Critics Point to Forest Fires Academic skeptics have speculated that the charcoal samples were produced by ancient forest fires.

Eleven charcoal samples analyzed by this instrument showed that the Mesa site, as it is being called, was used by people from 9,700 to 11,700 years ago.

Radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples indicate that the Pomarrosa phase started locally around 300 CE.

There is up to now, no well-equipped dating laboratory either to process charcoal samples or potsherds.

Consequently, it is restricted mostly to processing charcoal samples collected from sites in Senegal.

The radiocarbon dates from the charcoal samples will give us a more precise figure when we get them from the lab.

Radiocarbon analysis of charcoal samples found within the structure's walls all dated to approximately 30-430 AD, in the Middle Woodland period.

Orliac's charcoal samples from ovens prove directly that trees were being burned for firewood.

A charcoal sample from the collapsed walls gave a radio-carbon date between 1450 and 1300 BCE with 95.4% probability.

Two charcoal samples give a radiocarbon dating for this stratum of 1220 to 970 BCE and 1270 to 1040 BCE with 95.4% probability.