Abstract
RECENT evidence suggests that the racemisation reaction of aspartic acid can be used to date fossil bones1–3 (for a general review see ref. 4). At 20 °C the half life for aspartic acid racemisation is about 15,000 yr. Because the aspartic acid reaction has a longer half life than radiocarbon it can be used to date bones which are beyond the 14C dating limit (that is >40,000 yr old). Also only a few grams of bone are required for a DL-aspartic acid determination so bones which are available in insufficient quantities for radiocarbon dating can be dated from the extent of aspartic acid racemisation.
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