bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is More Precise Dating of Paleoindian Expansion Feasible?
Authors: Fiedel Stuart J , Kuzmin Yaroslav V
Published: July 2016

Recent efforts to precisely date the florescence of the Clovis culture in North America have been hampered by both practical and theoretical problems: 1) The era of Clovis expansion (about 11,200–10,700 BP or 13,200–12,700 cal BP) coincides with the gap between the anchored central European tree-ring sequence (back to 12,400 cal BP) and the floating Bølling-Allerød sequence; 2) Clovis seems to immediately precede the onset of the Younger Dryas (YD) stadial. The “black mats” of the US Southwest appear to mark the regional occurrence of this climatic downturn. However, the timing and means of long-distance propagation of this climatic event are not yet well understood. Greenland ice cores (GISP2, GRIP, and NGRIP) remain poorly synchronized, with a discrepancy of 100 to 250 yr for the date of onset (as late as 12,700 cal BP, or as early as 12,950 cal BP); 3) The YD onset was accompanied by a rapid drop of radiocarbon ages from 11,000 to 10,600 BP in less than a century. The mechanism causing this was probably a change in overturning circulation in the North Atlantic. Do variable Clovis ages, often from what appear to be single-occupation contexts, reflect this “cliff” effect, slightly earlier minor reversals during the late Allerød, or simply the practical limitations of precision of the14C method? 4) Dates for Fishtail or Fell I sites (with fluted, stemmed points) in southern South America are statistically indistinguishable from Clovis dates in North America. Does this imply very rapid population expansion, diffusion of tool-making techniques through long-established local populations (as argued by Waters and Stafford 2007), or abnormally large interhemispheric14C offsets? 5) Are recent ostensibly high-precision collagen-derived dates for Paleoindian-associated fauna (e.g. horse and mammoth) reliable? Are interlaboratory blind tests of the new filtration processes necessary?
Alternative Explanations for Anomalous 14C Ages on Human Skeletons Associated with the 612 BCE Destruction of Nineveh
Authors: Taylor R E , Beaumont Will C , Southon John , Stronach David , Pickworth Diana
Published: July 2016

Three factors—contamination, a dietary reservoir effect, and a regional δ14C anomaly—are considered as possible contributing explanations for an almost 2-century offset between the historically documented age of 612 BCE and the calibrated ages of 9 14C determinations obtained on 3 human skeletons directly associated stratigraphically with an archaeologically—and historically—defined 612 BCE event at the ancient site of Nineveh in northern Mesopotamia (Iraq). We note that on the order of a 1% (∼80 yr) offset caused by one or a combination of these 3 factors, or other as yet unidentified additional factor(s), would be sufficient to move the average measured 14C age of these bone samples within the major “warp” in the 14C timescale during the mid-1st millennium BCE. We provide what we believe to be sufficient evidence that contamination is not a major factor in the case of these bone samples. At this time, we lack appropriate data to determine with sufficient rigor the degree to which a dietary reservoir effect may be contributing to the offset. At present, a posited regional δ14C anomaly does not appear to be supported on the basis of data from several other localities in the Near East of similar age. One purpose of presenting this data set is to solicit comparisons with 14C values obtained on samples from additional, historically well-documented, known-age archaeological contexts for this time period in this and adjacent regions.
Chronostratigraphic Sequence of Santuario Della Madonna Cave (Calabria, Southern Italy): AMS Radiocarbon Data from a New Excavation Area
Authors: Calcagnile L , Tinè V , Quarta G , D'Elia M , Fiorentino G , Scarciglia F , Robustelli G , Abate M , Russa M F La , Pezzino A
Published: July 2016

The Santuario della Madonna Cave, located near Praia a Mare (Cosenza), along the northwestern coast of Calabria (southern Italy), has an impressive stratigraphy, with occupation phases spanning from the late Paleolithic to the advanced phases of the Middle Bronze Age. Recently, a new excavation area has been opened in the cave from which shortlived vegetal remains were sampled and submitted for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating. The aim of this study was to define an accurate chronology of the different cultural aspects and to explore the potentialities resulting from application of advanced statistical tools for 14C data analysis in such a context.
Dietary Habits and Freshwater Reservoir Effects in Bones from a Neolithic NE German Cemetery
Authors: Olsen Jesper , Heinemeier Jan , Lübke Harald , Lüth Friedrich , Terberger Thomas
Published: July 2016

