Radiocarbon Dating and Intercomparison of Some Early Historical Radiocarbon Samples

Radiocarbon ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 60 (2) ◽  
pp. 535-548 ◽  
Author(s):  
A J T Jull ◽  
C L Pearson ◽  
R E Taylor ◽  
J R Southon ◽  
G M Santos ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Materials Used ◽  
The University ◽  
Good Agreement ◽  
Made In

AbstractWe performed a new series of measurements on samples that were part of early measurements on radiocarbon (14C) dating made in 1948–1949. Our results show generally good agreement to the data published in 1949–1951, despite vast changes in technology, with only two exceptions where there was a discrepancy in the original studies. Our new measurements give calibrated ages that overlap with the known ages. We dated several samples at four different laboratories, and so we were also able to make a small intercomparison at the same time. In addition, new measurements on samples from other Egyptian materials used by Libby and co-workers were made at UC Irvine. Samples of tree rings used in the original studies (from Broken Flute Cave and Centennial Stump) were obtained from the University of Arizona Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research archive and remeasured. New data were compared to the original studies and other records.

scholarly journals Dendrochronology and Radiocarbon Dating: The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research Connection

Radiocarbon ◽  
2009 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 373-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steven W Leavitt ◽  
Bryant Bannister
Keyword(s):  
Head Start ◽  
Tree Ring ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Sample Treatment ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Bristlecone Pine ◽  
Early Testing ◽  
The University ◽  
Relationship Of

The field of dendrochronology had a developmental “head start” of at least several decades relative to the inception of radiocarbon dating in the late 1940s, but that evolution was sufficiently advanced so that unique capabilities of tree-ring science could assure success of the 14C enterprise. The Laboratory of Tree-Ring Research (LTRR) at the University of Arizona played a central role in the cross-pollination of these disciplines by providing the first wood samples of exactly known age for the early testing and establishment of the “Curve of Knowns” by Willard Libby. From the 1950s into the early 1980s, LTRR continued to contribute dated wood samples (bristlecone pine and other wood species) to 14C research and development, including the discovery and characterization of de Vries/Suess “wiggles,” calibration of the 14C timescale, and a variety of tests to understand the natural variability of 14C and to refine sample treatment for maximum accuracy. The long and varied relationship of LTRR with 14C initiatives has continued with LTRR contributions to high-resolution studies through the 1990s and systematic efforts now underway that may eventually extend the bristlecone pine chronology back beyond its beginning 8836 yr ago as of 2009. This relationship has been mutualistic such that a half-century ago the visibility and stature of LTRR and dendrochronology were also elevated through their association with 14C-allied “hard sciences.”

scholarly journals Timothy W Linick October 29, 1946–June 4, 1989

Radiocarbon ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. iii-iii
Author(s):  
Ajt Jull ◽  
Hans E Suess
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Time Scale ◽  
Accelerator Facility ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
The University

Timothy Weiler Linick died on June 4th, 1989. He was a dedicated researcher, and an important part of the NSF Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Analysis at the University of Arizona. He will be remembered for his care and attention to details, especially in the calculation and reporting of radiocarbon dates. He made important contributions to the fields of oceanography and tree-ring calibration of the 14C time scale.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating With the Quantulus in an Underground Counting Laboratory: Performance and Background Sources

Radiocarbon ◽  
1989 ◽  
Vol 31 (03) ◽  
pp. 359-367 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robert M Kalin ◽  
Austin Long
Keyword(s):  
Sample Size ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
State Of The Art ◽  
Laboratory Performance ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Counting Chamber ◽  
The University

The University of Arizona Radiocarbon Laboratory purchased a state-of-the-art LKB Quantulus LSC and placed it into a new underground counting chamber. We have investigated the performance of the Quantulus in this setting comparing different vial types, checking background sources and experimenting with sample size.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating at the University of Washington III

Radiocarbon ◽  
1966 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. 498-506 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. W. Fairhall ◽  
W. R. Schell ◽  
J. A. Young
Keyword(s):  
Standard Deviation ◽  
Oxalic Acid ◽  
Lower Limit ◽  
Half Life ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Isotope Fractionation ◽  
Statistical Error ◽  
Sample Count ◽  
The University ◽  
Made In

This date list consists of those measurements made since 1962. The counter is one described previously (Fairhall and Schell, 1963). The results are computed using NBS oxalic acid as the standard and 5568 for the half-life of C14. Standard deviations are computed for each measurement, including the statistical error in the sample count and uncertainties in background and standard. In general, each sample is counted at least twice. The quoted error on the date is the standard deviation. A 2σ criterion is used to establish a lower limit to the age of very old samples with no detectable trace of C14. No correction for isotope fractionation has been made in any of the measurements.

scholarly journals Study of Bone Radiocarbon Dating Accuracy at the University of Arizona NSF Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Analysis

