Pages: 151-169 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.55086/sp221151169

The Kostenki-Borshchevo sites have great potential for high-resolution and robust Upper Palaeolithic chronologies. However, radiocarbon dating the sites has proved problematic: in some cases radiocarbon dates do not align with the geo-chronological position of layers, and in other cases a wide span of radiocarbon dates is inconsistent with the nature of the archaeological assemblage. One problem now shown to lead to erroneous results is the incomplete removal of exogenous carbon from dated samples. The past two decades have seen renewed efforts to improve this situation, via development of improved sample pretreatment methods. In light of this, two recent Leverhulme-Trust-funded projects have carried out programs of radiocarbon dating of bone from Kostenki at the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU). This paper brings together the published results of those projects. This work has significantly improved the chronology of several Kostenki sites, and in doing so has addressed some long-standing chronological questions. This work also highlights ongoing difficulties in radiocarbon dating earlier-Upper-Palaeolithic-age material using standard pretreatment methods.

Keywords: Eastern Europe, Russia, Kostenki, Pleistocene, Palaeolithic, radiocarbon dating, sample pretreatment

Information about author:

Robert Dinnis (Aberdeen, UK). PhD. University of Aberdeen. St Mary’s Building, Elphinstone Road, Aberdeen, AB24 3UF, UK
E-mail: [email protected]