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Amino acids in modern and fossil woods

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Abstract

Amino acids have been found in fossil woods. The extent of amino acid racemisation increases with the age of the wood. The degree of racemisation of proline and hydroxyproline in wood from Kalambo Falls, Zambia, was used to estimate an age of > 110,000 yr for the Acheulian–Sangoan transition.

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Lee, C., Bada, J. & Peterson, E. Amino acids in modern and fossil woods. Nature 259, 183–186 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1038/259183a0

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