A Brief Discussion of the Relation of Some Radiocarbon Dates to the Pollen Chronology

Extract

In the 31 dates of specific interest to palynology contained in Table I there are some surprises for the student of pollen chronology, although there are only three (349, 433, and 450) that must be regarded as unacceptable. For two of these, the list itself contains evidence that the stratigraphic position of the samples was incorrectly determined; we are left with only one sample (433) suggesting that the radiocarbon assay is subject to errors of an unknown nature. It follows that the new method of dating has been placed on a firm footing, and that it will amply justify the high hopes originally held for it.

To say this, however, is not to say that the entire list of dates will or should meet with unqualified acceptance. All degrees of palatability are represented, some apparent contradictions are evident, and in nearly every case a certain amount of special pleading is required to harmonize the results with what was previously known or believed. While the difficulties are not considered at present to be serious, it would be most unwise to minimize them, and the fact is that confirmation is required at every point if the newly acquired dates are not to make postglacial stratigraphy more controversial than it was before.