Radiocarbon Calibration by Means of Mass Spectrometric 230Th/234U and 14C Ages of Corals: An Updated Database Including Samples from Barbados, Mururoa and Tahiti

As first shown by Bard et al. (1990a), high-precision 230Th-234U ages can be used successfully to calibrate the radiocarbon time scale beyond the high-precision tree-ring calibration that now reaches 11,900 cal bp (Kromer and Spurk 1998). Using mass spectrometric techniques, we measured 14C and 230Th ages on new samples collected from boreholes drilled off the islands of Tahiti and Mururoa (French Polynesia) in order to complement the database previously obtained on Barbados corals (Bard et al. 1990a, 1993).

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Inorganic mass spectrometry

Physical Sciences Reviews ◽

10.1515/psr-2018-0003 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 4 (3) ◽

Author(s):

Josefina Pérez-Arantegui ◽

Francisco Laborda

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

High Precision ◽

Mass Spectrometric ◽

Sample Introduction ◽

Mass Separation ◽

Analytical Technique ◽

Good Spatial Resolution ◽

Icp Ms ◽

Analytical Properties ◽

Mass Spectrometric Techniques

Abstract Inorganic mass spectrometry has been used as a well-known analytical technique to determine elemental/isotopic composition of very diverse materials, based on the different mass-to-charge ratios of the ions produced in a specific source. In this case, two mass spectrometric techniques are explained and their analytical properties discussed: inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (TIMS), since they are the most used in art and archaeological material studies. Both techniques combine advantageous analytical properties, like low detection limits, low interferences and high precision. The use of laser ablation as sample introduction system in ICP-MS allows to avoid sample preparation and to perform good spatial-resolution analysis. The development of new instruments, improving the mass separation and the detection of the ions, specially multicollection detectors, results in high-precision isotopic analysis. A summary of the important applications of these mass spectrometric techniques to the analysis of art and archaeological materials is also highlighted.

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A 40,000-Year Varve Chronology from Lake Suigetsu, Japan: Extension of the 14C Calibration Curve

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200018385 ◽

1997 ◽

Vol 40 (1) ◽

pp. 505-515 ◽

Cited By ~ 100

Author(s):

Hiroyuki Kitagawa ◽

Johannes Van Der Plicht

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Calibration Curve ◽

Time Scale ◽

Mass Spectrometric ◽

Laminated Sediments ◽

Varve Chronology ◽

Total Range ◽

Dating Method ◽

Annually Laminated Sediments ◽

Potential Tool

A sequence of annually laminated sediments is a potential tool for calibrating the radiocarbon time scale beyond the range of the absolute tree-ring calibration (11 ka). We performed accelerator mass spectrometric (AMS) 14C measurements on >250 terrestrial macrofossil samples from a 40,000-yr varve sequence from Lake Suigetsu, Japan. The results yield the first calibration curve for the total range of the 14C dating method.

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A Note on Single-Year Calibration of the Radiocarbon Time Scale, AD 1510–1954

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200013813 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 35 (1) ◽

pp. 67-72 ◽

Cited By ~ 20

Author(s):

Minze Stuiver

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

High Precision ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Calibration Curve ◽

Time Scale ◽

Growing Season ◽

Precision Measurements ◽

Radiocarbon Age ◽

Data Points ◽

Age Determinations

Most data in this Calibration Issue are based on radiocarbon age determinations of tree-ring samples with dendrochronologically determined calibrated (cal) ages. For high-precision measurements, substantial sample amounts are needed, and the processed wood usually spans 10 or 20 tree rings. Thus, the calibration curve data points usually have decadal, or bidecadal, spacing. These curves, to be used for the calibration of samples formed over 1 or 2 decades, may not be fully applicable to samples (leaves, twigs, etc.) formed in a single growing season.

