Radiocarbon Dating of Corn

Abstract

Nine samples from well-dated prehistoric sites in the southwestern United States have been radiocarbon dated in order to determine the accuracy of14C dates on corn. The results indicate that a normalized and calibrated14C date on corn is as accurate an estimate of the sample's age as is a14C date for any other material. This accuracy has implications not only for future selection of14C samples but also for interpretation of existing dates on corn and on other kinds of materials.