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Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand abstracts(c) Journal of The Royal Society of New Zealand, Volume 30, Number 4, December 2000, pp 385-398
Appraisal of radiocarbon dating of kiore bones (Pacific rat Rattus exulans) in New ZealandR. E. M. Hedges*R99025. Received 19 November 1999; accepted 25 July 2000
*Research Laboratory for Archaeology, 6 Keble Road, Oxford, OX1 3QJ, U.K. (Work done while on sabbatical at the Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa, Wellington, New Zealand)The radiocarbon dating of bones found in New Zealand of the Pacific rat (Rattus exulans) has been a controversial subject for some time, mainly because many of the dates are much older than expected and imply colonisation of the islands at an earlier time than suggested by archaeological evidence. Also, the dating of Pacific rat bones from two archaeological sites appears inconsistent with and older than other dates from these sites. Part of the controversy has settled on the validity of the dating methodology, and it is the case that most dates have been measured by only one laboratory, and that the ability to date such small samples is only fairly recent. This paper examines the dating methodology used, and considers possible causes for discrepancies in the dates.Keywords radiocarbon dating; bone; kiore; Pacific rat
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