Cross-Dating (Th/U-14C) of Calcite Covering Prehistoric Paintings at Serra da Capivara National Park, Piaui, Brazil

New cross-dating analysis of calcite deposits covering prehistoric paintings at Serra da Capivara National Park suggests the artworks may be younger than previously thought. Using coupled accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C and multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (MC-ICPMS) 230Th/U dating, researchers found ages younger than 12,000 years for calcite samples from Toca da Gameleirinha. This challenges earlier estimates exceeding 35,000 years derived from thermoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance methods, reigniting debates on the antiquity of human settlement in South America and the chronology of rock art.

Fontugne, M., Shao, Q., Frank, N., Thil, F., Guidon, N., & Boeda, E. (2013). Cross-Dating (Th/U-¹⁴C) of Calcite Covering Prehistoric Paintings at Serra da Capivara National Park, Piaui, Brazil. Radiocarbon, 55(3), 1191–1198. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200048104