Surovell paper challenges Monteverde dating using volcanic lens evidence

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Key facts

• Todd Surovell of the University of Wyoming published a geomorphological study arguing a volcanic lens beneath the Monteverde site dates to approximately 11,000 years ago.
• Surovell's argument contends the landform the site sits on is approximately 8,000 years old, making older-than-Clovis occupation stratigraphically impossible.
• Surovell did not take geological cores at the primary Monteverde 2 site, instead sampling at other points along the surrounding ravine.
• Surovell questions whether the artifacts and hearths are anthropogenic.
• The proposed resolution is to take new geological cores directly at Monteverde 2 and conduct comparative stratigraphic analysis with Surovell's samples from up the ravine.
• Surovell's paper was published in Science.

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