Non-destructive gamma spectrometric U-series dating

Prehistoric hominid fossils are too valuable to be dated by destructive or even partially destructive methods. Non-destructive U-series dating by γ-ray counting can therefore be a valuable method if relatively large hominid fragments, such as skulls, containing measurable amounts of uranium are available. We present a description of the method as well as some results including those obtained from a previously dated coral as well as two Australian hominid skulls (WLH 50 and Mungo 3). The dating procedure is designed to minimise systematic errors which may easily overwhelm statistical errors if care is not taken. The gamma spectrometric results are in good agreement with alpha and mass spectrometric measurements as well as independent age determinations. The results show no evidence for any uranium uptake over longer time periods.