Only the XAD-purified collagen gave a result consistent with the geological age of the stratum.

The Distance That Mattered

One of the most frequently discussed technical points in the Arlington Springs literature is the question of how far the mainland was from Santarosae during the terminal Pleistocene — the minimum distance that had to be crossed by whoever reached the island.

This question has been addressed by multiple researchers using different methods, and the answers have varied somewhat depending on the sea-level reconstruction used and the specific methods applied.

The general consensus, expressed across the literature on Channel Islands paleogeography, is that the minimum distance from Santarosae to the California mainland — at the narrowest point of the Santa Barbara Channel at maximum glacial low sea level — was roughly four to seven miles.