The York Research Database

This report documents the attempts to conduct amino acid racemization analysis for age estimation on the intra-crystalline protein fraction of Bithynia tentaculata opercula as part of the Medway Valley Palaeolithic project. It is concluded that the East Mersea Restaurant site is of Ipswichian (MIS 5e) age. All the other sites in the study are consistent with ages in MIS 9 and MIS 11. The pattern of protein decomposition, resulting in low levels of degradation within cold stages, along with the natural variability of the samples, precludes any further definitive age attributions to be made. Further data from the other geological investigations at the sites themselves may help resolve this. However, it is likely that the samples from the Barling Gravel and Apton Hall Farm are the youngest and those from Bradwell Hall are the oldest within this MIS 9/11 cluster.