Within a project on Stone Age sites of NE Germany, 26 burials from the Ostorf cemetery and some further Neolithic sites have been analyzed by more than 40 accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dates. We here present the results of stable isotope and radiocarbon measurements together with reference 14C dates on grave goods from terrestrial animals such as tooth pendants found in 10 of the graves. Age differences between human individuals and their associated grave goods are used to calculate 14C reservoir effects. The resulting substantial reservoir effects have revealed misleadingly high 14C ages of their remains, which originally indicated a surprisingly early occurrence of graves and long-term use of this Neolithic burial site. We demonstrate that in order to 14C date the human bones from Ostorf cemetery, it is of utmost importance to distinguish between terrestrial- and freshwater-influenced diet. The latter may result in significantly higher than marine reservoir ages with apparent 14C ages up to ∼800 yr too old. The carbon and nitrogen isotopic composition may provide a basis for or an indicator of necessary corrections of dates on humans where no datable grave goods of terrestrial origin such as tooth pendants or tusks are available. Based on the associated age control animals, there is no evidence that the dated earliest burials occurred any earlier than 3300 BC, in contrast to the original first impression of the grave site (∼3800 BC).
Dietary Reconstruction and Reservoir Correction of 14C Dates on Bones from Pagan and Early Christian Graves in Iceland
Authors: Sveinbjörnsdóttir Árný E , Heinemeier Jan , Arneborg Jette , Lynnerup Niels , Ólafsson Gudmundur , Zoëga Gudný
Published: July 2016

In this study, δ13C and δ15N of bone samples from 83 skeletons (79 humans, 2 horses, and 2 dogs) excavated from pagan and early Christian graves from 21 localities in Iceland are used to reconstruct diet of the early settlers in Iceland and possible differences in diet depending on the distance between the excavation site and the seashore. We have radiocarbon dated 47 of these skeletons and used the carbon isotopic composition (δ13C) to estimate and correct for the marine reservoir effect (the 14C difference between terrestrial and mixed marine organisms). The reservoir-corrected ages lie in the range of AD 780–1270 (68.2% probability). Reservoir age corrections were checked by comparing 14C dates of a horse (terrestrial diet), a dog (highly marine diet), and a human (mixed diet) from the same burial. The range in measured marine protein percentage in individual diet is from about 10% up to 55%, mostly depending on the geographical position (distance from the sea) of the excavation site. We had access to the skeleton (AAR-5908) of the Skálholt bishop Páll Jónsson whose remains are enshrined at the Episcopal residence in Skálholt, southern Iceland. According to written sources, the bishop died in AD 1211. Using our dietary reconstruction, his bones were about 17% marine, which is within the range of human skeletons from the same area, and the reservoir-corrected calibrated 14C age of the skeleton is in accord with the historical date.
Age and Growth Rate Dynamics of an Old African Baobab Determined by Radiocarbon Dating
Authors: Patrut Adrian , Mayne Diana H , von Reden Karl F , Lowy Daniel A , Venter Sarah , McNichol Ann P , Roberts Mark L , Margineanu Dragos
Published: July 2016

In 2008, a large African baobab (Adansonia digitata L.) from Makulu Makete, South Africa, split vertically into 2 sections, revealing a large enclosed cavity. Several wood samples collected from the cavity were processed and radiocarbon dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) for determining the age and growth rate dynamics of the tree. The 14C date of the oldest sample was found to be of 1016 ± 22 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 1000 ± 15 yr. Thus, the Makulu Makete tree, which eventually collapsed to the ground and died, becomes the second oldest African baobab dated accurately to at least 1000 yr. The conventional growth rate of the trunk, estimated by the radial increase, declined gradually over its life cycle. However, the growth rate expressed more adequately by the cross-sectional area increase and by the volume increase accelerated up to the age of 650 yr and remained almost constant over the past 450 yr.
A Preparative 2D-Chromatography Method for Compound-Specific Radiocarbon Analysis of Dicarboxylic Acids in Aerosols
Authors: Fahrni S M , Ruff M , Wacker L , Perron N , Gäggeler H W , Szidat S
Published: July 2016

There is a great scientific demand for an assessment of the sources and formation processes of atmospheric carbonaceous aerosols since they strongly influence the global radiation balance and affect public health. Much attention in atmospheric studies has been paid to dicarboxylic acids (DCAs) due to their abundance at substantially different sites and their potential influence on cloud formation processes. Nevertheless, sources of oxalic acid (HOOCCOOH) and other DCAs are not well understood yet. In order to quantify contributions of fossil and non-fossil sources, a method for the preparative separation of oxalic acid and other DCAs from aerosols for compound-specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA) has been developed. This method consists of a water extraction of aerosols collected on quartz-fiber filters followed by 2 consecutive liquid chromatography (LC) steps on different chromatography columns (2D-chromatography). Through the use of aqueous, completely non-organic eluents and single injections into liquid chromatography, low blank levels are achieved with total oxalic acid recoveries of up to 66%. Upon separation, 14C measurements of small samples (containing typically 10–20 μg carbon) are conducted at the gas ion source of the 200kV accelerator mass spectrometry facility MICADAS. The method is verified with processed reference materials, artificial mixtures of oxalic acid with typical matrix components, and a standard addition of ambient aerosols. Two exemplary field samples show dominant non-fossil sources of oxalic acid.
Direct Absorption Method and Liquid Scintillation Counting for Radiocarbon Measurements in Organic Carbon from Sediments
Authors: Faurescu Ionut , Varlam Carmen , Stefanescu Ioan , Cuna Stela , Vagner Irina , Faurescu Denisa , Bogdan Diana
Published: July 2016

