Just a couple of days ago I wrote about the oldest known cave art, in Indonesia from 41,200 years before Creationists believe the Universe existed. As expected, this news has been completely ignored by creationists, presumably through fear of having to consider the terrifying prospect of being wrong and so not as important as they like to think they are.
Here then is an article about the discovery from The Conversation by four of the authors of the paper in Nature from Australian Universities - Adhi Oktaviana, PhD Candidate in Archaeology, Griffith University; Adam Brumm, Professor of Archaeology, Griffith University; Maxime Aubert, Professor of Archaeological Science, Griffith University and Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Professor in Geochronology and Geochemistry, Southern Cross University.
Their article is reprinted under a Creative Commons license, reformatted for stylistic consistency:
Found in a cave in Indonesia, we can now show the world’s oldest figurative art is 51,200 years old
Cave art site of Leang Karampuang in the Maros-Pangkep karst area of South Sulawesi. A rock art panel on the ceiling depicting three human-like figures interacting with a wild pig dates to at least 51,200 years ago.
Adhi Oktaviana, Griffith University; Adam Brumm, Griffith University; Maxime Aubert, Griffith University, and Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Southern Cross UniversityDavid P. McGahan
Figurative rock art – art that presents lifelike representations of subjects – provides visual insights into ancient cultures, beliefs and societal practices, offering a direct window into human cultural evolution.
Being able to date figurative rock art accurately is crucial. It helps establish timelines of human artistic expression, aiding in understanding the development of symbolic thinking and cultural complexity across different periods and regions.
In an article published in the journal Nature today, we present a novel approach to date cave paintings.
Using this new dating innovation, we have found the world’s oldest figurative cave art.
Dated to at least 51,200 years ago, the art depicts an interaction between humans and a pig. It was found in a cave in Sulawesi, an island of Indonesia directly north-east of Bali and east of Borneo.
It’s a crucial piece of our history as humans, suggesting figurative art and storytelling have long been intertwined.
A new pioneering technique
In some limestone caves where people made rock art, dripping or flowing water occasionally led to the formation of mineral deposits on top of the paint layer, which provide a way to date the art scientifically.
Each drop of water leaves a tiny amount of carbonate particles, leading to the formation of a whitish coating over the rock art. The same process also leads to the growth of speleothem (also known as stalagmite and stalactite) layers, with numerous layers of particles that encapsulate all sorts of elements, including uranium.
Karampuang Hill, where the artwork was found.
Google Arts & Culture
By comparing the ratio between the parent isotope (uranium) and the daughter isotope (thorium) we are able to calculate an age proportional to the time it took for the latter to form. This technique is called uranium-series, or U-series.
Rock art dating using U-series has typically been done by manually excavating a calcium carbonate sample and dissolving the resultant powder into a chemical solution, which is then introduced into a mass spectrometer. But the problem with this approach is that it averages several layers that have different ages, and does not distinguish pristine zones from altered ones.
To overcome these problems, our team developed a new analytical approach that uses a laser beam, four times smaller than the width of a human hair, to precisely sample the layers of calcium carbonate covering the art, including those closest to the painting.
Example of sample cross section showing the pigment layer and overlying calcium carbonate layers, left, and equivalent U-series isotopes map, right.
Author supplied.
The laser is run across the samples in parallel lines, known as rasters. Once these are consolidated into a single high-resolution data set, we are able to understand the distribution of uranium and associated elements in great detail.
This technique is called “U-series imaging”, as it creates a map of the sample’s geochemical composition. We can then extract the data closest to the paint layer, providing a precise age estimate.
The dating result is always considered to be a minimum age estimation, given there might have been a delay between the creation of the art and the growth of the first calcium carbonate layers on top.
Art to tell a story
We used this new technique to date a painting in a cave in southern Sulawesi named Leang Karampuang and showed it is at least 51,200 years old.
The painting consists of a scene dominated by a large naturalistic representation of a wild pig. In front of the pig are three smaller human-like figures. They appear to be interacting with the animal.
One figure seems to be holding an object near the pig’s throat. Another is directly above the pig’s head in an upside-down position with legs splayed out. The third figure is larger and grander in appearance than the others; it is holding an unidentified object and is possibly wearing an elaborate headdress.
Dated rock art panel at Leang Karampuang. a. Photograph of the cave painting (enhanced using the DStretch program to highlight the art); b. Tracing of the art showing the location of sampled calcium carbonate deposits and associated minimum U-series ages (ka = thousands of years ago); c. Tracing of the art. The human-like figures are denoted H1 to H3.
