The vole clock is a method of dating archaeological strata using vole teeth. Investigations at sites across Europe have allowed construction of a detailed framework of how different vole species evolved over the last million years, and where and when specific taxa became extinct.
For many sites it is considered the most accurate way of dating, and also provides information on the climate and local environment e.g. in the Pleistocene. Dr. Francis Wenban-Smith of Southampton University, a Stone Age specialist on assignment for Oxford Archaeology, described the vole clock as "one of the wonders of modern science". However, an article published by Robert A. Martin concludes that "Sampling, chronological, and statistical issues seriously limit the accuracy and thus practical application of vole clocks generated from fossil arvicolid rodent samples" Among his critiques, Martin points out that size change (in teeth and animals) is not uniform over time and does not necessarily move in one direction.
References
- ^ Currant, Andy (Natural History Museum, London) (2000). "2000 series: Elveden, Suffolk". Time Team. Channel 4. Archived from the original on 2008-01-17. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - "Elephant Hunters". Oxford Archaeology. Retrieved 31 May 2014.
- Martin, Robert A. (2014-06-15). "A critique of vole clocks". Quaternary Science Reviews. 94: 1–6. doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2014.03.004. ISSN 0277-3791.
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