In this paper, we investigate a procedure for radiocarbon determination in forest soil and slurry from lake sediments. The total carbon in these samples can be both inorganic and organic. Inorganic carbon can be analyzed in a straightforward manner using the direct absorption method by sample acidification and CO2 capture. For organic carbon, we investigate a hybrid method using the wet-oxidation of organic carbon followed by direct absorption. To evaluate the wet-oxidation processes with potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and potassium permanganate (KMnO4), we performed several experiments using different quantities of soil and sediments in order to establish the quantity of CO2 for each type of sample. The 2 methods offer comparable results for 14C-specific activity (about 0.234 ± 0.024 Bq/g C), values that are expected for these kinds of samples. We also investigated the possibility of isotopic fractionation occurring during CO2 production from raw material by measuring δ13C levels from samples and obtained CO2.
The Fifth International Radiocarbon Intercomparison (VIRI): An Assessment of Laboratory Performance in Stage 3
Authors: Scott E Marian , Cook Gordon T , Naysmith Philip
Published: July 2016

Proficiency testing is a widely used, international procedure common within the analytical chemistry community. A proficiency trial (which VIRI is) often follows a standard protocol, including analysis that is typically based on z-scores, with one key quantity, σp. From a laboratory intercomparison (sometimes called a proficiency trial), we hope to gain an assessment of accuracy (in this case, from dendro-dated samples), laboratory precision (from any duplicate samples), and generally, an overall measure of performance, including measurement variability and hence realistic estimates of uncertainty. In addition, given our stated aim of creating an archive of reference materials, we also gain a determination of consensus values for new reference materials.

VIRI samples have been chosen to deliver these objectives and the sample ages included in the different stages, by design, spanned modern to background. With regard to pretreatment, some samples required intensive pretreatment (e.g. bone), while others required none (e.g. cellulose and humic acid). Sample size was not optimized, and indeed some samples were provided solely for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurement. In this sense, VIRI presented a more challenging exercise than previous intercomparisons, since by its design in stages, one can explore improvements (or deteriorations) over time in laboratory performance. At each stage, more than 50 laboratories have participated, with an increasing demographic shift towards more AMS and fewer radiometric laboratories.
Is the Consensus Value of ANU Sucrose (IAEA C-6) Too High?
Authors: Xu Xiaomei , Khosh Matthew S , Druffel-Rodriguez Kevin C , Trumbore Susan E , Southon John R
Published: July 2016

Primary and secondary standards are essential in radiocarbon analyses for the purpose of reporting and comparing data among laboratories, as well as for internal laboratory data quality control. ANU sucrose is one of the IAEA-certified 14C standards (C-6) with a consensus value of 1.5061 ± 0.0011 fraction modern (Fm). All of our measurements of ANU sucrose (n = 351) as a secondary standard over the last 7 yr result in an average value of 1.5016 ± 0.0005 Fm (2-σ standard error). After applying the same outlier tests used for IAEA reference standards, a weighted average value of 1.5016 ± 0.0002 Fm (n = 294) was calculated. This value is significantly lower than the IAEA C-6 consensus value (t test with unequal variance; p = 0.023). In contrast, our measurements of other secondary standards over the same time period are in excellent agreement with their respective consensus values. Since ANU is the only secondary standard measured in our lab that does not agree with the consensus values, and we have measured a larger number analyses compared to what went into the definition of the consensus value, we suggest that the consensus value of ANU sucrose might be too high by ∼0.0045 ± 0.0011 Fm. Given that some labs routinely use ANU sucrose as a primary standard, our results suggest that revisiting the consensus value of ANU sucrose may be necessary.
14C Calibration in the 2nd and 1st Millennia BC—Eastern Mediterranean Radiocarbon Comparison Project (EMRCP)
Authors: Kromer Bernd , Manning Sturt W , Friedrich Michael , Talamo Sahra , Trano Nicole
Published: July 2016

