Table 2 Definitions for the database.
From: A comprehensive database of quality-rated fossil ages for Sahul’s Quaternary vertebrates
Term | Definition |
|---|---|
Age | Estimated value of absolute age along with the error bounds that result from dating (e.g., 33± 3 ka). Age is sometime termed ‘date’ |
Target species | Vertebrate taxon to which the age under assessment applies (the taxon in the row) |
Direct ages | Ages on body remains of the target species. Body remains are part of a vertebrate body (e.g., bones, teeth, hair, skin) or its internally derived products (e.g., gut contents, coprolites, eggshell). |
Indirect ages | Ages not on remains of the target species but can potentially be used to date the target species based on association. |
Association | Relationship (e.g., stratigraphic) between the fossil of a target species and the dated remains based on the premise that, if there is no evidence of disturbance, remains buried at the same time have the same age. Sometimes body remains are not available, but an association is given based on other evidence that can be linked to the target species (e.g., teeth marks, footprints). |
Depositional context | Physical setting of the fossils |
