The Kennewick Skeleton: Chronological and Biomolecular Contexts

Abstract

ABSTRACT.A human skeleton recovered near Kennewick, Washington, USA in 1996 has been dated to the early Holocene on the basis of multiple radiocarbon determinations, an analysis of a style of a temporally diagnostic projectile point found embedded in the ilium of the skeleton, and geological investigations of the locality where the skeleton was recovered. Based on morphological criteria, the Kennewick skeleton, which is one of the most complete early Holocene human skeletons recovered so far in the Western Hemisphere, appears to be more similar to those of modern South Asians and Europeans than to modern Native Americans or to contemporary indigenous populations of Northeast Asia.

Bag of Tricks: A Set of Techniques and other Resources to Help 14C Laboratory Setup, Sample Processing, and Beyond

“…Use double-tube combustion (e.g. an open 6-mm inside of a 9-mm-OD QZ tube) if salt cannot be rinsed off, such as dissolved organic carbon (DOC) samples from freeze-dry down or any other materials that contain salts and tend to erode the QZ tube during combustion. Bone, dentine, and enamel require special extraction procedures prior to combustion as well as quality control assessment by the C:N atomic ratio, and the % carbon and % nitrogen using an elemental analyzer coupled with an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (EA-IRMS) have been extensively discussed elsewhere (DeNiro 1985; Stafford et al 1987; Ajie et al 1990, 1992; Stafford et al 1990; Hedges and van Klinken 1992; Brown et al 1988; Burky et al 1998; van Klinken 1999; Taylor et al 2001; George et al 2005; Brock et al 2007, 2013; Boaretto 2009). Nevertheless, two simple initial tests can indicate the state of preservation of bone and teeth samples: Does the sample feel hard under contact with implements and tools?…”

On the Resolution of14C Dating Anomalies: Case Studies from New World Archaeology

“…C D Hood (Beta Analytic) reports that the "amount of collagen extracted" was 0.3% as a percent concentration, a "value is very low due to the high mineral content of the submitted bone." d In Taylor et al (2001), these values were cited as "apparent 14 C ages." e Reported by D Donahue in McManamon (1999).…”

“…Table 3 Radiocarbon, ô 13 C, and biogeochemical characteristics of 3 human bone samples from the Kennewick skeleton [CENWW.97], Columbia Park site, Washington, USA. Adapted from Table 1 in Taylor et al (2001). a Indices of the degree of protein (mainly collagen) preservation in bone sample: AACC = % of amino acid carbon content of modern bone standard; AAC = collagen-like or non-collagen-like amino acid profile.…”

Resolving an Anomolous Radiocarbon Determination on Mastodon Bone from Monte Verde, Chile

“…A revealing case study of variations in 14 C ages as a function of the percentage of organic yield can be seen in the results obtained on different bones from a single human skeleton recovered from the shore of the Columbia River near Kennewick, Washington (Taylor et al 2001). A 14 C measurement of 8410 ± 60 B.P.…”