We have measured additional known-age German oak samples in 4 intervals in the 2nd and 1st millennia BC to add to (and to replicate) parts of the international Northern Hemisphere radiocarbon calibration data set. In the 17th, 16th, and 12th centuries BC, our results agree well with IntCal04. In the 14th and 13th centuries BC, however, we observe a significant offset, with our results on average 27 yr older than IntCal04. The previously reported 14C offset between Anatolian juniper trees and central European oaks in the 9th and 8th centuries BC is smaller now, on the basis of our new measurements of German oak, but still evident. In the 17th and 16th centuries BC, the 14C ages from the Anatolian chronology agree well with IntCal04 and our new German oak data.
Comparison of 14C Ages Between LSC and AMS Measurements of Choukai Jindai Cedar Tree Rings at 2600 cal BP
Authors: Takahashi Yui , Sakurai Hirohisa , Suzuki Kayo , Sato Taiichi , Gunji Shuichi , Tokanai Fuyuki , Matsuzaki Hiroyuki , Sunohara Yoko
Published: July 2016

Radiocarbon ages of Choukai Jindai cedar tree rings growing in the excess era of 14C concentrations during 2757–2437 cal BP were measured using 2 types of 14C measurement methods, i.e. liquid scintillation counting (LSC) and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The difference between the 2 methods is 3.7 ± 5.2 14C yr on average for 61 single-year tree rings, indicating good agreement between the methods. The Choukai data sets show a small sharp bump with an average 14C age of 2497.1 ± 3.0 14C yr BP during 2650–2600 cal BP. Although the profile of the Choukai LSC data set compares well with that of IntCal04, having a 14C age difference of 4.6 ± 5.3 14C yr on average, the Choukai LSC 14C ages indicate variability against the smoothed profile of IntCal04.
Wiggle-Match Dating of Wooden Samples from Iron Age Sites in Northern Italy
Authors: Quarta G , Pezzo M I , Marconi S , Tecchiati U , D'Elia M , Calcagnile L
Published: July 2016

Archaeological excavations carried out at the sites of Laion/Lajen (Bolzano/Bozen) and Stufles-Oberegger (Bressanone/Brixen) in northern Italy uncovered well-preserved wooden samples in cultural layers archaeologically dated to the Iron Age. From the 2 sites, different wooden samples were recovered that were well preserved enough to allow clear identification of the tree species and of the ring structure. Among the different wooden samples, 2 were selected for radiocarbon analyses: from Laion/Lajen, a beam with an unbroken sequence of 158 rings; from Stufles-Oberegger, a combusted trunk with a sequence of 217 rings. Both samples were identified as Larix decidua species. From each sequence, single rings were selected and submitted for accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating analysis at CEDAD. Conventional 14C ages were then calibrated to calendar ages using the IntCal04 atmospheric data set, while the statistical constraints resulting from the defined ring sequence were used to develop a wiggle-matching approach by making use of the Bayesian analysis functions available in OxCal. The obtained results are an important contribution in refining the chronology of the studied sites.
Timing of the Landslide-Dammed Lake Triggered by Earthquake, at Toyama River, Central Japan
Authors: Goto Akiko S , Muramatsu Takeshi , Teraoka Yoshiji
Published: July 2016

Huge landslides triggered by strong earthquakes or torrential rains can result in unstable natural dams that pose serious risks to humans. In this study, we attempt to document the age of an ancient earthquake that produced a landslide-dammed lake. A buried forest found in the Toyama River area of the southern Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, provides evidence of this event. The dammed lake formation has been previously estimated to have occurred in AD 714. However, the age of the dam and the way it was formed have never been directly determined. To determine the position and timing of the landslide dam, we analyzed the radiocarbon content of branches and wood fragments from a brecciated deposit. We show that the 14C dating method is suitable for clarifying the timing of burial for a variety of trees, although the method does not produce a narrow age for the event. In addition to the dating, we determined the landslide dam's position and reconstructed the formation of the lake.
Centuries of Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Age Variation Within Archaeological Mesodesma Donacium Shells from Southern Peru
Authors: Jones Kevin B , Hodgins Gregory W L , Etayo-Cadavid Miguel F , Andrus C Fred T , Sandweiss Daniel H
Published: July 2016

Mollusk shells provide brief (<5 yr per shell) records of past marine conditions, including marine radiocarbon reservoir age (R) and upwelling. We report 21 14C ages and R calculations on small (∼2 mg) samples from 2 Mesodesma donacium (surf clam) shells. These shells were excavated from a semi-subterranean house floor stratum 14C dated to 7625 ± 35 BP at site QJ-280, Quebrada Jaguay, southern Peru. The ranges in marine 14C ages (and thus R) from the 2 shells are 530 and 170 14C yr; R from individual aragonite samples spans 130 ± 60 to 730 ± 170 14C yr. This intrashell 14C variability suggests that 14C dating of small (time-slice much less than 1 yr) marine samples from a variable-R (i.e. variable-upwelling) environment may introduce centuries of chronometric uncertainty.
A New Automated Extraction System for 14C Measurement for Atmospheric Co2
Authors: Turnbull Jocelyn C , Lehman Scott J , Morgan Stephen , Wolak Chad
Published: July 2016

