
Why Did These Vikings' Bones Appear Older Than They Are?
Clip: Season 46 Episode 10 | 2m 18sVideo has Closed Captions
Hint: Carbon in the ocean is different than carbon on land.
Archaeologists discovered a mass grave of what they thought to be ninth-century Vikings. But for some reason, the radiocarbon dates of their bones, found by measuring a radioactive carbon isotope, appeared much older.
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National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

Why Did These Vikings' Bones Appear Older Than They Are?
Clip: Season 46 Episode 10 | 2m 18sVideo has Closed Captions
Archaeologists discovered a mass grave of what they thought to be ninth-century Vikings. But for some reason, the radiocarbon dates of their bones, found by measuring a radioactive carbon isotope, appeared much older.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Preview: S46 Ep10 | 28s | Bioarchaeologists investigate a 9th-century mass grave thought to hold a lost Viking army. (28s)
Who Was This High-Status Viking Warrior?
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Clip: S46 Ep10 | 1m 55s | DNA evidence reveals surprising truth about the identity of a revered 9th-century Viking. (1m 55s)
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National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.