t3_ytg2z5 in history
skimmily t1_iw5z3xu wrote
So what type of dating helps determine that it’s actually this old?
orincoro t1_iw6a5dw wrote
They use radio carbon dating of the sediment it was formed in. The sediment itself is formed from a mix of organic and inorganic material, including bacteria, or plant matter. Sometimes you find spores and seeds. The plant matter in the sediment can be accurately dated to when it stopped growing, because the carbon in it will begin to decay predictably at that moment.
So basically it’s the same as if you were studying a plant, but you’re relying on a relatively smaller sample size, and there’s some error because not all the organic matter dies at the same time. But it gives you a range that is pretty close, within a few thousand years.
(ETA: apparently not for things quite this old).
fogobum t1_iw6ddda wrote
Due to the short half life of carbon 14, radio carbon dating is only useful for about 50,000 years.
> In this paper, we report new Optically Stimulated Luminescence dating that places the hominin footprints surface in the range of 295.8 ± 17 ka
orincoro t1_iw6j3mt wrote
Thank you for correcting me.
Accomplished_Bug_ t1_iw7nzly wrote
Speed dating won't work for this. That's for sure
[deleted] t1_iw609eo wrote
[removed]
moishepesach t1_iw7vpmx wrote
Casual dating works for me
[deleted] t1_iw7xh0d wrote
[deleted]
Viewing a single comment thread. View all comments