The radiocarbon content of atmospheric CO2 (Δ14CO2) has long been of interest to atmospheric and Earth system researchers. Recent improvements in 14C measurement precision and reduction in sample size requirements have now made it possible to measure Δ14CO2 within existing trace gas sampling networks, most notably as a method to quantify recently added fossil-fuel-derived CO2 in the atmosphere. At INSTAAR, in collaboration with NOAA/ESRL, ∼600 atmospheric samples from around the globe are prepared each year, and that number is anticipated to grow in connection with various monitoring and data assimilation efforts. To accommodate the growing demand and reduce per sample costs, we developed an automated extraction system to quantitatively isolate CO2 from whole air for AMS 14C analysis. Twenty samples can be extracted in 1 fully automated run, taking 10–12 hr to complete and requiring only about 1 hr of operator time, a substantial improvement over the manual extraction system. CO2 is extracted cryogenically by flowing the whole air over a liquid nitrogen trap, after first removing water in a trap at –85 °C. Large volume vacuum lines are used to extract ∼30 μmol of CO2 in less than 10 min, keeping contamination from leaks to a minimum and allowing rapid processing and greater throughput. δ13C measurements on the resultant CO2 demonstrate that extraction is quantitative, and extractions of 14C-free air show that no significant modern contamination occurs. Replicate analyses of standard materials indicate that both mean values and precision are comparable to those for the manual extraction system.
Experiences of Production and Homogeneity Analysis of an AMS 14C Sucrose Standard for High-Activity Measurements
Authors: Sydoff Marie , Stenström Kristina
Published: July 2016

Accurate accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements rely on standards with well-known isotopic ratios. For radiocarbon measurements, a number of standards with different properties are commercially available, of which the IAEA-C6 sucrose standard with a 14C value of 150.61 pMC is the most active. When analyzing biological samples resulting from studies using 14C-labeled substances, the activity content can be up to 100 times this value. Thus, there is a need for a standard material with higher activity content than IAEA-C6 for making accurate AMS measurements on this type of sample. This paper describes the attempts of producing a standard with an activity content of about 10 times modern carbon. The material chosen has to be chemically inert, preferably non-toxic, commercially available in 14C-labeled form, and the activity must be homogeneously distributed within the material. Two different standard materials were considered: urea and sucrose. Sucrose was chosen for the new standard, since it is non-toxic, inexpensive, and organic and on combustion, forms only carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O). In this paper, we discuss our experience in the production and homogeneity analysis of this material, from the crystallization of the sucrose solution to the graphitization of the samples. When using an online combustion method and a septa-sealed vial reduction method, the AMS measurements indicated that the activity was not homogeneously distributed throughout the material. Contrary to this, measurements of the sucrose solution prior to recrystallization indicated that the activity was more homogeneously distributed before than after the recrystallization. In order to determine whether the inhomogeneity depended on the graphitization method (i.e. the combustion or the reduction method) or on the material itself, 3 different graphitization methods and 2 different methods of recrystallization were tested.
Comparison of Depth Profiles of 129I and 14C Concentration in the Surface Layer of Soils Collected from Northeastern Japan
Authors: Matsuzaki Hiroyuki , Tsuchiya Yoko Sunohara , Muramatsu Yasuyuki , Maejima Yuji , Miyairi Yosuke , Kato Kazuhiro
Published: July 2016

129I/127I and 14C/12C depth profiles were compared for the surface 30-cm layer of soil samples (Andisols) collected from Shimokita Peninsula, northeastern Japan, in November 2005. The 129I/127I and 14C/12C profiles have a clear correlation, even taking into account that the data include samples collected from different sites with different surface histories. These results, and considering that 14C/12C can be regarded as a proxy of the original depth in stable soil, show the diversity of the 129I/127I ratio at the surface among the sites, indicating variations in the thicknesses of the layers recently removed. At one of the sampling sites (P003-1), the Δ14C value measures ∼110‰ near the surface, which is indicative of anthropogenic 14C produced by atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons during the late 1950s and early 1960s. This site has experienced no disturbances for at least the past 50 yr. The relatively high activity of 129I (0.8 mBq/kg) and the 129I/127I ratio (7 x 10–9) observed at the top layer of this site can be considered a “representative value” when considering the anthropogenic iodine transfer from the atmosphere to the ground. The observations also support 2 separate modes of 129I migration in the soil: i.e. “topmost quick diffusion” and “subsurface relatively slow migration process.” Even in the “subsurface relatively slow migration zone,” the 129I/127I ratio was still orders higher than the pre-anthropogenic natural level.
Radiocarbon Dates from Jar and Coffin Burials of the Cardamom Mountains Reveal a Unique Mortuary Ritual in Cambodia's Late- to Post-Angkor Period (15th–17th Centuries AD)
Authors: Beavan Nancy , Halcrow Sian , McFadgen Bruce , Hamilton Derek , Buckley Brendan , Sokha Tep , Shewan Louise , Sokha Ouk , Fallon Stewart , Miksic John , Armstrong Richard , O'Reilly Dougald , Domett Kate , Chhem K R
Published: July 2016

