Re: C of E apology to Charles Darwin

On Mon, 29 Sep 2008 13:21:34 +0100, Kendall K Down
<webmaster@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

In message <48dfbfe7.27694529@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
nick.milton@xxxxxxxxxxx (Nick Milton) wrote:

Beyond then, there are plenty of other radiometric tools you can use,
such as Uranium/Thorium

Do any of them apply to human remains, though?

Yes, definitely. See the copied text below, showing the use of 4
separate methodologies to converge on a date, none of them being
carbon dating, and 2 of them being non-radiometric


<paste>Australia's oldest human remains: age of the Lake Mungo 3
skeleton
Alan Thorne, Rainer Grün, Graham Mortimer, Nigel A. Spooner, John J.
Simpson, Malcolm McCulloch, Lois Taylor, Darren Curnoe

Journal of Human Evolution, v 36, n 6, June, 1999, p591-612
(ID jhev.1999.0305)

Abstract:
We have carried out a comprehensive ESR and U-series dating study on
the Lake Mungo 3 (LM3) human skeleton. The isotopic Th/U and Pa/U
ratios indicate that some minor uranium mobilization may have occurred
in the past. Taking such effects into account, the best age estimate
for the human skeleton is obtained through the combination of U-series
and ESR analyses yielding 62,000±6000 years. This age is in close
agreement with OSL age estimates on the sediment into which the
skeleton was buried of 61,000±2000 years. Furthermore, we obtained a
U-series age of 81,000±21,000 years for the calcitic matrix that was
precipitated on the bones after burial. All age results are
considerably older than the previously assumed age of LM3 and
demonstrate the necessity for directly dating hominid remains. We
conclude that the Lake Mungo 3 burial documents the earliest known
human presence on the Australian continent. The age implies that
people who were skeletally within the range of the present Australian
indigenous population colonized the continent during or before oxygen
isotope stage 4 (57,000-71,000 years)

The authors performed the following dating measurements, with the
indicated resulting ages expressed in thousands of years.


Mass spectrometer U-series (Th/U) on 4 bone shavings
69.8 ± 2.1
58.3 ± 1.2
50.7 ± 0.9
54.5 ± 0.7

Gamma spectrometer U-series (Th/U and Pa/U) on the skull cap
69.5 ± 2.9 (Th/U) 74 ± 7 (Pa/U)
64.1 ± 3.7 (Th/U) 60 ± 5 (Pa/U)

Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) on tooth enamel
63 ± 6 (EU) [closed system, early U uptake]
78 ± 7 (LU) [open system, late U uptake]

Mass spectrometer U-series (Th/U) on calcitic matrix recovered from
the original skeletal material
81 ± 21 (isochron)

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) on sediment recovered directly
under the soil horizon
59 ± 3
63 ± 4
61 ± 2 [weighted mean of previous 2 ages]
</paste>

see also from http://www.asa3.org/ASA/RESOURCES/WIENS.html

<paste>The uranium-234 / thorium-230 method is now being used to date
animal and human bones and teeth. Previously, dating of anthropology
sites had to rely on dating of geologic layers above and below the
artifacts. But with improvements in this method, it is becoming
possible to date the human and animal remains themselves. Work to date
shows that dating of tooth enamel can be quite reliable. However,
dating of bones can be more problematic, as bones are more susceptible
to contamination by the surrounding soils. As with all dating, the
agreement of two or more methods is highly recommended for
confirmation of a measurement. If the samples are beyond the range of
radiocarbon (e.g., > 40,000 years), a second method for confirmation
of thorium-230 ages may need to be a non-radiometric method such as
ESR or TL, mentioned below</paste>

HTH

nick


.

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