Abstract

The whole story An accurate, precise record of the carbon-14 ( 14 C) content of the atmosphere is important for developing chronologies in climate change, archaeology, and many other disciplines. Cheng et al. provide a record that covers the full range of the 14 C dating method (∼54,000 years), using paired measurements of 14 C/ 12 C and thorium-230 ( 230 Th) ages from two stalagmites from Hulu Cave, China. The advantage of matching absolute 230 Th ages and 14 C/ 12 C allowed the authors to fashion a seamless record from a single source with low uncertainties, particularly in the older sections. Science , this issue p. 1293

Keywords

CaveStalagmiteGlacial periodPeriod (music)Radiometric datingArchaeologyPhysical geographyRadiocarbon datingThoriumGeologyGeographyPaleontologyPhysicsNuclear physics

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Publication Info

Year
2018
Type
article
Volume
362
Issue
6420
Pages
1293-1297
Citations
130
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Hai Cheng, R. Lawrence Edwards, John Southon et al. (2018). Atmospheric <sup>14</sup> C/ <sup>12</sup> C changes during the last glacial period from Hulu Cave. Science , 362 (6420) , 1293-1297. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aau0747

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DOI
10.1126/science.aau0747