We present the first radiocarbon dates from previously unrecorded, secondary burials in the Cardamom Mountains, Cambodia. The mortuary ritual incorporates nautical tradeware ceramic jars and log coffins fashioned from locally harvested trees as burial containers, which were set out on exposed rock ledges at 10 sites in the eastern Cardamom Massif. The suite of 2814C ages from 4 of these sites (Khnorng Sroal, Phnom Pel, Damnak Samdech, and Khnang Tathan) provides the first estimation of the overall time depth of the practice. The most reliable calendar date ranges from the 4 sites reveals a highland burial ritual unrelated to lowland Khmer culture that was practiced from cal AD 1395 to 1650. The time period is concurrent with the 15th century decline of Angkor as the capital of the Khmer kingdom and its demise about AD 1432, and the subsequent shift of power to new Mekong trade ports such as Phnom Penh, Udong, and Lovek. We discuss the Cardamom ritual relative to known funerary rituals of the pre- to post-Angkorian periods, and to similar exposed jar and coffin burial rituals in Mainland and Island Southeast Asia.
Mid-Holocene Dates for Organic-Rich Sediment, Palustrine Shell, and Charcoal from Southern Iraq
Authors: Hritz Carrie , Pournelle Jennifer , Smith Jennifer , Albadran Badir , Issa Bushra Majeed , Al-Handal Adil
Published: July 2016

We present the results of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of 11 samples collected from 4 locations in southern Iraq. As a result of the hiatus in fieldwork in that region since 1990, and the antiquity of the majority of archaeological excavations conducted there, the record of14C dates for southern Mesopotamia is patchy for all periods. This is especially true for the mid-Holocene, when the world's oldest and longest-sustained urban system first emerged there. The dates here reported not only make a significant contribution to available dates for this important region and period; they fill specific gaps in crucial geographic coverage, and shed light on the extent of marshland boundaries and the antiquity of settlement at key urban centers.
Dating the Irrigation System of the Samarkand Oasis: A Geoarchaeological Study
Authors: Malatesta Luca C , Castelltort Sébastien , Mantellini Simone , Picotti Vincenzo , Hajdas Irka , Simpson Guy , Berdimuradov Amriddin E , Tosi Maurizio , Willett Sean D
Published: July 2016

The oasis of Samarkand in the Middle Zeravshan Valley (modern Uzbekistan) was a major political and economic center in ancient western Central Asia. The chronology of its irrigation system was, until now, only constrained by the quality and quantity of archaeological findings and several different hypotheses have been proposed for it. We use a new approach combining archaeological surveying, radiocarbon dating, sedimentary analysis, and the numerical modeling of a flood event to offer new evidence for, and quantitative dating of, the development of irrigation system on the southern flank of the Middle Zeravshan Valley. We analyzed 13 bones and charcoals from 3 archaeological sites and obtained new14C ages from Afrasiab (ancient Samarkand), a dwelling damaged by flooding in the 2nd century AD (site code: SAM-174) and the fortress of Kafir Kala. We established the origin of sedimentary deposits at the sites to infer the presence of the 2 most important canals of the southern flank: the Dargom and the Yanghiaryk. Finally, we show with a numerical model of overland flow that a natural flood was unlikely to have produced the damage observed at SAM-174. The combined results of the study indicate that the canals south of Samarkand existed, and were mainly developed, in the 2nd century AD and were not connected to the main feeding canal of Afrasiab at that time.
Age of the Younger Laxá Lava and Lake Mývatn, Northern Iceland, Determined by AMS Radiocarbon Dating
Authors: Hauptfleisch Ulf , Einarsson Árni
Published: July 2016

Lake Mývatn and several smaller lakes in northern Iceland were formed by the large Holocene lava flow of the Younger Laxá Lava (YLL). The age of the YLL was estimated by tephrochronology at 1800–2300 BP (Thorarinsson 1951). Conventional radiocarbon dating of charred vegetation beneath the YLL (Thorarinsson 1964) yielded uncalibrated ages of 1940 ± 27014C yr BP (Yale), 2110 ± 14014C yr BP (Copenhagen), and 1990 ± 5014C yr BP (Winnipeg). Ongoing palcolimnological research at Lake Mývatn requires a more precise age estimation of the YLL. Charcoal samples from beneath the YLL were collected at Presthvammur in 2007 and analyzed by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS)14C measurements. The reliability of the conventional14C ages of the samples Yale, Copenhagen, and Winnipeg was re-evaluated, applying criteria from Pettit et al. (2003) and Graf (2009). The result of AMS14C measurement (2170 ± 38 cal yr BP) underpins the local tephrochronology and provides a reliable age of the YLL and Lake Mývatn.
14C Dating with the Icels Liquid Scintillation Counting System Using Fixed-Energy Balance Counting Window Method
Authors: Tudyka Konrad , Pazdur Anna
Published: July 2016

