So how do they know this lava is 3000 years old? Scientists usually determine the age of rocks through Argon decay to potassium (you knew that, right?).  Well, it was news to me.  Anyway, that won’t work for this flow because it isn’t accurate for rocks younger than 5000 years.  Enter method two, measurement of C14 decay to nitrogen in entrapped plant material.  I have heard of that test and it says this lava emerged 3,600 to 3,200 years ago.  Check out an even cooler test; the impact of cosmic rays on materials on the surface of the earth results in a build up of He3 in that material.  The longer it is around the more He3, of course….  This test says the lava is 2,500 years old.  I guess that is close enough for hand grenades and atomic aging formulas.  They declare it 3000 years old.

Trogloxenes, troglophiles, and troglobites: oh, my

Those are the classes of critters found in caves. Good to know but I’m not planning on checking them out!