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Title: Moessbauer analysis of Lewisville, Texas, archaeological site lignite and hearth samples. Environmental geology notes

Abstract

The Lewisville site, located in Denton County on the Trinity River north of Dallas, Texas, was thought to provide evidence of the earliest human activity in the western hemisphere. Radiocarbon dates of 37,000 to 38,000 B.P. determined for the site in the late 1950s conflicted with the presence of a Clovis point, which would fix the age of the site between 11,000 and 11,500 B.P. It was hypothesized (Johnson, 1982) that Clovis people were burning lignite from nearby outcrops: lignite in hearth residues would give older than actual ages by radiocarbon dating. X-ray diffraction and instrumental neutron-activation analysis proved inconclusive; however, Moessbauer spectroscopy indicated that hematite, a pyrite combustion product, was present in the ash. From this evidence the authors conclude that there is some support for the hypothesis.

Authors:
; ; ; ;
Publication Date:
Research Org.:
Illinois State Geological Survey, Champaign (USA)
OSTI Identifier:
5089783
Report Number(s):
PB-85-210003/XAB; IL/SGS/EGN-109
Resource Type:
Technical Report
Resource Relation:
Other Information: Prepared in cooperation with Southern Illinois Univ. at Carbondale
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
58 GEOSCIENCES; ANTHROPOLOGY; ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES; ISOTOPE DATING; MOESSBAUER EFFECT; TEXAS; SITE SURVEYS; AGE ESTIMATION; FEDERAL REGION VI; NORTH AMERICA; USA; 580100* - Geology & Hydrology- (-1989)

Citation Formats

Shiley, R H, Hughes, R E, Cahill, R A, Konopka, K L, and Hinckley, C C. Moessbauer analysis of Lewisville, Texas, archaeological site lignite and hearth samples. Environmental geology notes. United States: N. p., 1985. Web.
Shiley, R H, Hughes, R E, Cahill, R A, Konopka, K L, & Hinckley, C C. Moessbauer analysis of Lewisville, Texas, archaeological site lignite and hearth samples. Environmental geology notes. United States.
Shiley, R H, Hughes, R E, Cahill, R A, Konopka, K L, and Hinckley, C C. 1985. "Moessbauer analysis of Lewisville, Texas, archaeological site lignite and hearth samples. Environmental geology notes". United States.
@article{osti_5089783,
title = {Moessbauer analysis of Lewisville, Texas, archaeological site lignite and hearth samples. Environmental geology notes},
author = {Shiley, R H and Hughes, R E and Cahill, R A and Konopka, K L and Hinckley, C C},
abstractNote = {The Lewisville site, located in Denton County on the Trinity River north of Dallas, Texas, was thought to provide evidence of the earliest human activity in the western hemisphere. Radiocarbon dates of 37,000 to 38,000 B.P. determined for the site in the late 1950s conflicted with the presence of a Clovis point, which would fix the age of the site between 11,000 and 11,500 B.P. It was hypothesized (Johnson, 1982) that Clovis people were burning lignite from nearby outcrops: lignite in hearth residues would give older than actual ages by radiocarbon dating. X-ray diffraction and instrumental neutron-activation analysis proved inconclusive; however, Moessbauer spectroscopy indicated that hematite, a pyrite combustion product, was present in the ash. From this evidence the authors conclude that there is some support for the hypothesis.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/5089783}, journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985},
month = {Tue Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1985}
}

Technical Report:
Other availability
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