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Mass Spectrometric Radiocarbon Dates from Three Rock Paintings of Known Age

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Ruth A. Armitage ,
James E. Brady ,
Allan Cobb ,
John R. Southon  and
Marvin W. Rowe
Ruth A. Armitage
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 E-mails: rarmitage@osprey.smcm.edumwrowe@tamu.edu
James E. Brady
Affiliation:
Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843 E-mails: rarmitage@osprey.smcm.edumwrowe@tamu.edu
Allan Cobb
Affiliation:
Department of Anthropology, California State University, Los Angeles, CA 90032 E-mails: jbrady@calstatela.edu
John R. Southon
Affiliation:
1116 Hollybluff Street, Austin, TX 78753, USA E-mails: acobb@nasw.org
Marvin W. Rowe
Affiliation:
Center for Accelerator Mass Spectrometry, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94551southonl@llnl.gov
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Abstract

Radiocarbon age determinations are presented on three hieroglyphic texts from Naj Tunich cave in Guatemala containing Maya calendar dates. The ages obtained are on average 110–140 years older than the calendar dates. Several possible reasons are discussed for this discrepancy: one that is applicable to all radiocarbon dates on charcoal, one that applies to rock paintings, and one that is specific for the tropics. Possible problems with the ages ascribed to the Maya calendar dates are also discussed. Even with the potential problems that may exist, these dates still fall within 110–140 years of the ascribed calendar dates. Caution is urged in the interpretation of dates on charcoal pigments from rock paintings; consideration of the “old wood” and “old charcoal” factors is important.

Résumé

Résumé

Se presenta los resultados de fechamiento radiocarbonico de tres de los textos jeroglificos de la cueva Naj Tunich en Guatemala que contienen fechas calendarias Mayas. Las fechas obtenidas tienen un promedio entre 110–140 años de más antiguedad que lasfechas calendricas. Hay diverses posibilidades que expliican esta discrepancia, la primera es aplicable a todas lasfechas de radiocarbono en carbon; la segunda, es aplicable apinturas rupestres y la tercera, es especifica para el trópico. También, se argumenta la posibilidad de problemas con las edades asignadas a las fechas calendricas. Aún con la existencia potential de estos problemas, estas fechas recaen dentro de los 110–140 años asignados a lasfechas calendricas. Se recomienda precaución en la interpretación de lasfechas encontradas en la pigmentatión del carbón en las pinturas rupestres; es importante considerar los problemas con la 'madera y carbon antiguos'.

Type
Reports
Information
American Antiquity , Volume 66 , Issue 3 , July 2001 , pp. 471 - 480
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for American Archaeology 2001

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