Work

Reply to Douka et al.: Critical evaluation of the Ksâr 'Akil chronologies

Year: 2015

Type: letter

Abstract: Our paper (1) proposes a new chronology for Ksâr 'Akil based on 16 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) determinations on shells. To minimize the possibility of dating diagenetically compromised samples, we conducted amino acid racemization analyses on the intracrystalline proteins, oxygen isotope analysis, and geochemical characterization of all dated shells. Our calibrated radiocarbon ages fit well with existing Levantine chronologies, but are up to 4,000 y older than Douka et al.’s (2). Our paper explores several possibilities for this difference, whereas Douka et al. (3) provide alternative explanations. They accept our radiocarbon ages as correct but question our sample selection and Bayesian modeling.

Source: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1520412112

Authors: Marjolein D. Bosch, Marcello A. Mannino, Amy L. Prendergast, Tamsin C. O’Connell, Beatrice Demarchi, Sheila M. Taylor, Laura Niven, Johannes van der Plicht, Jean-Jacques Hublin

Institutions: Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Aarhus University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, University of Cambridge, University of York, Leiden University, University of Groningen

Language: English

Topic: Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology

Subfield: Anthropology

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

Open Access status: bronze

OpenAlex ID: W2218083445

Cites: 6

Cited by: 19

Related to: 10