scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating Cremated Bone: A Case Study Comparing Laboratory Methods

Radiocarbon ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 61 (5) ◽  
pp. 1581-1591 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helene Agerskov Rose ◽  
John Meadows ◽  
Sanne W L Palstra ◽  
Christian Hamann ◽  
Mathieu Boudin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Measuring Process ◽  
Laboratory Methods ◽  
Sample Mass ◽  
High Ranking ◽  
History Of ◽  
Replicate Measurements

ABSTRACTRadiocarbon (14C) results on cremated bone are frequently published in high-ranking journals, but 14C laboratories employ different pretreatment methods as they have divergent perceptions of what sources of contaminants might be present. We found pretreatment protocols to vary significantly between three laboratories (Brussels [RICH], Kiel [KIA], and Groningen [CIO]), which all have a long history of dating cremated bone. We present a case study of 6 sets of replicate dates, to compare laboratory pretreatment protocols, and a further 16 sets of inter-laboratory replicate measurements, which compare specific steps of the conversion and measuring process. The 14C results showed dates to be reproducible between the laboratories and consistent with the expected archaeological chronology. We found that differences in pretreatment, conversion to CO2 and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurement to have no measurable influence on the majority of obtained results, suggesting that any possible diagenesis was probably restricted to the most soluble ≤5% of each sample, as this proportion of the sample mass was removed under all laboratory protocols.

scholarly journals Fire History of a Giant African Baobab Evinced by Radiocarbon Dating

Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 717-726 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adrian Patrut ◽  
Diana H Mayne ◽  
Karl F von Reden ◽  
Daniel A Lowy ◽  
Robert van Pelt ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
South Africa ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Adansonia Digitata ◽  
Entire Area ◽  
History Of

The article reports the first radiocarbon dating of a live African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.), by investigating wood samples collected from 2 inner cavities of the very large 2-stemmed Platland tree of South Africa. Some 16 segments extracted from determined positions of the samples, which correspond to a depth of up to 15–20 cm in the wood, were processed and analyzed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Calibrated ages of segments are not correlated with their positions in the stems of the tree. Dating results indicate that the segments originate from new growth layers, with a thickness of several centimeters, which cover the original old wood. Four new growth layers were dated before the reference year AD 1950 and 2 layers were dated post-AD 1950, in the post-bomb period. Formation of these layers was triggered by major damage inside the cavities. Fire episodes are the only possible explanation for such successive major wounds over large areas or over the entire area of the inner cavities of the Platland tree, able to trigger regrowth.

AMS Radiocarbon Dates of Pyroclastic-Flow Deposits on the Southern Slope of the Kuju Volcanic Group, Kyushu, Japan

Radiocarbon ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 483-488 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mitsuru Okuno ◽  
Shinji Nagaoka ◽  
Yoko Saito-Kokubu ◽  
Toshio Nakamura ◽  
Tetsuo Kobayashi
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Pyroclastic Flow ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Southern Slope ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Ams Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Volcanic Group ◽  
Lava Domes ◽  
History Of

AbstractThe Kuju volcanic group, located in central Kyushu, Japan, consists of small stratovolcanoes and lava domes. To refine the eruptive history of the group, we conducted accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of charcoal fragments from three pyroclastic-flow (PF) deposits on the southern slope. The obtained 14C dates are consistent with the geomorphology, stratigraphy, and thermoluminescence (TL) ages. The Handa PF deposits, which are products of the largest eruption of the group, were dated to ~53.5 ka BP. The Shirani and Muro PF deposits, which are block-and-ash flows, were dated to 44 to >50 cal ka BP and 35–39 cal ka BP, respectively. These ages can be correlated with TL ages for lava domes. This study demonstrates that the lava domes and associated PF deposits formed after the Handa eruption.

scholarly journals AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Bones at LSCE

Radiocarbon ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 45 (3) ◽  
pp. 409-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Tisnérat-Laborde ◽  
H Valladas ◽  
E Kaltnecker ◽  
M Arnold
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Amino Acids ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Total System ◽  
Sample Mass ◽  
Specific Reaction ◽  
Ams Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Carbon Sample

