Dating a small impact crater

Autor(en)

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

Abstrakt

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(en)

Isotopenphysik

Externe Organisation(en)

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

Band

51

Seiten

681-695

Anzahl der Seiten

15

ISSN

1086-9379

DOI

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

Publikationsdatum

04-2016

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

103014 Kernphysik, 105102 Allgemeine Geophysik

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Geophysics, Space and Planetary Science

Link zum Portal

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