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Revision and Tentative Extension of the Tree-Ring Based 14C Calibration, 9200–11,855 cal BP

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200019160 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 40 (3) ◽

pp. 1117-1125 ◽

Cited By ~ 39

Author(s):

Bernd Kromer ◽

Marco Spurk

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Time Scale ◽

Close Agreement ◽

Data Sets ◽

Calibration Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Calibration Data Set ◽

Age Range ◽

Radiocarbon Calibration

We report radiocarbon calibration data based on the revised German oak and pine series. The age range of the absolutely dated German oak series has been extended to 10,430 cal bp. The German pine series is tentatively linked to the oak series by 14C, and now reaches back to 11,871 cal bp (±20 yr). The revisions of the tree-ring time scale of the German oak chronology solved long-standing apparent discrepancies in the mid-Holocene 14C calibration data sets. The calibration data set based on the floating German pine is now in close agreement with the Preboreal part of 14C calibration series obtained from most varve chronologies and corals.

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Atmospheric Radiocarbon Calibration Beyond 11,900 cal BP from Lake Suigetsu Laminated Sediments

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200030319 ◽

2000 ◽

Vol 42 (3) ◽

pp. 370-381 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Hiroyuki Kitagawa ◽

Johannes van der Plicht

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Time Scale ◽

Laminated Sediments ◽

Calibration Data ◽

Central Japan ◽

Data Set ◽

Varved Sediments ◽

Combined Data ◽

Radiocarbon Calibration

This paper presents an updated atmospheric radiocarbon calibration from annually laminated (varved) sediments from Lake Suigetsu (LS), central Japan. As presented earlier, the LS varved sediments can be used to extend the radiocarbon time scale beyond the tree ring calibration range that reaches 11,900 cal BP. We have increased the density of 14C measurements for terrestrial macrofossils from the same core analyzed previously. The combined data set now consists of 333 measurements, and is compared with other calibration data.

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Cariaco Basin Calibration Update: Revisions to Calendar and 14C Chronologies for Core Pl07-58Pc

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200033075 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 46 (3) ◽

pp. 1161-1187 ◽

Cited By ~ 46

Author(s):

Konrad A Hughen ◽

John R Southon ◽

Chanda J H Bertrand ◽

Brian Frantz ◽

Paula Zermeño

Keyword(s):

Tree Ring ◽

Cariaco Basin ◽

Calibration Data ◽

Data Set ◽

Varve Chronology ◽

Pine Tree ◽

Tree Ring Data ◽

Calibration Data Set ◽

Recent Version ◽

Radiocarbon Calibration

This paper describes the methods used to develop the Cariaco Basin PL07-58PC marine radiocarbon calibration data set. Background measurements are provided for the period when Cariaco samples were run, as well as revisions leading to the most recent version of the floating varve chronology. The floating Cariaco chronology has been anchored to an updated and expanded Preboreal pine tree-ring data set, with better estimates of uncertainty in the wiggle-match. Pending any further changes to the dendrochronology, these results represent the final Cariaco 58PC calibration data set.

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Quality Dating: A Well-Defined Protocol Implemented at ETH for High-Precision 14C-Dates Tested on Late Glacial Wood

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/rdc.2019.132 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 62 (4) ◽

pp. 891-899 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Adam Sookdeo ◽

Bernd Kromer ◽

Ulf Büntgen ◽

Michael Friedrich ◽

Ronny Friedrich ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

Tree Ring ◽

High Precision ◽

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽

Late Glacial ◽

Tree Ring Chronology ◽

Continuous Measurements ◽

Calibration Curves

ABSTRACTAdvances in accelerator mass spectrometry have resulted in an unprecedented amount of new high-precision radiocarbon (14C) -dates, some of which will redefine the international 14C calibration curves (IntCal and SHCal). Often these datasets are unaccompanied by detailed quality insurances in place at the laboratory, questioning whether the 14C structure is real, a result of a laboratory variation or measurement-scatter. A handful of intercomparison studies attempt to elucidate laboratory offsets but may fail to identify measurement-scatter and are often financially constrained. Here we introduce a protocol, called Quality Dating, implemented at ETH-Zürich to ensure reproducible and accurate high-precision 14C-dates. The protocol highlights the importance of the continuous measurements and evaluation of blanks, standards, references and replicates. This protocol is tested on an absolutely dated German Late Glacial tree-ring chronology, part of which is intercompared with the Curt Engelhorn-Center for Archaeometry, Mannheim, Germany (CEZA). The combined dataset contains 170 highly resolved, highly precise 14C-dates that supplement three decadal dates spanning 280 cal. years in IntCal, and provides detailed 14C structure for this interval.

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