Methods for U-series dating of CaCO3 crusts associated with Palaeolithic cave art and application to Iberian sites

Dirk L. Hoffmann, Alistair W.G. Pike, Marcos García-Diez, Paul B. Pettitt, João Zilhão

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

51 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

U-series dating is a precise and accurate geochronological tool which is widely applied to date secondary CaCO3 formation, for example in speleothem based palaeoclimate research. It can also be employed to provide chronological constraints for archaeological sites which have a stratigraphic relationship with speleothem formations. We present in detail our methods to conduct precise and accurate U-Th dating of calcite crusts that formed on top of cave paintings. Our protocols allow the application of U-series measurements on small, thin calcite crusts covering cave art, which can be found in many sites, while taking care not to harm the art underneath. The method provides minimum ages for the covered art and, where possible, also maximum ages by dating the flowstone layer the art is painted on. We present dating results for crusts from two locality types in Spain, a typical cave environment (La Pasiega) and a more open, rock shelter type cave (Fuente del Trucho).
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)104-119
Number of pages16
JournalQuaternary Geochronology
Volume36
Early online date29 Jul 2016
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2016

Keywords

  • Cave art
  • U-Th dating
  • CaCO3 crust
  • Minimum age
  • La Pasiega
  • Fuente del Trucho

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