A.A. Oktaviana and Ratno Sardi
We don’t know what that story was. Perhaps it was an account of a real boar hunt or a depiction of a myth or imaginary tale. Whatever the case, it seems to concern the relationship between pigs and people as conceived by early humans in Sulawesi.
We now know humans have used figurative art to tell stories for at least 51,000 years. Using our new dating method it may be possible in the future to fill in some of the many gaps in our knowledge of this key development in the history of art.
Adhi Oktaviana, PhD Candidate in Archaeology, Griffith University; Adam Brumm, Professor of Archaeology, Griffith University; Maxime Aubert, Professor of Archaeological Science, Griffith University, and Renaud Joannes-Boyau, Professor in Geochronology and Geochemistry, Southern Cross University
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
What is laser-ablated U-series (LA-U-series) dating and how does it work? Laser-ablated U-series (LA-U-series) dating is a method used to determine the age of calcium carbonate materials, such as those found in cave deposits (speleothems) and coatings on cave paintings. This technique involves analyzing the isotopic composition of uranium (U) and its decay products. Here's an overview of how it works:So, is any creationists going to find the courage and integrity to refute this finding, or will they just settle for holding the mutually exclusive views simultaneously, that Earth is just 10,000 years old and humans were creating cave paintings in Indonesia 51,200 years ago?
Principles of U-Series Dating
How Laser-Ablated U-Series (LA-U-Series) Dating Works
- Radioactive Decay:
- Uranium (U) has several isotopes, but \({^{238}\text{U}}\) and \({^{235}\text{U}}\) are the most relevant for U-series dating.
- \({^{238}\text{U}}\) decays through a series of intermediate isotopes to eventually form stable lead (\({^{206}\text{Pb}}\)).
- One of the intermediate isotopes is thorium-230 (\({^{230}\text{Th}}\)), which is used in U-series dating.
- Uranium and Thorium in Carbonates:
- When calcium carbonate forms, it incorporates uranium but usually excludes thorium because of thorium’s insolubility in water.
- Over time, \({^{238}\text{U}}\) decays to \({^{230}\text{Th}}\), increasing the \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) concentration in the sample.
- Age Determination:
- The ratio of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) to \({^{238}\text{U}}\) (or \({^{234}\text{U}}\), another intermediate in the decay chain) in a sample indicates the time that has passed since the calcium carbonate formed, because the decay rate is well known.
Advantages of LA-U-Series Dating
- Sample Preparation:
- A small sample of calcium carbonate is selected for analysis, often from thin layers of speleothem or calcite deposits on cave walls.
- Laser Ablation:
- A laser is used to ablate (remove) tiny amounts of material from the sample’s surface. The laser focuses on specific points, vaporizing the material and transporting it to an inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (ICP-MS).
- Laser ablation allows for precise targeting of specific areas, minimizing contamination and enabling high spatial resolution.
- Mass Spectrometry:
- The ablated material is ionized in the ICP-MS, and the isotopic composition of uranium and thorium is measured.
- The ratio of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) to \({^{238}\text{U}}\) (or \({^{234}\text{U}}\)) is determined from these measurements.
- Calculations and Corrections:
- The age of the sample is calculated based on the measured isotopic ratios, taking into account the known decay rates of uranium isotopes to thorium.
- Corrections may be applied for initial thorium content and potential detrital contamination.
Applications
- High Precision and Accuracy:
- The use of laser ablation allows for precise sampling and minimal contamination, leading to more accurate age determinations.
- Spatial Resolution:
- This method can analyze very small areas, which is particularly useful for heterogeneous samples or thin layers of carbonate deposits.
- Non-Destructive:
- The technique is relatively non-destructive compared to bulk sampling methods, preserving more of the original sample.
Conclusion
- Cave Paintings:
- LA-U-series dating is particularly valuable for dating calcite deposits that form over or under cave paintings, providing minimum or maximum ages for the art.
- Speleothem Formation:
- It is also used to date speleothem formations in caves, contributing to paleoclimate reconstructions and understanding geological processes.
Laser-ablated U-series dating is a sophisticated technique that leverages the natural decay of uranium to thorium to determine the age of calcium carbonate materials with high precision. By using laser ablation to precisely sample tiny areas, this method is especially effective for dating complex or delicate samples, such as those found in archaeological and paleontological contexts.