Radiocarbon ◽  
1987 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 24-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas W Stafford ◽  
A J T Jull ◽  
Klaus Brendel ◽  
Raymond C Duhamel ◽  
Douglas Donahue
Keyword(s):  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Fossil Bone ◽  
Accelerator Facility ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Calcified Tissue ◽  
The University ◽  
Original Organic Matter ◽  
Age Determinations ◽  
The Ideal

Bone would seem to be an ideal material for14C dating because this calcified tissue contains 20 weight per cent protein. Fossil bone, however, can lose most of its original organic matter and frequently contains contaminants having different14C ages. Numerous14C dates on bone have been available to archaeologists and geologists but many age determinations have been inaccurate despite over 30 years of research in the field following the first14C age determinations on bone (Arnold & Libby, 1951). This situation remained unchanged until simple pretreatments were abandoned and more bone-specific fractions were isolated. The ideal solution is to use accelerator mass spectrometer14C dating, which facilitates the use of milligram-sized amounts of highly purified compounds—an approach impossible to pursue using conventional14C decay-counting methods.

scholarly journals Tree Rings and the Chronology of Ancient Egypt

Radiocarbon ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 56 (04) ◽  
pp. S85-S92
Author(s):  
Pearce Paul Creasman
Keyword(s):  
Tree Ring ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Ancient Egypt ◽  
Fundamental Aspect ◽  
Potential Solution ◽  
Tree Ring Chronology ◽  
Ancient Egyptian ◽  
Egyptian History

A fundamental aspect of ancient Egyptian history remains unresolved: chronology. Egyptologists (and researchers in related fields that synchronize their studies with Egypt) currently rely on a variety of insufficiently precise methodologies (king lists, radiocarbon dating, etc.) from which to derive seemingly “absolute” dates. The need for genuine precision has been recognized for a century, as has the potential solution: dendrochronology. This manuscript presents a case for further progress toward the construction of a tree-ring chronology for ancient Egypt.

scholarly journals Radiocarbon Dating Sites of Northwest Russia and Latvia

Radiocarbon ◽  
1994 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 377-389 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. I. Zaitseva ◽  
S. G. Popov
Keyword(s):  
Tree Rings ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Archaeological Sites ◽  
Archaeological Data ◽  
First Millennium ◽  
Calibration Program ◽  
Good Agreement

We describe applications of radiocarbon dating used for establishing a chronology of archaeological sites of the Novgorod region at the end of the first millennium ad. We have 14C-dated known-age tree rings from sites in Latvia and ancient Novgorod, northwest Russia, as well as charcoal and wood from Novgorod. Calendar ages of 14C-dated tree rings span the interval, ad 765–999. We used the Groningen calibration program, CAL15 (van der Plicht 1993) to calibrate 14C ages to calendar years. Comparisons between 14C results and archaeological data show good agreement, and enable us to narrow the calendar interval of calibrated 14C determinations.

scholarly journals Results of Tests and Measurements from the Nsf Regional Accelerator Facility for Radioisotope Dating

Radiocarbon ◽  
1983 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 719-728 ◽  
Author(s):  
D J Donahue ◽  
T H Zabel ◽  
A J T Jull ◽  
P E Damon ◽  
K H Purser
Keyword(s):  
Mass Spectrometer ◽  
Tree Rings ◽  
Tandem Accelerator ◽  
Accelerator Facility ◽  
Tests And Measurements ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
Accelerator Mass Spectrometer ◽  
The University

Tests of performance of the tandem accelerator mass spectrometer at the NSF Regional Facility at the University of Arizona are discussed. Results of measurements on some tree rings and on some archaeologic samples are presented.

AN INTERCOMPARISON PROJECT ON 14C FROM SINGLE-YEAR TREE RINGS

Radiocarbon ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Sabrina G K Kudsk ◽  
Jesper Olsen ◽  
Gregory W L Hodgins ◽  
Mihály Molnár ◽  
Todd E Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Geometric Mean ◽  
Weighted Mean ◽  
University Of Arizona ◽  
General Quality ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Intercomparison Project ◽  
Quality Check ◽  
The Individual ◽  
The University ◽  
Good Agreement

ABSTRACT A laboratory intercomparison project was carried out on 20 annually resolved late-wood samples from the Danish oak record. The project included the following three laboratories: (1) the University of Arizona AMS Laboratory, University of Arizona, USA (AA); (2) HEKAL AMS Laboratory, MTA Atomki, Hungary (DeA); and (3) Aarhus AMS Centre (AARAMS), Aarhus University, Denmark (AAR). The large majority of individual data points (96%) lie within ±2σ of the weighted mean. Further assessment of the accuracy associated with the individual laboratories showed good agreement, indicating that consistent and reliable 14C measurements well in agreement with each other are produced at the three laboratories. However, the quoted analytical uncertainties appear to be underestimated when compared to the observed variance of differences from the geometric mean of the samples. This study provides a general quality check of the single-year tree-ring 14C measurements that are included in the new calibration curve.

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