What if hobbit has a filling?

Regarding the questions on radiocarbon dating and DNA:The photograph at the top of this thread shows some gorgeous teeth. Those should be suitable for both radiocarbon dating and DNA studies.I understand the bone of the Hobbits is rather soft, but those teeth look just fine. Teeth seal the interior with enamel so as to preserve the softer material much better than is the case for the rest of the skeleton.

The Max Planck folks are some of the best.But I am still wondering why they didn't use a tooth. I've had good luck with the teeth I have submitted. The On Your Knees Cave specimen from southern Alaska was a tooth, and it returned usable mtDNA from 10,300 years.The photo shows a whole mandible full of gorgeous molars!

Probably because of lack of $$$$$$$$$.

Actually, in relation to other studies, DNA and radiocarbon dating are not that expensive.I am sure that any good research lab would sequence the Hobbit teeth for joint publication rights. If it had to be paid, the last sample of old bone I sent to a commercial lab was $1,500.AMS radiocarbon dating of a tooth at one of the largest commercial labs would be under $700, counting the bone surcharge.In terms of the interest and information potential, cost is not the problem. There must be some other reason a few of those gorgeous teeth have not been sent off for testing.