Abstract
We radiocarbon dated the domestic dog found associated with La Brea Woman at the Rancho La Brea tar pits (Los Angeles, CA) to determine the validity of this human–dog connection. The domestic dog yielded a radiocarbon age of 3125 ± 25 14C yr BP (3250–3400 cal yr BP) and La Brea Woman had a re-dated age of 9080 ± 15 14C yr BP (10,220–10,250 cal yr BP). This ∼7000-year offset dispels the hypothesis this was an intentional and ceremonial human–dog burial.
Acknowledgments
Hector Martinez and Shari Bush are thanked for assistance with collagen preparation. Bryn Letham is thanked for creating Figure . The AMS 14C dating of La Brea Woman was partly supported by the Gabrielle O. Vierra Memorial Fund (RET).