AMS 14C Dating of Materials Recovered from the Tunnel under the Temple of the Feathered Serpent in Teotihuacan, Mexico

Radiocarbon ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 545-557 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Gómez-Chávez ◽  
C Solís ◽  
J Gazzola ◽  
E R Chávez-Lomelí ◽  
M A Mondragón ◽  
...  

AbstractIn 2003, flooding occurred in the Ciudadela (Citadel) of Teotihuacan and saltpeter began to damage the Temple of the Feathered Serpent. Work done to solve this problem led to one of the most important archaeological discoveries made in this site in recent years: an intact tunnel sealed for more than a thousand years. The project created to study the tunnel was named Tlalocan or Path to the Underworld. More than 60,000 objects have been recovered after years of exploration and removing huge amounts of soil and stones. This paper presents the first results of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating performed on some of those materials recovered from the tunnel. With these findings, in combination with the archaeological data, based on stratigraphy and ceramic typology, a chronology of several events is proposed concerning the construction phases and ceremonial use, as well as partial and definitive closures of the tunnel. Every closure was accompanied by a deliberate and structured deposition of offerings and ritual refuse along the tunnel. The range of ages that covers the Bayesian calibration of samples collected along the tunnel is around 115 yr, from AD 125 to 240. Material collected at the surface of the chamber located at the end of the tunnel and under the pyramid gave ages in the interval between AD 400 and 534. All samples analyzed fall within the interval of time that covers the period of occupation of Teotihuacan.

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2A) ◽  
pp. 283-291 ◽  
Author(s):  
Justyna Czernik ◽  
Tomasz Goslar

A line for preparation of graphite targets for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating has been built in the Gliwice 14C Laboratory. The AMS 14C measurements of our targets are performed in the Leibniz-Labor für Altersbestimmung, Kiel, Germany. The quality of our line has been tested in two series of AMS 14C measurements of background and Ox-II standard samples and by measurements of the amount of CO2 released during combustion of sample-free quartz tubes. Most background contamination in the first series was introduced during combustion, which has been greatly reduced by baking quartz tubes vacuum-sealed with CuO and Ag. The residual contamination (ca. 1.5 μg C) seems to come mostly from the quartz tubes themselves. At present, most of the contamination of the background is introduced during graphitization. The reproducibility of background preparations is satisfactory, especially for samples larger than 1.5 mg, when it is better than ± 0.09 pMC. Despite still significant contamination with low-14C carbon during the graphitization process (corresponding to 1.2 ± 0.2% of 14C-free carbon), the good reproducibility of the results allows us to use our line in routine 14C dating.


1936 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. 166-167
Author(s):  
M. E. Hertzsprung ◽  
MM. Aitken ◽  
Dawson ◽  
Finsen ◽  
Giacobini ◽  
...  

As double stars too close for photography must be discovered, before they can be observed, it is only natural to start a report about the progress made in double star astronomy during the last 3 years by mentioning the work done by Dr R. A. Rossiter with the Lamont 27-inch refractor at Bloemfontein. The first results have been published in a Ust numbering 2234 new pairs. Approximate positions are given, but as yet no measures are reported. These pairs are distributed as follows between different Umits of distance. For comparison the corresponding numbers for the 1900 discoveries, previously made by Dr W. H. van den Bos, are added.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 171-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Heinemeier ◽  
Åsa Ringbom ◽  
Alf Lindroos ◽  
Árný E Sveinbjörnsdóttir

Fifteen years of research on accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of non-hydraulic mortar has now led to the establishment of a chronology for the medieval stone churches of the Åland Islands (Finland), where no contemporary written records could shed light on the first building phases. In contrast to other material for dating, well-preserved mortar is abundantly available from every building stage.We have gathered experience from AMS dating of 150 Åland mortar samples. Approximately half of them have age control from dendrochronology or from 14C analysis of wooden fragments in direct contact with the mortar. Of the samples with age control, 95% of the results agree with the age of the wood. The age control from dendrochronology, petrologic microscopy, chemical testing of the mortars, and mathematical modeling of their behavior during dissolution in acid have helped us to define criteria of reliability to interpret the 14C results when mortar dating is the only possibility to constrain the buildings in time. With these criteria, 80% of all samples reached conclusive results, and we have thus far been able to establish the chronology of 12 out of the 14 churches and chapels, while 2 still require complementary analyses.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (3) ◽  
pp. 1403-1408
Author(s):  
G Quarta ◽  
S Malgora ◽  
M D'Elia ◽  
V Gaballo ◽  
E Braione ◽  
...  

