Further Evidence on Age of Ancient Viable Lotus Seeds from Pulantien Deposit, Manchuria1

In 1951, two seeds of East Indian lotus ( Nelumbium spectiosum Willd.) were germinated from an ancient lakebed deposit at Pulantien in southeast Manchuria. Libby, by the 14 Carbon test, determined that a sample of similar seeds was 1040 ± 210 years old. This determination was accepted by botanists, until Godwin and Willis in 1964 redetermined their age from Libby's tested material, as only 100 ± 60 years old. Further evidence presented in this paper supports Libby's determination when interpreted as an average age of the seeds. This evidence, mainly historical, indicates the seeds accumulated in the above lakebed from about 371-1484. In 1951, this would establish the seeds as having an approximate age range of 467-1580 years, or an average age of 1024 years. This closely agrees with Libby's determination of 1040 ± 210 years.