BURNT AND UNBURNT CARBON - DATING CHARCOAL AND BURNT BONE FROM THE WILLANDRA LAKES, AUSTRALIA

A new analysis of previous results on conflicts between shell and char coal dates and on burnt human bones, with new data presented here, sug gests that alternative interpretations are possible for the archaeolog y and environmental history of the Willandra Lakes region. Black sedim ent samples from archaeological sites at Lake Outer Arumpo exhibit wid e variation in burnt and unburnt carbon content; high humic acid conce ntrations in midden layers and in one group of hearth/ovens are absent in another older, group of hearth/ovens. There are no acceptable resu lts on charcoal from hearth/ovens older than ca. 31 ka BP, and no evid ence that these samples are associated with numerous midden shell date s at 34-37 ka BP. Similar logic applied to humic-free residue dates on burnt human bones places five gracile skeletons (including Mungo 1) a s post-Last Glacial Maximum.