Characterising formation pathways of oxalate accretions: implications for radiocarbon dating rock art
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Date
0202-12-03
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Australian Archaeological Association
Abstract
Oxalate mineral formation in rockshelter sites is a phenomenon associated with rock art
across the globe. Oxalate accretions are often assumed to be the product of geological
weathering or biological processes despite the definitive mechanism for their formation still
being largely unknown. Carbon bearing oxalates have previously been radiocarbon dated
and used to build chronological sequences associated with rock art. With the mechanism for
their formation remaining ambiguous, the source of the carbon used to obtain radiocarbon
dates is frequently unknown, leading to concerns regarding the accuracy and veracity of
such age determinations. Under the umbrella of the ABM project, oxalate mineral
accretions from rockshelter sites in south east Cape York Peninsula have been sampled with
the goal of characterising the formation pathway to evaluate if they are suitable for
radiocarbon dating. Here we report on the characterisation of oxalate minerals from south
east CYP and possible formation pathways, assessing the hypothesis of a biological source of
oxalate accretions. We trialled multiple pre-treatments for radiocarbon dating, providing
insights regarding the amount of initial sample required for viability, and identifying
potential contaminants. © The Authors
Description
Keywords
Oxalates, Carbon 14, Cultural objects, Queensland, Australia, Contamination, Carbon
Citation
Webster, C., Huntly, J., Jacobsen G., Balngarrawarra Aboriginal Corporation., Buubu Gujin Aboriginal Corporation., Rangers, L., Cole, N., Aubert, M., & Wallis, L. (2024). Characterising formation pathways of oxalate accretions: implications for radiocarbon dating rock art. Presentation to the Australian Archaeological Association Annual Conference 2024, Cairns, Queensland, 3-6 December 2024. In AAA 2024 Sharing Archaeological Narratives Abstract Booklet, (pp. 132). Retrieved from: https://www.aaaconference.com.au/2024/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/AbstractBooklet.pdf