In:
Radiocarbon, Cambridge University Press (CUP), Vol. 55, No. 3 ( 2013), p. 1142-1155
Abstract:
Pollen extracted from ocean and wetland sediments cored from the eastern Canadian Margin, James Bay region, and Atlantic provinces of Canada have been radiocarbon dated and results are reported here. Pollen dates from ocean sediments were compared with marine carbonate (mollusk shells or foraminifera) dates from the same core levels, dates for which validity was assessed via correlations with other cores, and for which reworking has been excluded. Pollen samples from 3 tidal wetlands were taken from levels dated with 137 Cs and 210 Pb profiles. Pollen dates from 2 additional wetlands were compared with 14 C dates of botanical macrofossils. Most pollen dates disagree with 14 C dates based on macrofossils or carbonates, with age differences typically exceeding 250 yr and reaching 4000 yr in one instance. In some cores, pollen dates show age reversals. Significant proportions of reworked pollen grains in ocean and wetland samples are associated with pollen dates that are too old. Prolonged core storage could result in pollen 14 C ages that are too young, possibly because of growth of fungi or other microbes, but more work is needed to verify this hypothesis. Despite the problems we encountered, some pollen dates are consistent with other 14 C dates from the same core levels, suggesting this dating method can work, but at present, more work is needed to understand the conflicting results obtained.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
0033-8222
,
1945-5755
DOI:
10.1017/S0033822200048050
Language:
English
Publisher:
Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Publication Date:
2013
detail.hit.zdb_id:
2028560-7
SSG:
11
SSG:
13
Permalink
