Extended dilation of the radiocarbon time scale between 40,000 and 48,000 y BP and the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

Edouard Bard; Timothy J Heaton; Sahra Talamo; Bernd Kromer; Ron W Reimer; Paula J Reimer

doi:10.1073/pnas.2012307117

Extended dilation of the radiocarbon time scale between 40,000 and 48,000 y BP and the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

Edouard Bard, Timothy J Heaton, Sahra Talamo, Bernd Kromer, Ron W Reimer, Paula J Reimer

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Abstract

The new radiocarbon calibration curve (IntCal20) allows us to
calculate the gradient of the relationship between 14C age and calendar
age over the past 55 millennia before the present (55 ka BP).
The new gradient curve exhibits a prolonged and prominent maximum between 48 and 40 ka BP during which the radiocarbon clock runs almost twice as fast as it should. This radiocarbon time dilation is due to the increase in the atmospheric 14C/12C ratio caused by the 14C production rise linked to the transition into the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion centered around 41 ka BP. The major maximum in the gradient from 48 to 40 ka BP is a new feature of the IntCal20 calibration curve, with far-reaching impacts for scientific communities,
such as prehistory and paleoclimatology, relying on accurate ages in this time range. To illustrate, we consider the duration of the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Eurasia.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	21005
Journal	Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
Volume	117
Issue number	35
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2012307117
Publication status	Published - 17 Aug 2020

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10.1073/pnas.2012307117Licence: CC BY

Extended dilation of the radiocarbon time scale between 40,000 and 48,000 y BP and the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens
Copyright 2020 the authors. This is an open access article published under a Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the author and source are cited.
Final published version, 0.99 MBLicence: CC BY

Paula Reimer
- p.j.reimerqub.acuk
- School of Natural and Built Environment - Honorary Title
- Culture and Society
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title = "Extended dilation of the radiocarbon time scale between 40,000 and 48,000 y BP and the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens",

abstract = "The new radiocarbon calibration curve (IntCal20) allows us tocalculate the gradient of the relationship between 14C age and calendarage over the past 55 millennia before the present (55 ka BP).The new gradient curve exhibits a prolonged and prominent maximum between 48 and 40 ka BP during which the radiocarbon clock runs almost twice as fast as it should. This radiocarbon time dilation is due to the increase in the atmospheric 14C/12C ratio caused by the 14C production rise linked to the transition into the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion centered around 41 ka BP. The major maximum in the gradient from 48 to 40 ka BP is a new feature of the IntCal20 calibration curve, with far-reaching impacts for scientific communities,such as prehistory and paleoclimatology, relying on accurate ages in this time range. To illustrate, we consider the duration of the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Eurasia.",

author = "Edouard Bard and Heaton, {Timothy J} and Sahra Talamo and Bernd Kromer and Reimer, {Ron W} and Reimer, {Paula J}",

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T1 - Extended dilation of the radiocarbon time scale between 40,000 and 48,000 y BP and the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

AU - Bard, Edouard

AU - Heaton, Timothy J

AU - Talamo, Sahra

AU - Kromer, Bernd

AU - Reimer, Ron W

AU - Reimer, Paula J

PY - 2020/8/17

Y1 - 2020/8/17

N2 - The new radiocarbon calibration curve (IntCal20) allows us tocalculate the gradient of the relationship between 14C age and calendarage over the past 55 millennia before the present (55 ka BP).The new gradient curve exhibits a prolonged and prominent maximum between 48 and 40 ka BP during which the radiocarbon clock runs almost twice as fast as it should. This radiocarbon time dilation is due to the increase in the atmospheric 14C/12C ratio caused by the 14C production rise linked to the transition into the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion centered around 41 ka BP. The major maximum in the gradient from 48 to 40 ka BP is a new feature of the IntCal20 calibration curve, with far-reaching impacts for scientific communities,such as prehistory and paleoclimatology, relying on accurate ages in this time range. To illustrate, we consider the duration of the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Eurasia.

AB - The new radiocarbon calibration curve (IntCal20) allows us tocalculate the gradient of the relationship between 14C age and calendarage over the past 55 millennia before the present (55 ka BP).The new gradient curve exhibits a prolonged and prominent maximum between 48 and 40 ka BP during which the radiocarbon clock runs almost twice as fast as it should. This radiocarbon time dilation is due to the increase in the atmospheric 14C/12C ratio caused by the 14C production rise linked to the transition into the Laschamp geomagnetic excursion centered around 41 ka BP. The major maximum in the gradient from 48 to 40 ka BP is a new feature of the IntCal20 calibration curve, with far-reaching impacts for scientific communities,such as prehistory and paleoclimatology, relying on accurate ages in this time range. To illustrate, we consider the duration of the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens in Eurasia.

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2012307117

DO - 10.1073/pnas.2012307117

M3 - Article

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 117

SP - 21005

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

IS - 35

ER -

Extended dilation of the radiocarbon time scale between 40,000 and 48,000 y BP and the overlap between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens

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