This article presents an application of a fixed-energy balance counting window in radiocarbon dating of geological peat samples. We determine a fixed-energy balance counting window with an inexpensive liquid scintillation counting ICELS system. We show long-term modern biosphere standard records that show stability sufficient for dating samples up to approximately 30,00014C yr BP. We then compare our results to ones obtained previously using a Quantulus 1220™.
New AMS Radiocarbon Dates from Late Pleistocene Mastodons and Mammoths in New York State, USA
Authors: Feranec Robert S , Kozlowski Andrew L
Published: July 2016

During the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) about 25,000 yr ago, the area of what is now New York State (USA) was almost entirely covered by the Laurentide Ice Sheet (LIS; Dyke et al. 2002). Subsequent habitation of this area after the melting of the LIS necessitates dispersal of fauna, and the timing of the dispersal of particular species may aid in the understanding of how the modern ecosystems of New York were assembled. Mastodons and mammoths represent the most abundant post-LGM Pleistocene megafauna recovered in New York. However, many of the specimens have not been dated. This paper presents a set of dates from bone and tooth dentine collagen of late Pleistocene mastodon (n= 7) and mammoth (n= 3) specimens housed in the Vertebrate Paleontology Collections at the New York State Museum, Albany, New York, USA.
Interpreting Radiocarbon Dates from Neolithic Halai, Greece
Authors: Facorellis Yorgos , Coleman John E
Published: July 2016

Archaeological investigations at Halai, a small city-state on the sea coast of East Lokris in Greece, have been carried out since 1986 by the Cornell Halai and East Lokris Project (CHELP). The town's acropolis, first inhabited in the Neolithic period, was in Greco-Roman times a political and cultural center controlling and serving a considerable territory. Radiocarbon dating of charred material unearthed from Neolithic deposits indicate that the Neolithic occupation probably lasted from about 6000 to 5300 BC. Details of dating are somewhat problematic, however, because of outlying determinations and lack of close agreement between determinations from the same or stratigraphically comparable material.
Neolithic Dispersal in Far Northeast Europe: Ways and Chronology
Authors: Karmanov Victor N , Zaretskaya Natalia E , Lychagina Evgenia L
Published: July 2016

By analyzing archaeological evidence and radiocarbon dates, we studied the Neolithization of Far Northeast Europe (Russian Perm' region, Komi Republic, and Nenets autonomous district). Our study shows that this process in the eastern European forest zone was rather ambiguous. Taking into account the periodicity of settling and short duration of residence here, the term “Neolithization” in its traditional sense cannot be applied to some territories in this region. For instance, the emergence of ceramics—the most important feature of Neolithization here—did not affect considerably the way of life of the ancient population, which continued the traditions of the Mesolithic hunter-gatherers well into the Early Neolithic. Such attributes as heat treatment of clay paste and siliceous rocks for changing physical features of natural materials, bifacial knapping, and construction of subterranean dwellings represent the archaeological evidence of Neolithization in the region.
The Chronology of Tell El-Daba: A Crucial Meeting Point of14C Dating, Archaeology, and Egyptology in the 2nd Millennium BC
Authors: Kutschera Walter , Bietak Manfred , Wild Eva Maria , Ramsey Christopher Bronk , Dee Michael , Golser Robin , Kopetzky Karin , Stadler Peter , Steier Peter , Thanheiser Ursula , Weninger Franz
Published: July 2016

Radiocarbon dating at the Tell el-Daba site in the Nile Delta has created an enigma for many years. Despite great efforts, the difference of about 120 yr between the chronology based on14C dates and the one based on archaeological evidence linked to the Egyptian historical chronology has not been solved. In order to foster open discussions on this discrepancy, we present here the results of 4014C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements on short-lived plant material assigned to 14 different phases of the Tell el-Daba excavation, spanning 600 yr (about 2000–1400 BC). On the one hand, the recently established agreement between14C dates and dynastic Egypt (Bronk Ramsey et al. 2010) makes it unlikely that the problem lies in the14C dates and/or the Egyptian historical chronology. On the other hand, the extensive archaeological evidence from Tell el-Daba linked to many different cultures in the eastern Mediterranean and to the Egyptian historical chronology provides strong evidence for an absolute chronology shifted by about 120 yr with respect to the14C dates.
Radiocarbon Dating of the Early Bronze Age Cemetery at Arano, Verona, Northern Italy
Authors: Valzolgher Erio , Meadows John , Salzani Paola , Salzani Luciano
Published: July 2016

