The samples we sent off were collected from Level E in the excavation area, which contained significant amounts of Maritime Archaic stone tools and debitage (the debris left behind when people make stone tools). So, we knew that the level was at least over 3,000 years old, but we were not sure exactly how old it might be. Some of the artifacts suggested that it may have been early in the Archaic sequence, and we know Archaic people probably first occupied northwestern parts of the island of Newfoundland sometime between 5,000-6,000 years ago. We now know that they made it all the way down into southeastern Newfoundland by at least 4,900 years ago, and probably sooner.
The date for our sample came back as 4470 +-30 BP (Before Present). But because the amount of carbon in the atmosphere has changed through time, this date needs to be calibrated to give us an accurate calendar date. Fortunately, scientists have figured out how to do just that. The calibrated dates with 95% certainty is between 3390 BC - 3080 BC, or between 3070 BC - 3025 BC. There are two different range possibilities because the calibration curve is intercepted in several places. This places the date between 4975 and 5290 years ago! The highest probability is somewhere between 5100-5200 years ago!! These are some of the earliest dates on the island, but we should realize this is only one date and needs to be confirmed with more samples, which we are about to send off to the lab.
One of the interesting things about these dates are that they date Level E and there is a deeper stratum, Level F, underlying it. If you remember the last post about the Law of Superposition you will know that this means that Level F must be even older than that! We will be trying to select samples from Level F to send to the lab this week.
Fascinating!Thanks so much for the update.
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