Precision dating using radiocarbon techniques for events in the recent geologic past is problematic given the large degree of uncertainty in the standard deviation for a particular sample. We propose to use charcoal deposition history as a proxy for determining dates for significant events in the Carpinteria Marsh.  The Transverse Ranges in Southern California are responsible for considerable seismic activity; to include undersea landslides and associated tsunamis. According to historical records, a pair of events in December 1812 resulted in at least one tsunami, which possibly left a depositional record in the Carpinteria Marsh. By recording the abundance of charcoal in vibracore samples from the marsh we are able to create an additional date constraint on this sand facies in order to establish it as a tsunamite and not a storm deposit. A charcoal peak dated to ~1862 is most likely associated with a significant storm event and occurs above the sand facies, indicating that the sand was deposited sometime prior to this date. Charcoal analysis of additional cores from the marsh, as well as further radiocarbon dating, pollen analysis, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) will help to further constrain this date and contribute to the multi-proxy approach for defining tsunamites.