Evaluating Quaternary dating methods: Radiocarbon, U-series, luminescence, and amino acid racemization dates of a late Pleistocene emu egg

John W. Magee*, Gifford H. Miller, Nigel A. Spooner, Danielle G. Questiaux, Malcolm T. McCulloch, Peter A. Clark

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    24 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    A whole emu egg, with infilling sediment believed to be coeval with egg laying and burial, was found in late Pleistocene lunette sediments near Lake Eyre, central Australia. The stratigraphic context and initial amino acid racemization (AAR) results suggested an age between 25 ka and 35 ka, ideal for a multiple cross-dating comparison. The sediment infilling the egg provided material for luminescence dating that minimized problems of association. Age estimations from AAR, 14C and U series methods were obtained from the eggshell and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) of the infilling sediment. All methods agreed within their respective dating uncertainties confirming the utility of all four methods. They indicate an age for the emu egg of 31.24 ± 0.34 ka.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)84-92
    Number of pages9
    JournalQuaternary Geochronology
    Volume4
    Issue number2
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Apr 2009

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