By the late 1980s and early 1990s, AMS dating had become a practical tool in archaeological research.

At the same time, bone-protein chemistry had advanced substantially.

The methods for extracting, purifying, and characterizing ancient collagen — the most reliable organic fraction of bone for radiocarbon purposes — had improved to the point where researchers could produce more reliable dates from ancient bone than had been possible in the 1960s.

The Arlington Springs bones were waiting for exactly these advances.

What Bone Chemistry Had To Solve