Re: Problems with the radio carbon dating of the Newport Tower

Peter Alaca wrote:
"Whiskers" <catwheezel@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:20071205203813.3F05.6.NOFFLE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
On 2007-12-05, David B. <tronospamchos@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Does the reference to "shell lime" mean that in that area, seashells
were used very extensively as a substitute for limestone in the making
of lime?

I also wonder whether it would be possible to separate out shell
fragments from mortar samples and C14 date them on their own, perhaps
sacrificing a few 100-year-old shells from the Rhode Island Natural
History Museum to help generate a rough calibration scale.

Already covered at some length here recently; eg the thread "A question
about archaeolgical sterility of sites with a religiousconnection" and
earlier in this very thread.

The most convenient source of 'lime' was large heaps of sea-shells piled
up by generations of beach-partying locals before the European colonists
took over.

A quick search revealed that there are indeed
shell middens in RI, prehistoric

If the shell middens were buried, they probably wouldn't use those for making lime. Just send a bunch of kids down to the shore.

David B.
.

Relevant Pages

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