Carbon dating vs stratigraphy, I picked the wrong tool in Utah

Last dig in Moab, we had a hearth layer that looked late, real late. I pushed for carbon dating on charcoal bits, cost us 2 weeks and $800. Stratigraphy said the ash sat under a known Pueblo II midden. The lab came back 800 years off, mixed charcoal from an older fire pit. Should have trusted the layers first. My crew lead just shook his head when I showed him the report. How do you decide when to spring for dates over context?

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