

In addition to cation- ration dating in southeast, researchers have at times used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), a form of radio carbon dating, to gather data on the “minute carbon particles trapped beneath the varnish layer and the rock surface.” (Zier and Kalasz, 1999) To be more accurate, the cation-ratio dating is often used in conjunction with this AMS-derived data from the same rock surfaces to arrive at more absolute dates.


They do this by chemically analyzing the varnish that forms on these surfaces. Scientists use cation-ratio dating to determine how long rock surfaces have been exposed. It can be used to obtain dates that would be unobtainable by more conventional methods such as radiocarbon dating. The method is only valid where manganese is not remobilized after deposition, for example, in most arid environments.” (Dorn, 1983)Ĭation-ratio dating is used to date rock surfaces such as stone artifacts and cliff and ground drawings. “The premise of a new age-determination method, cation-ratio dating, is that the ratio of the more mobile cations (e.g., K and Ca) to titanium in varnish decreases with time. (Zier and Kalasz, 1999) Scientific Methods of Dating Cation-ratio dating Utilized these methods in southeast Colorado include Lawrence Loendorf, Julieįrancis, and Ronald Dorn during their studies of rock art on the high A few of the modern researchers that have Seriation, varnish repatination and superimposition. The scientific methods can include cation-ratio (CR) dating, and Methods archaeologists use to date rock art. Who made these? What do they mean? When were they created? In modern archaeology there are many methods used to date rock art, but we will discuss a few that have been used in southeast Colorado. If you’ve ever had the opportunity to view a panel of ancient rock art, I am sure you had many questions run through your mind. Rock Art Painting in SE Colorado Photo Credit- Laneha Everett
