Radiocarbon dates of the Early Holocene complexes in the Olkhon region (lake Baikal)

All radiocarbon dates (41 definitions) obtained from the Mesolithic complexes at the settlements of the Olkhon region (western coast of Lake Baikal) have been analyzed. Dating of the samples of various organic composition has made it possible to identify the problem of ancient carbon (“water reservoir effect”), which results in overestimation of radiocarbon age established from ringed seal bones. The definitions obtained from soil (if they are not confirmed by stratigraphic observations and dates obtained from different raw materials) and ringed seal bones (before the development of “water reservoir” corrections for Lake Baikal) should be considered as unreliable. When creating the chronological constructions, one should consider a series of dates rather than individual definitions. The most correct dates are those obtained from charcoal and bones of hoofed animals with no water food in their diet.