Radiocarbon dates from the Hawaiian Islands: A compilation

Abstract

Radiocarbon dating has proved to be a useful tool for the correlation of events and their timing during the Quaternary. In the Hawaiian Islands, the application of this technique is providing a chronology of the geologic history that will serve as a framework for studies of volcanologic and related hazards, sea-level changes, paleomagnetism, and paleobotany. Many 14 C dates have also been determined for archaeological studies on the Islands. During the last 3 years, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) radiocarbon laboratory at Reston, VA, has determined more than 100 14 C dates from carbonized roots and other plant material collected from beneath prehistoric lava flows and ash deposits from Mauna Loa and Kilauea volcanoes. Prior to 1976, only 10 flows from these volcanoes had been dated by radiocarbon methods. Collection of dateable material has been facilitated by an improved understanding of the conditions of charcoal formation and preservation beneath basaltic lavas (Lockwood and Lipman, 1979). The purpose of this report is to gather all published Hawaiian radiocarbon dates, except geochemical dates, together in order to spare those working on the geologic and archaeologic history of the Islands the time and energy necessary to recover these dates from their various sources, as well as to prevent duplication of effort in the field and laboratory. A few unpublished dates from the Reston laboratory are also included. The listing and bibliography are as complete as possible. The U.S. Geological Survey library was used as the primary source of information. The dates are divided by island, and, within island groups, by category of interest. Within each category, dates are listed chronologically from youngest to oldest. The letter before the lab number tells what lab ran the sample. The list of laboratories gives the addresses.