In this paper, we explain our routine pretreatment of bone for radiocarbon dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), based on the specific reaction between amino acids and ninhydrin described by Nelson (1991). The values and uncertainties of the total system background are presented as a function of the carbon sample mass and the reliability of this method is discussed.

scholarly journals 14C Wiggle-Matching of the B-Tm Tephra, Baitoushan Volcano, China/North Korea

Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (3) ◽  
pp. 933-940 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shinya Yatsuzuka ◽  
Mitsuru Okuno ◽  
Toshio Nakamura ◽  
Katsuhiko Kimura ◽  
Yohei Setoma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
North Korea ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Gas Emission ◽  
Volcanic Gas ◽  
Ams Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Eruption Age ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Volcanic Gas Emission

We performed accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching of 2 wood samples from charred trunks of trees (samples A and B) collected from an ignimbrite deposit on the northeastern slope of the Baitoushan Volcano on the border of China and North Korea. The obtained calendar years for the eruption are cal AD 945–960 for sample A and cal AD 859–884 and cal AD 935–963 for sample B in the 2-σ range. These results are unable to determine the precise eruption age. The reason for the difference in reported ages may be due to volcanic gas emission prior to the huge eruption.

scholarly journals A Protocol for Radiocarbon Dating Tropical Subfossil Cave Guano

Radiocarbon ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 977-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher M Wurster ◽  
Michael I Bird ◽  
Ian Bull ◽  
Charlotte Bryant ◽  
Philippa Ascough
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Southeast Asia ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Saturated Hydrocarbon ◽  
Lipid Fraction ◽  
Bulk Sample ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Organic Fractions ◽  
Age Determinations

We present accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates on several organic fractions isolated from tropical guano deposits recovered from insular Southeast Asia. Differences were observed between 14C measurements made on bulk guano as well as bulk lipids, the saturated hydrocarbon fraction, solvent-extracted guano, and insect cuticles extracted from the same bulk sample. We infer that 14C dates from the bulk lipid fraction and saturated hydrocarbon fractions can be variably contaminated by exogenous carbon. In contrast, 14C measurements on solvent-extracted guano and isolated insect cuticles appear to yield the most robust age determinations.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating of Fourteen Dead Sea Scrolls

Radiocarbon ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 843-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georges Bonani ◽  
Susan Ivy ◽  
Willy Wölfli ◽  
Magen Broshi ◽  
Israel Carmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Old Testament ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Dead Sea Scrolls ◽  
Dead Sea ◽  
Direct Information ◽  
Western Shore ◽  
The Dead

The name Dead Sea Scrolls refers to some 1200 manuscripts found in caves in the hills on the western shore of the Dead Sea during the last 45 years. They range in size from small fragments to complete books from the holy scriptures (the Old Testament). The manuscripts also include uncanonized sectarian books, letters and commercial documents, written on papyrus and parchment. In only a few cases, direct information on the date of writing was found in the scrolls. In all other cases, the dating is based on indirect archaeological and paleographical evidence. To check this evidence, radiocarbon ages of 14 selected scrolls were determined using accelerator mass spectrometry. The calibrated radiocarbon ages agree well, except in one case, with the paleographic estimates or the specific dates noted on the scrolls.

scholarly journals AMS Radiocarbon Dating of Tianma-Qucun Site in Shanxi, China

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 1109-1114 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiyu Guo ◽  
Kexin Liu ◽  
Xiangyang Lu ◽  
Hongji Ma ◽  
Kun Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Bayesian Analysis ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Lower Boundary ◽  
Historical Record ◽  
Shanxi Province ◽  
Ams Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Western Zhou ◽  
Calibration Program

Tianma-Qucun is the biggest site of Western Zhou Dynasty discovered in Shanxi Province, China. It has been recognized as the early capital of Jin, a vassal state of Western Zhou. The territories were granted to the first Marquis of Jin with the title in the early days of Western Zhou. Bone sample series from the site were radiocarbon-dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) and calibrated with the Oxford calibration program OxCal 3.5. Bayesian analysis of the calibrated ages shows that the earliest residents of the Western Zhou came to Tianma-Qucun area in 1020–940 BC and the lower boundary of the Western Zhou is 796–754 BC, which corresponds well to the historical record 770 BC.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document