Table 1. Key 14C determinations used in the analysis.
| Event/taxon | Site | 14C yr B.P. | 2σ cal yr | Lab no./type | Material; treatments (source) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Spore decline | Ambolisatra | 1,720 ± 40 | A.D. 230-410 | β-167657 AMS | Plant macrofossil; acid/alkali (this paper) |
| Belo-sur-Mer* | 1,990 ± 50 | 100 B.C.-A.D. 110 | β-103348 AMS | Organic sediment; acid (5) | |
| Charcoal increase | Ambolisatra | ca. 1,500† | |||
| Belo-sur-Mer | 1,830 ± 60 | A.D. 60-350 | β-90099 AMS | Eggshell; acid-etched (5) | |
| Amparihibe | 1,130 ± 50 | A.D. 780-1010 | β-67392 AMS | Plant macrofossil; acid/alkali (5) | |
| Benavony | 710 ± 110 | A.D. 1,050-1100 and 1,140-1,430 | β-81218 Radiometric | Peat; acid/alkali; 4× normal counting time (5) | |
| Tritrivakely | 1,240 ± 100 | A.D. 630-1,000 | β-15884 Radiometric | Organic sediment; acid/alkali (7) | |
| Kavitaha | 1,400 ± 80 | A.D. 530-780 | β-14855 Radiometric | Organic sediment; acid/alkali (20) | |
| Spore increase (cattle) | Amparihibe | 1,130 ± 50 | A.D. 780-1,010 | β-67392 AMS | Same date as charcoal increase given above |
| Kavitaha | 960 ± 90 | A.D. 900-1,260 | β-15528 Radiometric | Organic sediment; acid/alkali (20) | |
| Late occurrences, extinct taxa | |||||
| Archaeolemur | Anjohikely | 830 ± 60 | A.D. 1,040-1,290 | β-55060 AMS | Fecal pellet; acid/alkali/acid (12) |
| Ankarana | 1,020 ± 50 | A.D. 910-920, 960-1060, and 1,080-1,150 | β-60797 AMS | Bone collagen; acid/alkali/acid (11) | |
| Belo-sur-Mer | 1,370 ± 40 | A.D. 620-700 | β-90095 AMS | Bone collagen; acid/alkali/acid (5) | |
| Hadropithecus | Belo-sur-Mer | 1,413 ± 80 | A.D. 444-772 | Rafter-26341/1 AMS | Bone collegen; acid (this paper) |
| Palaeopropithecus | Ankazoabo | 1,269 ± 80 | A.D. 640-964 | Rafter-10059 AMS | Tooth: acid (this paper) |
| Ankilitelo | 510 ± 80 | A.D. 1,300-1,510 and 1,600-1,620 | Not given AMS | Bone collagen: acid/alkali/acid (10) | |
| Megaladapis | Ankilitelo | 630 ± 50 | A.D. 1,280-1,420 | Not given AMS | Bone collagen: acid/alkali/acid (10) |
| Pachylemur | Belo-sur-Mer | 1,220 ± 50 | A.D. 680-910 and 920-960 | β-90098 AMS | Bone collagen; acid/alkali/acid (5) |
| Aepyornis | Belo-sur-Mer | 1,830 ± 60 | A.D. 60-350 | β-90099 AMS | Eggshell: acid-etched (5) |
| Mullerornis | Belo-sur-Mer | 1,280 ± 60 | A.D. 650-890 | β-103349 AMS | Bone collagen; acid/alkali/acid (5) |
See cited sources for other 14C dates from the sites. B.C., before Christ; AMS, accelerator mass spectrometry.
*
10 cm below the level of spore decline.
†
Estimated from age model. Sediment date from 10 cm higher, during period of heaviest charcoal influx, was 1,890 ± 90 yr B.P. (see ref. 8). Subsequent dating of a plant macrofossil from 40 cm deeper (1,720 yr B.P.) suggests this sediment date is too old by ≈600 yr, probably due to inherent age effects and/or old carbon redeposition.