AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.

The article reports the radiocarbon investigation of Anzapalivoro, the largest za baobab (Adansonia za) specimen of Madagascar and of another za, namely the Big cistern baobab. Several wood samples collected from the large inner cavity and from the outer part/exterior of the tree were investigated b...

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Main Authors: Adrian Patrut, Roxana T Patrut, Pascal Danthu, Jean-Michel Leong Pock-Tsy, Laszlo Rakosy, Daniel A Lowy, Karl F von Reden
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2016-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711965?pdf=render
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author Adrian Patrut
Roxana T Patrut
Pascal Danthu
Jean-Michel Leong Pock-Tsy
Laszlo Rakosy
Daniel A Lowy
Karl F von Reden
author_facet Adrian Patrut
Roxana T Patrut
Pascal Danthu
Jean-Michel Leong Pock-Tsy
Laszlo Rakosy
Daniel A Lowy
Karl F von Reden
author_sort Adrian Patrut
collection DOAJ
description The article reports the radiocarbon investigation of Anzapalivoro, the largest za baobab (Adansonia za) specimen of Madagascar and of another za, namely the Big cistern baobab. Several wood samples collected from the large inner cavity and from the outer part/exterior of the tree were investigated by AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. For samples collected from the cavity walls, the age values increase with the distance into the wood up to a point of maximum age, after which the values decrease toward the outer part. This anomaly of age sequences indicates that the inner cavity of Anzapalivoro is a false cavity, practically an empty space between several fused stems disposed in a ring-shaped structure. The radiocarbon date of the oldest sample was 780 ± 30 bp, which corresponds to a calibrated age of around 735 yr. Dating results indicate that Anzapalivoro has a closed ring-shaped structure, which consists of 5 fused stems that close a false cavity. The oldest part of the biggest za baobab has a calculated age of 900 years. We also disclose results of the investigation of a second za baobab, the Big cistern baobab, which was hollowed out for water storage. This specimen, which consists of 4 fused stems, was found to be around 260 years old.
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spelling doaj.art-3b25a6ca915f4399bc276eb892ec0af52022-12-22T02:15:17ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032016-01-01111e014697710.1371/journal.pone.0146977AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.Adrian PatrutRoxana T PatrutPascal DanthuJean-Michel Leong Pock-TsyLaszlo RakosyDaniel A LowyKarl F von RedenThe article reports the radiocarbon investigation of Anzapalivoro, the largest za baobab (Adansonia za) specimen of Madagascar and of another za, namely the Big cistern baobab. Several wood samples collected from the large inner cavity and from the outer part/exterior of the tree were investigated by AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating. For samples collected from the cavity walls, the age values increase with the distance into the wood up to a point of maximum age, after which the values decrease toward the outer part. This anomaly of age sequences indicates that the inner cavity of Anzapalivoro is a false cavity, practically an empty space between several fused stems disposed in a ring-shaped structure. The radiocarbon date of the oldest sample was 780 ± 30 bp, which corresponds to a calibrated age of around 735 yr. Dating results indicate that Anzapalivoro has a closed ring-shaped structure, which consists of 5 fused stems that close a false cavity. The oldest part of the biggest za baobab has a calculated age of 900 years. We also disclose results of the investigation of a second za baobab, the Big cistern baobab, which was hollowed out for water storage. This specimen, which consists of 4 fused stems, was found to be around 260 years old.http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711965?pdf=render
spellingShingle Adrian Patrut
Roxana T Patrut
Pascal Danthu
Jean-Michel Leong Pock-Tsy
Laszlo Rakosy
Daniel A Lowy
Karl F von Reden
AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.
PLoS ONE
title AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.
title_full AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.
title_fullStr AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.
title_full_unstemmed AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.
title_short AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Large Za Baobabs (Adansonia za) of Madagascar.
title_sort ams radiocarbon dating of large za baobabs adansonia za of madagascar
url http://europepmc.org/articles/PMC4711965?pdf=render
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