What scientific method was used to work out the age of Mungo Lady?

The age of Mungo Lady, a well-preserved skeleton found in Lake Mungo, Australia, was determined using several scientific methods, primarily radiocarbon dating. Here’s a breakdown of the methods used: 1. **Radiocarbon Dating**: This technique measures the decay of carbon-14 isotopes in organic materials. Since Mungo Lady's remains were associated with charcoal and other organic materials, radiocarbon dating was applied to these materials to estimate the time of burial. 2. **Stratigraphy**: The layers of sediment in which Mungo Lady was found were analyzed. By understanding the geological context and the sequence of layers, researchers could infer the relative age of the remains. 3. **Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL)**: This method measures the last time sediment grains were exposed to light. It helps to date the burial of the remains by determining when the sediments surrounding the skeleton were last illuminated. These methods combined provided a comprehensive understanding of the age of Mungo Lady, which is estimated to be around 42,000 years old, making her one of the oldest known human remains in Australia.