ISSN:
1824-310X
Keywords:
Fossils
;
Amino acid compositions
;
Racemization
;
Neanderthalian sites
;
Dating
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
Notes:
Abstract The reaction of racemization in which the L amino acids are reversibly converted into the corresponding D amino acids, proceeds in geological environment at such a slow rate that it may be used as a geochronometer. However, in fossils several parameters may affect the rate of racemization, i.e. moisture, surface, pH buffer and metal cations. This work consists of a systematic study of total amino acid content in fossil bones from two neanderthalian sites. The amino acid distributions of all specimens were determined and compared to that of fresh bone. The D/L amino acid were quantified and expressed in terms of age as a function of the temperature. The results led us to consider the «La Roquette» site older than «Les Canalettes» site.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF02436492
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