ESR dating of Smilodon populator from Toca de Cima dos Pilão, Piauí, Brazil. (February 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Kinoshita, Angela; Mollemberg, Michelle; Santana, William; G Figueiredo, Ana Maria; Guidon, Niede; Fátima da Luz, Maria de; Guérin, Claude; Baffa, Oswaldo
• Is Part Of: Applied radiation and isotopes. Volume 120(2017:Feb.)
• Page Start: 66
• Page End: 70
• Publication Date: 2017-02
• Subjects: Electron Spin Resonance -- Dating -- Electron Paramagnetic Resonance -- Saber-toothed cat -- Machairodontinae; Radiology -- Periodicals; Radiation -- Industrial applications -- Periodicals; Nuclear chemistry -- Periodicals; Internet resource; Periodical; 660.298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.apradiso.2016.11.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0969-8043

Abstract

Abstract: Smilodon is a genus of big cats that lived from the early to the late Pleistocene in regions extending from North to South America. The fossil records of the "saber-toothed cats" are uneven, with some taxa being quite abundant in certain regions. In Brazil, Smilodon populator is a well-known species whose remains, although scarce in comparison to other large mammals, are found all across the country. In particular, there are multiple records of this species in the region of the Serra da Capivara National Park. This area was home to a rich Pleistocene-Holocene fauna, including many mammals. Here, we report on the Electron Spin Resonance dating of a Smilodon populator tooth found in "Toca de Cima dos Pilão", located in the surroundings of the Serra da Capivara National Park. The equivalent dose found after exponential fitting of dose-response curve was (2.7±0.3)x10 2 Gy. Neutron Activation Analysis was used to determine the concentration of radioisotopes present in the sample and in the sediment to calculate the internal and external dose rates. The result of age found is 93±9 ka, which confirmed the presence of this species in Serra da Capivara National Park in the late Pleistocene. Highlights: ESR was applied to date Smilodon Populator teeth found in Brazil. The age provided is the oldest record found in Brazil and South America. ESR allows dating samples that did not present collagen enough to perform C-14.