scholarly journals Freshwater reservoir offsets on radiocarbon-dated dog bone from the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River, USA

PeerJ ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 7 ◽  
pp. e7174
Author(s):  
John P. Hart ◽  
Robert S. Feranec ◽  
Timothy J. Abel ◽  
Jessica L. Vavrasek
Keyword(s):  
Native Americans ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Aquatic Organisms ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Canis Lupus Familiaris ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Dog Bone ◽  
Freshwater Reservoir ◽  
St Lawrence River

Isotopic analysis of dog (Canis lupus familiaris) bone recovered from archaeological sites as proxies for human bone is becoming common in North America. Chronological placement of the dogs is often determined through radiocarbon dating of dog bone. The Great Lakes, their tributaries, and nearby lakes and streams were important fisheries for Native Americans prior to and after sustained European presence in the region. Carbon entering the food web in freshwater systems is often not in full isotopic equilibrium with the atmosphere, giving rise to spuriously old radiocarbon ages in fish, other aquatic organisms, and their consumers. These freshwater reservoir offsets (FROs) have been noted on human and dog bone in several areas of the world. Here we report the results of multi-tracer Bayesian dietary modeling using δ15N and δ13C values on dog bone collagen from mid-fifteenth to mid-sixteenth-century Iroquoian village sites at the headwaters of the St. Lawrence River, New York, USA. Results indicate that fish was an important component of dog diets. A comparison of radiocarbon dates on dog bone with dates on deer bone or maize from the same sites indicate FROs ranging from 97 ± 24 to 220 ± 39 14Cyr with a weighted mean of 132 ± 8 14Cyr. These results suggest that dog bone should not be used for radiocarbon dating in the absence of modeling to determine fish consumption and that previously reported radiocarbon dates on human bone from the larger region are likely to have FROs given the known importance of fish in regional human diets.

Radiocarbon Evidence for Initial Early Formative Period Occupation in Coastal Oaxaca, Mexico

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (2) ◽  
pp. 437-444 ◽  
Author(s):  
Guy David Hepp
Keyword(s):  
Formative Period ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Middle Formative ◽  
Early Formative

Seven AMS radiocarbon dates (1950–1525 cal BC) from controlled contexts demonstrate Early Formative period occupation in coastal Oaxaca, Mexico. These dated elements from the site of La Consentida include hearths, occupational surfaces, carbon adhering to pottery from a midden, and human bone collagen processed with XAD purification. They were excavated from primary contexts and do not represent redeposited materials. An eighth sample, dated to the Middle Formative period, is considered postoccupational. The diversity of dated deposits and features, their distribution, and their overlapping calibrated ranges indicate settlement by an initial Early Formative period village.

scholarly journals Illinois State Geological Survey Radiocarbon Dates V

Radiocarbon ◽  
1974 ◽  
Vol 16 (1) ◽  
pp. 105-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dennis D Coleman
Keyword(s):  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Liquid Scintillation ◽  
Geological Survey ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Laboratory Procedures

All samples processed from November 1971 through January 1973 at the Illinois State Geological Survey Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory are reported here. The benzene liquid scintillation technique was used. Laboratory procedures used were the same as those reported by Coleman (1973), with the exceptions that bone collagen was separated by the Longin (1970; 1971) technique and acetylene was trimerized to benzene as described by Coleman, et al (1972).

scholarly journals Isotopic Fractionation of Norwegian Materials for Radiocarbon Dating

Radiocarbon ◽  
1980 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 980-986 ◽  
Author(s):  
Steinar Gulliksen
Keyword(s):  
Standard Error ◽  
Radiocarbon Dating ◽  
Isotopic Fractionation ◽  
Wood Charcoal ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Standard Errors ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Bone Material ◽  
Mean Values ◽  
C Value

To improve reporting of radiocarbon dates, Stuiver and Polach (1977) recommend that reported standard errors should include the error in the applied δ13C value, and suggest estimated mean values for δ13C to be applied when not measured. Based on δ13C data for ca 250 samples measured during 1975-1979, mean values for different materials dated by the Trondheim radiocarbon laboratory have been compiled. All material is from Norway and Svalbard (marine bone collagen). For peat, gyttja, and terrestrial bone material, δ13C should be measured to obtain optimal precision in the dates. For shell, wood, charcoal, and marine bones, the standard error in an estimated δ13C value will only increase uncertainty of a date from ±50 years to ca ±55 years.

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.

