scholarly journals Size Matters: Radiocarbon Dates of <200 µg Ancient Collagen Samples with AixMICADAS and Its Gas Ion Source

Radiocarbon ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 425-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Helen Fewlass ◽  
Sahra Talamo ◽  
Thibaut Tuna ◽  
Yoann Fagault ◽  
Bernd Kromer ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Ion Source ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Carbon Dating ◽  
Ams Dating ◽  
Archaeological Artifacts ◽  
Worked Bone ◽  
Irreparable Damage

AbstractFor many of archaeology’s rarest and most enigmatic bone artifacts (e.g. human remains, bone ornaments, worked bone), the destruction of the 500 mg material necessary for direct accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating on graphite targets would cause irreparable damage; therefore many have not been directly dated. The recently improved gas ion source of the MICADAS (MIni CArbon DAting System) offers a solution to this problem by measuring gaseous samples of 5–100 µg carbon at a level of precision not previously achieved with an AMS gas ion source. We present the results of the first comparison between “routine” graphite dates of ca. 1000 µg C (2–3 mg bone collagen) and dates from aliquots of gaseous samples of <100 µg C (<0.2 mg bone collagen), undertaken with the highest possible precision in mind. The experiment demonstrates the performance of the AixMICADAS in achieving reliable radiocarbon measurements from <0.2 mg collagen samples back to 40,000 14C BP. The technique has great implications for resolving chronological questions for key archaeological artifacts.

Hydroxyproline Dating: Experiments on the 14C Analysis of Contaminated and Low-Collagen Bones

Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 698-708 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anat Marom ◽  
James S O McCullagh ◽  
Thomas F G Higham ◽  
Robert E M Hedges
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Amino Acid ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Ams Dating

Dating of the amino acid hydroxyproline from bone collagen has been shown to produce accurate and reliable radiocarbon dates. This article presents further application of the method demonstrating it can be used to obtain dates for both low-collagen and contaminated bones, extending the capability of 14C dating archaeological bone from conventional limits imposed by alternative pretreatment methods. The method therefore has the potential for significantly benefiting the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating community in the 14C dating of archaeological bone.

scholarly journals Reliability of Bone Gelatin AMS Dating: Rattus Exulans and Marine Shell Radiocarbon Dates from Pauatahanui Midden Sites in Wellington, New Zealand

Radiocarbon ◽  
1999 ◽  
Vol 41 (2) ◽  
pp. 119-126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy Beavan Athfield ◽  
Bruce McFadgen ◽  
Rodger Sparks
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Beta Decay ◽  
Confidence Level ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Austrovenus Stutchburyi ◽  
Ams Dating ◽  
Marine Shell

A suite of 6 bone gelatin accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates for Rattus exulans Peale and associated beta decay 14C dates for Austrovenus stutchburyi shell are presented for 4 middens at Pauatahanui, Wellington, New Zealand. Mean calibrated age ranges of Rattus exulans (520–435 BP and 350–330 BP at 95% confidence level) and shell (465–375 BP at 95% confidence level) from the 4 midden sites overlap. The agreement between Rattus exulans bone gelatin dates and associated shell provides an inter-sample comparison of 14C dating using both gas counting (beta decay) and AMS dating techniques. We examine the adequacy of the standard gelatinization treatment for bone samples, which has been employed consistently at the laboratory since 1995.

scholarly journals 14C Ages of Bone Fractions from Armenian Prehistoric Sites

Radiocarbon ◽  
2010 ◽  
Vol 52 (2) ◽  
pp. 569-577 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Cherkinsky ◽  
Christine Chataigner
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Organic Material ◽  
Separation Technique ◽  
Middle Paleolithic ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Bone Material ◽  
Younger Age ◽  
Archaeological Artifacts ◽  
Good Agreement

Prehistoric cultures in Armenia are still poorly known; thus, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates are invaluable in constructing an accurate chronology. Bone samples have been collected from sites representing the Middle Paleolithic, Chalcolithic, and Early Bronze periods. Most of the bone samples are poorly preserved. We describe the separation technique for the extraction of both the bioapatite and collagen fractions. In many cases where the bone had very low organic material content, the collagen fractions yielded a younger age, although the ages of bioapatite fractions were found to be in good agreement with associated archaeological artifacts. In cases where bone was well preserved, both fractions exhibited ages in good agreement with the artifacts. The accuracy of 14C dating of bone material always depends on its degree of preservation, and each case should be carefully evaluated to determine which fraction is less contaminated in order to accurately date a burial event.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dates from the Jewish Catacombs of Rome

Radiocarbon ◽  
2002 ◽  
Vol 44 (2) ◽  
pp. 541-547 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard V Rutgers ◽  
Arie F M De Jong ◽  
Klaas van der Borg
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
First Century ◽  
Current Understanding ◽  
Ancient Rome ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Early Christian ◽  
Christian Communities ◽  
Starting Point ◽  
Ams Dating

This paper reports on the first chronological assessment of the Jewish Catacombs of the ancient Rome performed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating of small-size charcoal fragments scattered in the mortar used for sealing off the graves in the Villa Torlonia Catacomb complex. The significance of the obtained 14C readings has been carefully evaluated by taking into consideration the known technologies of quicklime production during Roman and recent times. The new data are of great concern for providing evidence that the Jewish catacombs were used for burial since the first century AD, thus some two centuries prior to the period traditionally believed to be the starting point of burial in the Jewish catacombs of ancient Rome. Such a significant aging of the Jewish catacombs could result in a deep re-examination of the current understanding of the beginning and the evolution of the custom of catacomb burial in both Jewish and early Christian communities in Rome.

