Thread by @PreGraphity

This #FridayPaleoart we look at the history of the #interdisciplinaryresearch.
𝐃𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐤𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝟏𝟒𝐂-𝐀𝐌𝐒 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 #𝐏𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐜𝐀𝐫𝐭?🔬⚫️🧪
Cave: #Cougnac cave
Place: Lot, France
Motif: Wounded man, animals and marks
Chrono: Multiphase

This pioneer #14CAMSdating was carried out on a sample of pigment from a black punctuation of this wall👆⚫️. The analysis was executed by H. Valladas, H. Cachier and M. Arnol of #CNRS (Laboratory Gif-sur-Yvette). RESULT: 14290 +-180 BP

The Spectrometric Mass Accelerator (AMS) applied on radiocarbon analysis revolutionized the Archeology (and of the Paleolithic Art study, of course!). This first dating was carried out in #Tandetron accelerator and with only 0.80 mg of datable carbon (sample AFTER pretreatment).

Currently, samples smaller is possible dating (only 0.3-0.00025 grs of pure Carbon are needed - according to #BetaAnalytic).

The amount Carbon (not charcoal❗️) depends of the pure of sample. A charcoal "more cleaned” (eg, without organic contamination) will have less reduction of sample🧪👩‍🔬(less intensive pretreatment will be need). So, the #Anthracology help to select an optimal sample for dating🔬

👆📸SEM photo of a paleolithic charcoal contaminate with fungal hyphae (modern Carbon).

The anthracological analysis before dating (especially to avoid dating migrated charcoal in stratigraphy) has been defended since the the 70's of s.XX.

❗️However, it is necessary to insist in making this analysis before dating. Especially, this "essential pretreatment" is still too unusual in #InternalArchaeologicalContexts and in #PaleolithicArt pigments. 📚

In Cougnac cave, the first anthracological study on a pigment from Paleolithic Art also was developed. This was made by the anthracologist J.L.Vernet (University of Montpellier). A sample from female megaceros motif was analyzed👇and identified as Gymnosperm, possibly pine 🌲

The anthracological study does not destroy the sample to be dated or contaminate it, besides it can inform us of possible contaminations that could disturb the dating result.
Therefore, prior to C14 AMS dating,🔬#charcoalanalysis🔬 please!!!

We want to end this post stand out the figure of M.Lorblanchet. A true pioneer #interdisciplinaryresearch of "decorated" caves! Merci!!

📖In this book you can find a compendium of many of his works. We have used this to do this post:

⁉️ Do you want to visit this magic site, no?
➡️ You can do it! (it's open to visits for small groups): grottesdecougnac.com

M. Medina-Alcaide (@MMedinaAlcaide)

End of thread!!!🔬👩‍🔬