C'mon Jeff- I think you do know.
Living things quit adding/replacing Carbon isotopes at a known rate to their bodies when they die. These then deteriorate at a known rate after death, so by comparing what should be in a living body to what is left in an artifact, the age of the artifact can be determined within parameters. The older it is, the more uncertainty, the larger the parameters.
Beyond a certain place, the uncertainties become too great, and they have to switch to other elements with longer half-life isotopes. Carbon-dating becomes useless fairly quickly, in geologic terms, but then, we aren't exactly long-lived ourselves. An artifact only a few centuries old can be dated fairly tightly.
If their assesment of origin is accurate, probably some Yupik guy out wandering got offed by Injins. Or the bow was traded/captured to /by same Injin, then lost. Or owner went through the ice, or over-board and the bow washed up close to shore. Shore-line/lake level may have been different also.
Maybe the Illiamna Lake Monster got him...
Last edited by las; 06/30/22.