What is the formula for calculating the age of the sample from the ratio of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) to \({^{238}\text{U}}\) (or \({^{234}\text{U}}\))?
The formula for calculating the age of a sample using U-series dating, particularly from the ratio of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) to \({^{238}\text{U}}\), is based on the radioactive decay of uranium to thorium. The primary equation used is derived from the decay law and involves solving for the age based on the observed isotopic ratios.
Age Calculation Formula
For a closed system where no \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) was initially present, the age \( t \) can be calculated using the following formula: \[ t = \frac{1}{\lambda_{230}} \ln \left( \frac{{^{230}\text{Th}/^{238}\text{U}} + 1}{1 - (\lambda_{230}/\lambda_{234}) (1 - e^{-\lambda_{234} t})} \right) \] However, this formula is complex and often simplified for practical applications. The simpler form used when considering \({^{230}\text{Th}}\)/\({^{238}\text{U}}\) ratio is: \[ t = \frac{1}{\lambda_{230}} \ln \left( 1 + \frac{{^{230}\text{Th}/^{238}\text{U}}}{1 - e^{-\lambda_{234} t}} \right) \] Here’s what each term represents:
- \( t \): The age of the sample.
- \( \lambda_{230} \): Decay constant of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) (9.1705 x 10^-6 per year).
- \( \lambda_{234} \): Decay constant of \({^{234}\text{U}}\) (2.822 x 10^-6 per year).
- \( \text{\({^{230}\text{Th}}\)/\({^{238}\text{U}}\)} \): The measured activity ratio of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) to \({^{238}\text{U}}\) in the sample.
Assumptions
- Initial Condition: Assumes there was no initial \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) in the sample, meaning all \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) present is from in-situ decay of \({^{238}\text{U}}\).
- Closed System: Assumes the system remained closed to U and Th isotopes since the time of formation.
Simplified Calculation
In many practical situations, a simplified approach is used:
\[ t = \frac{1}{\lambda_{230}} \ln \left( 1 + \frac{{^{230}\text{Th}/^{238}\text{U}}}{1 - e^{-\lambda_{234} t}} \right) \] Example Calculation
- Determine the Ratio: Measure the activity ratio of \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) to \({^{238}\text{U}}\) in the sample.
- Apply Constants:
- \( \lambda_{230} = 9.1705 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{per year} \)
- \( \lambda_{234} = 2.822 \times 10^{-6} \, \text{per year} \)
- Insert Values: Use the measured ratio and constants in the formula to solve for \( t \).
Steps for Practical Calculation
- Measure Isotopic Ratios: Obtain the activity ratio \( \frac{{^{230}\text{Th}}}{{^{238}\text{U}}} \) from the sample.
- Use Decay Constants: Utilize the known decay constants for \({^{230}\text{Th}}\) and \({^{234}\text{U}}\).
- Solve for Age: Plug the values into the formula and solve for \( t \), which may require iterative methods or numerical solutions for precise results.
By following these steps, the age of calcium carbonate samples or cave paintings can be determined, providing valuable insights into their historical and geological contexts.
What Makes You So Special? From The Big Bang To You
How did you come to be here, now? This books takes you from the Big Bang to the evolution of modern humans and the history of human cultures, showing that science is an adventure of discovery and a source of limitless wonder, giving us richer and more rewarding appreciation of the phenomenal privilege of merely being alive and able to begin to understand it all.
Available in Hardcover, Paperback or ebook for Kindle
Ten Reasons To Lose Faith: And Why You Are Better Off Without It
This book explains why faith is a fallacy and serves no useful purpose other than providing an excuse for pretending to know things that are unknown. It also explains how losing faith liberates former sufferers from fear, delusion and the control of others, freeing them to see the world in a different light, to recognise the injustices that religions cause and to accept people for who they are, not which group they happened to be born in. A society based on atheist, Humanist principles would be a less divided, more inclusive, more peaceful society and one more appreciative of the one opportunity that life gives us to enjoy and wonder at the world we live in.
Available in Hardcover, Paperback or ebook for Kindle
No comments :
Post a Comment
Obscene, threatening or obnoxious messages, preaching, abuse and spam will be removed, as will anything by known Internet trolls and stalkers, by known sock-puppet accounts and anything not connected with the post,
A claim made without evidence can be dismissed without evidence. Remember: your opinion is not an established fact unless corroborated.