Dating a small impact crater

Author(s)

A. Losiak, E. M. Wild, W. D. Geppert, M. S. Huber, A. Joeleht, A. Kriiska, A. Kulkov, K. Paavel, I. Pirkovic, J. Plado, P. Steier, R. Vaelja, J. Wilk, T. Wisniowski, M. Zanetti

Abstract

The estimates of the age of the Kaali impact structure (Saaremaa Island, Estonia) provided by different authors vary by as much as 6000 years, ranging from ~6400 to ~400 before current era (BCE). In this study, a new age is obtained based on

¹⁴C dating charred plant material within the proximal ejecta blanket, which makes it directly related to the impact structure, and not susceptible to potential reservoir effects. Our results show that the Kaali crater was most probably formed shortly after 1530-1450 BCE (3237 ± 10

¹⁴C yr BP). Saaremaa was already inhabited when the bolide hit the Earth, thus, the crater-forming event was probably witnessed by humans. There is, however, no evidence that this event caused significant change in the material culture (e.g., known archeological artifacts) or patterns of human habitation on Saaremaa.

Organisation(s)

Isotope Physics

External organisation(s)

Polish Academy of Sciences (PAS), Stockholm University, University of the Free State, University of Tartu, Saint Petersburg State University, University of Belgrade, Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Washington University in St. Louis

Journal

Meteoritics and Planetary Science

Volume

51

Pages

681-695

No. of pages

15

ISSN

1086-9379

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1111/maps.12616

Publication date

04-2016

Peer reviewed

Yes

Austrian Fields of Science 2012

103014 Nuclear physics, 105102 General geophysics

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Geophysics, Space and Planetary Science

Portal url

https://ucris.univie.ac.at/portal/en/publications/dating-a-small-impact-crater(f624f8d4-af08-4998-81be-4400b6e964b5).html