Radiocarbon and Stratigraphic Chronology of Canímar Abajo, Matanzas, Cuba

Radiocarbon ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 755-763 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mirjana Roksandic ◽  
William Mark Buhay ◽  
Yadira Chinique de Armas ◽  
Roberto Rodríguez Suárez ◽  
Matthew C Peros ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Cultural Context ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Caribbean Region ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Shell Matrix ◽  
The Caribbean ◽  
Ams Dates

Twelve accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates from the shell-matrix site of Canímar Abajo (Matanzas, Cuba) are reported. Eleven were obtained directly from human bone collagen in burials and one was obtained from charcoal recovered from a burial context. The site stratigraphy presents two episodes of burial activity separated by a shell midden layer. The AMS dates fall into two compact clusters that correlate remarkably well with the stratigraphy. The older burial dates to between 1380–800 cal BC (2σ) and the younger one to between cal AD 360–950 (2σ). The AMS dates are compared to eight conventional 14C dates previously obtained on shell and charcoal. One of the conventional dates on charcoal (5480–5380 cal BC; 2σ) has been reported as the oldest 14C date in the Caribbean region; its context and reliability are clarified. The suite of AMS dates provides one of the most reliable chronometric dating of a cultural context during this timeframe in Cuba. The correlation of 14C and stratigraphy establishes a solid chronology for investigating the important economic and ritual features of Canímar Abajo.

High-Resolution AMS14C Dates for the Par-Tee Site (35CLT20) and Prehistoric Whale Hunting on the Oregon Coast

Radiocarbon ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 397-405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gabriel M Sanchez ◽  
Jon M Erlandson ◽  
Brendan J Culleton ◽  
Douglas J Kennett ◽  
Torben C Rick
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
High Resolution ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Eastern Pacific ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Northwest Coast ◽  
Museum Collections ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Oregon Coast

AbstractEvidence for aboriginal whale hunting, long thought to be a practice limited to Northwest Coast tribes in northern Washington and British Columbia’s Vancouver Island, was previously reported at the Par-Tee site on the Oregon coast between about cal AD 620 and 990. An age estimate for a humpback whale phalanx with an embedded elk bone harpoon point was based on radiocarbon dates on charcoal not directly associated with the whale bone. We present high-resolution accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C dates for purified bone collagen extracted directly from the whale phalanx and embedded harpoon point. A calibrated date for the harpoon point places the whale hunting event between about cal AD 430 and 550. The apparent14C age of the whale bone is estimated to be 220±3714C yr older than the marine model age at that time, consistent with values from the eastern Pacific. These new dates suggest that whale hunting took place on the Oregon coast as much as 200–500 yr earlier than previously reported and more than a millennium before historic contact in the region. Our research highlights the significance of museum collections and high-resolution AMS14C dating for addressing a variety of issues related to ancient archaeological sites and cultures.

scholarly journals Dating of Ancient Icons from Kiev Art Collections

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2B) ◽  
pp. 1065-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
N Kovalyukh ◽  
J van der Plicht ◽  
G Possnert ◽  
V Skripkin ◽  
L Chlenova
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Liquid Scintillation Counting ◽  
Liquid Scintillation ◽  
Scintillation Counting ◽  
Art Collections ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Dating Methods ◽  
Ams Dating ◽  
First Time

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.

scholarly journals Dating of Cremated Bones

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2A) ◽  
pp. 249-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
J N Lanting ◽  
A T Aerts-Bijma ◽  
J van der Plicht
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Success Rate ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Organic Fraction ◽  
Mineral Fraction

When dating unburnt bone, bone collagen, the organic fraction of the bone, is used. Collagen does not survive the heat of the cremation pyre, so dating of cremated bone has been considered impossible. Structural carbonate in the mineral fraction of the bone, however, survives the cremation process. We developed a method of dating cremated bone by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS), using this carbonate fraction. Here we present results for a variety of prehistoric sites and ages, showing a remarkable success rate for this method.

Reconstructing the Chronology of the House XVII-XVIII Complex at Umm el-Jimal, East Jordan: Radiocarbon Dates of Organic Inclusions of Architectural Mortars

Radiocarbon ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 245-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Khaled Al-Bashaireh
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽  
Archaeological Site ◽  
Housing Demand ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
Lime Mortars ◽  
Byzantine Period

This article presents accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dates of organic inclusions of cement materials from the House XVII-XVIII Complex located in the Umm el-Jimal archaeological site, east Jordan, aiming at refining the unclear chronology of the house. Fine straws and small fragments of charcoal uncovered from preserved architectural lime mortars and plasters were dated without carrying out extensive excavations. The results indicate that the house most probably was initially plastered or built during the middle of the Byzantine period. The results agree with the historical and archaeological data indicating that Umm el-Jimal flourished during this period; therefore, it is probable that the house was established during this time to meet the housing demand for the increased number of its population.

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