YALE NATURAL RADIOCARBON MEASUREMENTS. I. PYRAMID VALLEY, NEW ZEALAND, AND ITS PROBLEMS
Abstract
Tabulated assay data for modern wood and shell corrected to 100% carbon indicated that modern wood gives a consistent series of C14 values; however, modern marine shell provided some contradictions. The data of 10 analyses agreed in 2 cases with published evidence that the marine-shell C14 content is 10% higher than modern wood; 5 cases agreed very closely with modern wood. In 1 case, the mollusk flesh showed the same specific activity as the shells. Possible methods of depositing calcium carbonate by mollusks are suggested to explain these differences. The stratigraphy is included of the moa deposit at Pyramid Valley in the South Island of New Zealand. Features include the use of radiocarbon dates to confirm interhemisphere correlation of late- Pleistocene climate sequences and the age of the moas. The tabulated ages of calcareous samples were calculated on the assumption that the shell and wood C14 contents are identical and that the modern shell contains 10% more C14 than modern wood. The age of the moa (670 yr) is presumed to be correctly given by the age of the organic fraction of its crop contents. The date suggests that Dinornis as well as Euryapteryx (large and small species) were contemporary with man and were exterminated by him.The peat-age confirmation (suggested to be sub- Boreal on pollen-sequence basis) is considered the most important stratigraphic result of the study.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 30, 1953
- Accession Number
- AD0011716
Entities
People
- Edward S. Deevey Jr.
- Marsha S. Gross
- Monte Blau
Organizations
- Yale University