scholarly journals Direct Radiocarbon Dating of Pottery: Selective Heat Treatment to Retrieve Smoke-Derived Carbon

Radiocarbon ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 275-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emmanuelle Delqué Količ

I attempted to separate smoke-derived carbon from carbon derived from clay by variable-temperature burning. First, using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), I dated experimental potsherds containing these two sources of carbon. I used the same techniques to date archaeological samples. The results on archaeological sherds confirm the difficulty of establishing a standard procedure for pottery dating. Nevertheless, reliable dates on smoke-blackened potsherds are potentially obtainable with AMS dating of thin lamellas in the sherd surface following adequate NaOH treatment.

Radiocarbon ◽  
1991 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Páll Theodórsson

I discuss here the basis of a comparison of methods for radiocarbon dating and introduce a new index for the relative merit of a system, factor of counting capacity, that is generally more appropriate than the commonly used factor of merit. The merit of a dating system cannot be based on a single figure but other factors must also be considered. A comparison of the gas proportional, liquid scintillation and accelerator mass spectrometry technique is presented that for gas proportional counters is based on a multi-detector system rather than a single detector.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 1661-1666 ◽  
Author(s):  
Konrad Tudyka ◽  
Anna Pazdur ◽  
Páll Theodórsson ◽  
Adam Michczyński ◽  
Jacek Pawlyta

Liquid scintillation counting (LSC) for radiocarbon dating is a less expensive method than accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), provides a high degree of accuracy, and is less prone to contamination due to the larger sample sizes. However, to obtain high precision, a long counting time is needed. The Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory is seeking to obtain an increased counting capacity with 2–3 mL benzene samples than we presently can achieve with our 2 Quantulus systems. We are therefore investigating the possibility of using a simple, single-phototube LS system (ICELS) for dating samples younger than 5000 yr. We present the first results of this investigation, including the measurement of 3 VIRI and 3 FIRI intercomparison samples.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 1065-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Kovalyukh ◽  
J van der Plicht ◽  
G Possnert ◽  
V Skripkin ◽  
L Chlenova

Icon painting in the Ukraine is rooted in the Byzantine culture, after the conversion to the Christian religion. During the medieval epoch, Kiev became the artistic center for highly skilled icon painters. The icons were painted on wooden boards, specially made for this purpose. Historic dating of some even well-known icons is uncertain or not precise. Here we present for the first time radiocarbon dates for selected icons. Both liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating methods were applied, allowing intercomparison.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 325-330 ◽  
Author(s):  
K D Macario ◽  
P R S Gomes ◽  
R M Anjos ◽  
C Carvalho ◽  
R Linares ◽  
...  

After 22 yr of the low-level liquid scintillation counting 14C laboratory at the Center for Nuclear Energy in Agriculture (CENA) at São Paulo University (USP), Piracicaba, Brazil, and several collaborative projects with Brazilian and international researchers from distinct scientific areas, the first 14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) laboratory in Latin America was installed at the Physics Institute of the Universidade Federal Fluminense (UFF), Niterói, Brazil. A 250kV single stage accelerator produced by National Electrostatics Corporation began its operation in 2012. In this work, we compare measurements performed at the AMS Radiocarbon Laboratory at UFF (LAC-UFF) with those performed at CENA and the University of Georgia (UGAMS), Georgia, USA. All the results obtained from distinct inorganic and organic samples were in very good agreement.


Radiocarbon ◽  
1979 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-21 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gordon W Pearson

Radiocarbon dating involves a comparison of the count rate of sample carbon with that of modern reference standard material. To calculate a date the ratio Z must be determined where


Radiocarbon ◽  
1995 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 789-790 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilio González-Gómez

Radiocarbon dating laboratories deal with many types of data and calculations, which include information on received and dated samples, age calculations and storage of results, printed reports to submitters and graphs plotted from sample measurements. I describe a computer program, designed to run on any PC-compatible computer with a hard disk, that can handle all the functions of a conventional liquid scintillation counting radiocarbon dating laboratory.


Radiocarbon ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guan Sanyuan ◽  
Xie Yuanming

In China, the development of 14C dating is closely related to that of liquid scintillation counting (LSC). New demands are continuously made on LSC by 14C dating, and at the same time, the development of LSC promotes 14C dating. Benzene synthesis for 14C sample preparation was first developed in China in 1974 by the 14C Laboratory of the Department of History, Peking University. This has laid the foundation for 14C dating by β counting with LS counters. Initially, we used a modified conventional LS counter. Despite its poor detection efficiency and high background, it did make a great contribution to 14C dating and LSC in China. Additional 14C laboratories were established for the fields of archaeology, geology, geography, vertebrate paleontology, marine geology and seismology, for which 14C dating is becoming an important research tool. At present, over 50 14C laboratories have been established in China; 90% of the labs use LS counters for β counting, most of which are manufactured in China. 14C dating in China has been primarily concerned with sample synthesis techniques. Since 1979, we have developed three types of LS counters. One is of conventional design; the others are with anticoincidence shielding. We describe here an anticoincidence-shielded LS counter.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 243-263 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrey V Poliakov ◽  
Svetlana V Svyatko ◽  
Nadezhda F Stepanova

ABSTRACTThis article provides a summary and in-depth analysis of all existing radiocarbon (14C) dates for the Afanasyevo Culture of the Paleometal period. The previous “long” chronology of the culture was widely criticized and contradicted many archaeological observations. The exceedingly wide ranges of the liquid scintillation counting (LSC) dates from bone samples produced in several laboratories and the systematically older ages for the wood/charcoal samples finally reveal the shortcomings of the conventional “long” chronology. From accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), the Afanasyevo burials of the Altai are dated to the 31st–29th century BC, whereas those of the Middle Yenisei Region to the 29th–25th century BC, which confirms the relatively earlier age of the Altai monuments. The “short” chronology removes the incompatibility of deriving the Afanasyevo Culture from the Yamnaya Culture, which previously appeared “younger” than the Afanasyevo, and also contradictions with the archaeological data. It also explains the small number of sites, the small size of the cemeteries and the lack of the internal periodization. We can now clearly move, from the earlier understanding that the Afanasyevo chronology is too broad, towards a different perception. The new AMS dates only represent a “core” for the Afanasyevo chronology, which cannot be narrowed down, but could be slightly expanded over time.


Radiocarbon ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 217-221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cecilio González-Gómez ◽  
Juan de D López-González ◽  
María Domingo-García

The Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory of The Granada University was established to support the work of archaeologists and geologists. The method of dating is benzene synthesis and liquid scintillation counting developed by a number of investigators (Polach and Stipp, 1967; Tamers, 1969; Pietig and Scharpenseel, 1966) with sample combustion in pure oxygen (Switsur, 1974).


Radiocarbon ◽  
1977 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 138-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y Nozaki ◽  
K K Turekian

A radiocarbon dating system has been established at the Department of Geology and Geophysics, Yale University. Liquid-scintillation counting of benzene described by Noakes et al (1965) and Polach and Stipp (1967) is used. The operation of the original Yale Radiocarbon Laboratory, based on counting CO2 gas, was suspended in 1969. The present facility is operated as part of the geochemical laboratories of the Department of Geology and Geophysics. The operation is small, geared to solving geochemical problems, through the use of radiocarbon as a dating tool and as a natural tracer in combination with other geochemical parameters. The facility will collaborate on significant archaeologic and geologic problems. However, it will not be a facility to which samples are submitted routinely. We believe that commercial facilities and other laboratories dedicated to such kinds of operation are better suited to handling such diversity and volume of samples.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document