The ancient Egyptian mummy discovered in the wooden coffin of Ankhpakhered, priest of the god Min, has been studied at CEDAD (Centre for Dating and Diagnostics) at the University of Salento, Italy. The CT scan, performed by the multidisciplinary team of the Mummy Project of Milan, highlighted unusual features of the mummy, suggesting a reuse of the sarcophagus. Furthermore, specimens were taken via endoscopy for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses, which have been carried out at CEDAD.


Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 495-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael E Goodsite ◽  
Werner Rom ◽  
Jan Heinemeier ◽  
Todd Lange ◽  
Suat Ooi ◽  
...  

Peat deposits in Greenland and Denmark were investigated to show that high-resolution dating of these archives of atmospheric deposition can be provided for the last 50 years by radiocarbon dating using the atmospheric bomb pulse. 14C was determined in macrofossils from sequential one cm slices using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Values were calibrated with a general-purpose curve derived from annually averaged atmospheric 14CO2 values in the northernmost northern hemisphere (NNH, 30°–90°N). We present a thorough review of 14C bomb-pulse data from the NNH including our own measurements made in tree rings and seeds from Arizona as well as other previously published data. We show that our general-purpose calibration curve is valid for the whole NNH producing accurate dates within 1–2 years. In consequence, 14C AMS can precisely date individual points in recent peat deposits within the range of the bomb-pulse (from the mid-1950s on). Comparing the 14C AMS results with the customary dating method for recent peat profiles by 210Pb, we show that the use of 137Cs to validate and correct 210Pb dates proves to be more problematic than previously supposed.As a unique example of our technique, we show how this chronometer can be applied to identify temporal changes in Hg concentrations from Danish and Greenland peat cores.


Author(s):  
A. Rosalie David

The mummy of Natsef-Amun, a priest in the Temple of Amun at Karnak (ca.1000 BC), was purchased for the Leeds Philosophical Society, England, in 1823. Members of the Society unwrapped the mummy and carried out one of the earliest multi-disciplinary mummy investigations in 1824. In recent years, the Manchester Mummy Project undertook a new scientific study of this mummy. The range of techniques they employed included radiology, paleoodontology, endoscopy, histology, immunohistochemistry, paleoserology, aDNA identification, and scientific facial reconstruction. This rare opportunity to compare the methodology and results of an early investigation with those of a contemporary study will be considered in this paper which will also demonstrate how scientific studies can add new information to historical and archaeological data about lifestyle, diseases, death and funerary procedures associated with a priest who lived at a tumultuous period of Egyptian history.


Author(s):  
Sanjeevi Chitikeshi ◽  
Ajay Mahajan ◽  
Pavan Bandhil ◽  
Lucas Utterbach ◽  
Fernanado Figueroa

This paper proposes the development of intelligent sensors as an integrated systems approach, i.e. one treats the sensors as a complete system with its own sensing hardware (the traditional sensor), A/D converters, processing and storage capabilities, software drivers, self-assessment algorithms, communication protocols and evolutionary methodologies that allow them to get better with time. Under a project being undertaken at the Stennis Space Center, an integrated framework is being developed for the intelligent monitoring of smart elements. These smart elements can be sensors, actuators or other devices. The immediate application is the monitoring of the rocket test stands, but the technology should be generally applicable to the Intelligent Systems Health Monitoring (ISHM) vision. This paper outlines progress made in the development of intelligent sensors by describing the work done till date on Physical Intelligent Sensors (PIS) and Virtual Intelligent Sensors (VIS).


2019 ◽  
Vol 2 (3) ◽  
pp. 30
Author(s):  
María Cecilia Barni ◽  
Florencia Teresita Daura

The main goal of the study is to analyze the link between Grit and Life Attitude, and its relation with the permanence and academic performance of students from the National Defense University. This paper is mainly focused in the link between the first two constructs. Grit is defined as the passion and constancy to achieving goals, to resisting with effort and interest towards the challenges and difficulties, which is a leader’s attribute (Duckworth, Peterson, Matthews y Kelly, 2007). Life Attitude based on the existential belief that life has a purpose, that persons draw meaning from a variety of sources: recreational and creative activities, personal relationships, achievements (Reker - Woo, 2011). A non-probabilistic sample was formed, for convenience, of 162 students; a sociodemographic questionnaire designed ad hoc; the Scale of Determination (Grit Scale) (Duckworth et al., 2007), which is in the process of validation (Tortul and Daura, in evaluation) and the Life Attitude Test (LAP-R (VE-AA)) in the Spanish adaptation of Barni (2017) were administered. Statistical analysis were made from the collected data, in order to corroborate if there were differences in the variables. The first results showed differences according to career and sociodemographic variables; the undergraduate students obtained higher scores in the positive dimensions of the LAP-R than in other researches made in the same geographical context. The work evidences data of interest in the training of defense professionals, for the decision making in the educational style necessary for an integral formation as a lifelong process.


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