ESR dating of tooth enamel in Mousterian Layer 20, El Castillo, Spain

Abstract

<p>Nine faunal teeth from Layer 20 of El Castillo cave in Cantabrian Spain were dated using electron spin resonance (ESR). Two teeth were rejected due to inconsistent sub-sample ages, while the remaining teeth yielded a mean age that is consistent with the stratigraphic expectations: 42.7±3.5. Uncertainty in the external γ dose rate results in a potential systematic uncertainty of ±6.4 ka that should affect all samples equally. The results provide independent confirmation of previously-reported 14C ages for Layer 20.</p>