Freshwater Radiocarbon Reservoir Effects at the Burial Ground of Minino, Northwest Russia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (01) ◽  
pp. 163-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Wood ◽  
T F G Higham ◽  
A Buzilhova ◽  
A Suvorov ◽  
J Heinemeier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Burial Ground ◽  
Nitrogen Stable Isotopes ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Freshwater Reservoir

If ancient carbon is incorporated into lakes and rivers, it can be transferred along the foodchain where it can cause radiocarbon dates to appear erroneously old. This effect is known as the14C freshwater reservoir effect (FRE), and causes particular problems when dating human remains. Several studies have attempted to use carbon and/or nitrogen stable isotopes to predict the size of the FRE, with mixed success. We have examined whether the FRE at the Mesolithic-Neolithic burial ground of Minino, northwest Russia, is correlated with these stable isotope systems. To assess the size of the FRE, 9 pairs of human bone and burial goods were dated, such as spears and pendants made of herbivore bone. In addition, further human and faunal bones were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Although these stable isotopes suggest that freshwater resources dominated the protein intake of those buried at Minino, no relationship between stable isotopes and the FRE was found. Instead, we found that the FRE was relatively consistent at 490 ± 8014C yr. With caution, this can be subtracted from burials at Minino to provide a low-resolution chronology for the burial ground. We demonstrate that it is not possible to assume that a relationship exists between stable isotopes and14C, and each population thought to be affected by a FRE must be examined individually.

scholarly journals A Freshwater Diet-Derived 14C Reservoir Effect at the Stone Age Sites in the Iron Gates Gorge

Radiocarbon ◽  
2001 ◽  
Vol 43 (2A) ◽  
pp. 453-460 ◽  
Author(s):  
G T Cook ◽  
C Bonsall ◽  
R E M Hedges ◽  
K McSweeney ◽  
V Boronean ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dietary Protein ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Bone Collagen ◽  
Stone Age ◽  
Human Diet ◽  
Reservoir Effect ◽  
Human Bones ◽  
Direct Association ◽  
Freshwater Reservoir ◽  
Isotope Analyses

Human bones from single inhumation burials and artifacts made from terrestrial mammal (ungulate) bone found in direct association with the skeletons were obtained from the Stone Age site of Schela Cladovei situated just below the Iron Gates Gorge of the River Danube. The results of stable isotope analyses of the human bone collagen are consistent with a heavy dependence on aquatic protein while radiocarbon dating of the samples reveals an offset of 300–500 years between the two sample types, indicating a freshwater reservoir effect in the human bone samples. Since protein consumption is by far the major source of nitrogen in the human diet we have assumed a linear relationship between δ15N and the level of aquatic protein in each individual's diet and derived a calibration for 14C age offset versus δ15N which has been applied to a series of results from the site at Lepenski Vir within the gorge. The corrected 14C ages (7310-6720 BP) are now consistent with the previous 14C age measurements made on charcoal from related contexts (7360–6560 BP). In addition, the data indicate a change from a primarily aquatic to a mixed terrestrial/aquatic diet around 7100 BP and this may be argued as supporting a shift from Mesolithic to Neolithic. This study also has wider implications for the accurate dating of human bone samples when the possibility exists of an aquatic component in the dietary protein and strongly implies that δ15N analysis should be undertaken routinely when dating human bones.

Freshwater Radiocarbon Reservoir Effects at the Burial Ground of Minino, Northwest Russia

Radiocarbon ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 163-177 ◽  
Author(s):  
R E Wood ◽  
T F G Higham ◽  
A Buzilhova ◽  
A Suvorov ◽  
J Heinemeier ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Stable Isotopes ◽  
Stable Isotope ◽  
Protein Intake ◽  
Human Remains ◽  
Human Bone ◽  
Burial Ground ◽  
Nitrogen Stable Isotopes ◽  
Radiocarbon Dates ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen ◽  
Freshwater Reservoir

If ancient carbon is incorporated into lakes and rivers, it can be transferred along the foodchain where it can cause radiocarbon dates to appear erroneously old. This effect is known as the 14C freshwater reservoir effect (FRE), and causes particular problems when dating human remains. Several studies have attempted to use carbon and/or nitrogen stable isotopes to predict the size of the FRE, with mixed success. We have examined whether the FRE at the Mesolithic-Neolithic burial ground of Minino, northwest Russia, is correlated with these stable isotope systems. To assess the size of the FRE, 9 pairs of human bone and burial goods were dated, such as spears and pendants made of herbivore bone. In addition, further human and faunal bones were analyzed for carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes. Although these stable isotopes suggest that freshwater resources dominated the protein intake of those buried at Minino, no relationship between stable isotopes and the FRE was found. Instead, we found that the FRE was relatively consistent at 490 ± 80 14C yr. With caution, this can be subtracted from burials at Minino to provide a low-resolution chronology for the burial ground. We demonstrate that it is not possible to assume that a relationship exists between stable isotopes and 14C, and each population thought to be affected by a FRE must be examined individually.

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