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Whatever the cause, it is extraordinary that dozens of genera of large mammals became extinct during the late Quaternary throughout the Western Hemisphere, including 90% of the genera of the xenarthran suborder Phyllophaga (sloths). Radiocarbon dates directly on dung, bones, or other tissue of extinct sloths place their 'last appearance' datum at [approximately equals to] 11,000 radiocarbon years before present (yr BP) or slightly less in North America, [approximately equals to]10,500 yr BP in South America, and [approximately equals to] 4,400 yr BP on West Indian islands. This asynchronous situation is not compatible with glacial-interglacial climate change forcing these extinctions, especially given the great elevational, latitudinal, and longitudinal variation of the sloth-bearing continental sites. Instead, the chronology of last appearance of extinct sloths, whether on continents or islands, more closely tracks the first arrival of people.

Abstract: This research investigates plaster and mortar samples from different structures at Petra, Southern Jordan. It aims at radiocarbon dating organic inclusions uncovered from these samples in order to refine the chronology of the structures sampled. One of the structures has a Latin inscription so it was used to crossdate its radiocarbon date. The radiocarbon dates of most of the samples synchronize the archaeological records and dates of the structures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]