ESR dating of a toxodon tooth from a Brazilian karstic cave.
A pre-molar of a Toxodon platensis (sp), a large mammal that inhabited the forests of Southeast Brazil during quaternary times, was dated by electron spin resonance (ESR). Enamel and dentine were separated giving, the following archeological doses (AD): (4.0+/-0.8) and (11+/-2) Gy, respectively. This difference was explained by the higher content of Uranium in dentine (25.1+/-0.3) ppm as compared to enamel (0.37+/-0.03) ppm. Taking account of the internal dose contribution to the AD, the age obtained is (6.7+/-1.3) ky BP for dentine and (5.0+/-1.6) ky BP for enamel.
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Departamento de Fisica e Matemática, FFCLRP-Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
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Karmann
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D000818:Animals; D001938:Brazil; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005580:Fossils; D008322:Mammals; D011874:Radiometry / Q000379:methods*; D014070:Tooth / Q000528:radiation effects*