How old is the oldest fossil from Rancho La Brea?
Using the Carbon-14 radiometric dating method, some of the oldest fossils include a dire wolf and a sabertoothed cat from Pit 91 dated at 44,000 years old, a coyote from Pit A dated at 46,800 years old, and wood from Pit 16 dated at 55,000 years old. These dates are estimates based on the amount of carbon 14 isotope remaining in the specimens. The real age of these specimens may be as much as 5,000 years older than the radiocarbon estimates.
