Table 2 Chronometric ages for South Walker Creek sites and their reliability score.

From: Extinction of eastern Sahul megafauna coincides with sustained environmental deterioration

QML1470

Dating method

 

Association

Score

n

Age interpretation

Age (ka)

SW9

US-ESR (SCU)

Direct (m*)

Yes—w

A*

5

Age of megafauna fossils within Unit C.

32.5 ± 2.5 (2σ)a

US (UQ)

Direct (m)

Yes—w

A

4

Minimum age of megafauna fossils within Unit C.

24.5 ± 0.1 (2σ)b

US (UOW)

Direct (m)

Yes—w

A

2

Minimum age of megafauna fossils within Unit C.

25.5 ± 0.1 (2σ)b

OSL (AU + GU)

Indirect (m)

Yes—a, w + b

A

19

Age of Unit C, including fossiliferous layer.

41.3 ± 1.9 (1σ)a

OSL + US-ESR (ALL)

Both

Yes—a, w + b

A* + A

24

Combined age of megafauna and deposit.

40.1 ± 1.7 (1σ)a

C14 (charcoal) (ANU)

Indirect (B)

Yes—w + b

B

3

Minimum maximum age of deposit.

 > 40–50 kac

SW3

OSL (AU)

Indirect (m)

Yes—w + b

A

5

Age of entire deposit including fossiliferous layer.

47.7 ± 3.2 (1σ)a

SWCC

OSL (AU)

Indirect (m)

Yes—a + w

A

2

Age of entire deposit (Units B, C & D), including fossiliferous layers.

58.2 ± 6.1 (1σ)a

SWJ

OSL (AU)

Indirect (m)

Yes—b

A

6

Age of Unit B, maximum age of fossiliferous Unit C.

65.6\(\pm\)2.2 (1σ)a

  1. Ratings of dating methods uses established criteria11. All chronometric results, including detailed methods, are provided in the Methods and Supplementary Notes 5–8. m, m*, B, A and A* are categories and ratings defined here11.
  2. a above, b below, w within the fossiliferous layer.
  3. aWeighted mean age and uncertainty.
  4. bOldest age and uncertainty.
  5. cReworked macro-charcoal represents a maximum age for the deposit, however, this material only survived ABA treatment, therefore must be considered a minimum age range. Radiocarbon dates on sediment are not included here as the data is not acceptable according to Rodrigues-Rey11.
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