ESR dating of an ancient goat tooth from Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy.
The dating of fossil teeth of an ancient goat (Nesogoral melonii) using the electron spin resonance (ESR) technique is reported. This animal was found in the fossiliferous site at Orosei (Nuoro, Sardinia, Italy) and was endemic in the region. Molar teeth were cleaned and enamel was completely removed from dentine. Enamel was irradiated with a 60Co gamma source and measured with an ESR spectrometer (X-band) to obtain the signal vs. dose curve and fitted with an exponential function. The archeological dose obtained by the fitting was 211 +/- 34 Gy. Uranium and thorium concentrations were determined by neutron activation analysis. With the software ROSY the age estimates were 195 +/- 30 ky for early uptake, 247 +/- 40 ky for linear uptake and 243 +/- 40 ky for a combination of uptake processes.
Baffa
O
O
Departamento de Física e Matemática, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, 14040-901 Ribeirão Preto-SP, Brazil. baffa@ffclrp.usp.br
Kinoshita
A
A
Figueiredo
A M G
AM
Brunetti
A
A
Ginesu
S
S
D000818:Animals; D004578:Electron Spin Resonance Spectroscopy / Q000379:methods*; D005553:Forensic Dentistry / Q000379:methods*; D006041:Goats; D007558:Italy; D010163:Paleontology / Q000379:methods; D014070:Tooth / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000502:physiology*