Seventeen of the 73 individuals buried in the Early Bronze Age (EBA) cemetery at Arano di Cellore di Illasi, near Verona, northern Italy, were radiocarbon dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). Bayesian modeling of the calibrated dates suggests that the cemetery was probably used over several generations mainly within the first 2 centuries of the 2nd millennium cal BC. Burial activity was therefore mainly restricted to within the EBA I B/EBA I C of the north Italian Bronze Age chronology. An isolated burial, found ∼90 m northwest of the cemetery, may date to the same period.
Dating of Late Pleistocene Tree-Ring Series from Japan
Authors: van der Plicht J , Imamura M , Sakamoto M
Published: July 2016

We have radiocarbon dated series of tree rings from 2 fossil trees (named ND-113 and the Fuji tree) buried in fossil volcanic avalanche deposits in Japan. They are dendrochronologically floating, dating beyond the tree-ring part of the 14C calibration curve. The trees show about 350 and 400 annual rings, respectively, which are dated in intervals of 2 to 10 yr. Both sequences are wiggle-matched to the calibration curve IntCal09. This resulted in an age range of 16,534–16,204 cal BP for ND-113, and 23,678–23,290 cal BP for the Fuji tree.
14C Dates and Spatial Statistics: Modeling Intrasite Spatial Dynamics of Urnfield Cemeteries in Belgium Using Case Study of Destelbergen Cemetery
Authors: De Reu Jeroen , De Mulder Guy , van Strydonck Mark , Boudin Mathieu , Bourgeois Jean
Published: July 2016

The possibility of radiocarbon dating on cremated bones stimulated a systematic 14C dating project investigating the chronology of Late Bronze Age and Early Iron Age urnfield cemeteries in Belgium. The growing amount of 14C dates on these cremated remains led to new insights into the chronology, development, and disappearance of the urnfield phenomenon. Consequently, ideas about cultural and historical processes need to be modified. Also, the internal chronology of the cemeteries is much more complex than previously thought, stimulating the need for techniques to analyze and visualize the internal development of an individual burial site. The application of centrographic methods like the mean center, standard distance circle, and standard deviational ellipse illustrates the possibilities for analyzing the internal chronology of the cemeteries based on the available 14C dates.
14C Chronology of Burial Grounds of the Andronovo Period (Middle Bronze Age) in Baraba Forest Steppe, Western Siberia
Authors: Molodin V I , Marchenko Z V , Kuzmin Y V , Grishin A E , van Strydonck M , Orlova L A
Published: July 2016

This paper focuses on the chronology of Middle Bronze Age complexes in the Baraba forest steppe (western Siberia). Three sites were radiocarbon dated, Stary Tartas 4, Sopka 2, and Tartas 1. The Late Krotovo culture was dated to the 18–19th centuries BC, the Andronovo complex (Fedorovo stage) to the 15–18th centuries BC, and the Mixed Andronovo complex dated to the 15–17th centuries BC. These values are some 300–500 yr older than previously thought, and the new results are consistent with14C dates of the Andronovo cultural complex in northern Eurasia. Based on these data, the 15th century BC is the upper chronological limit of the Andronovo period.
Isotopes, Plants, and Reservoir Effects: Case Study from the Caspian Steppe Bronze Age
Authors: Shishlina N , Zazovskaya E , van der Plicht J , Sevastyanov V
Published: July 2016

Bronze Age human and animal bone collagen from several steppe Bronze Age cultures (i.e. Early Catacomb, East and West Manych Catacomb, and Lola cultures) shows large variations in δ13C and δ15N values. In general, we observed that the older the sample, the lower the δ13C and δ15N values. We hypothesize that more positive values of δ13C and δ15N are caused by change in diet and a more arid climate. For ancient sheep during drier periods of the Early Catacomb, East and West Manych Catacomb, and Lola cultures, we observed 2 groups with different C and N isotopic compositions, reflecting consumption of different types of fodder. During periods of aridization, C4and C3plants with high δ15N values appeared in the vegetation, also influencing bone collagen values. Human bones show reservoir effects, caused by aquatic diet components. These effects can be quantified by paired dating of human bone and associated terrestrial samples. Reservoir corrections have revised chronologies for the region. Some paired dates do not reveal reservoir effects. This can be explained in 2 alternative ways. One is that the human diet did not include aquatic components; rather, the diet was based on C3vegetation with high δ15N values (13–15‰), and flesh/milk of domesticated animals. An alternative explanation is that humans consumed food from freshwater resources without reservoir effects.
The Dolmen Kolikho, Western Caucasus: Isotopic Investigation of Funeral Practice and Human Mobility
Authors: Trifonov V A , Zaitseva G I , van der Plicht J , Burova N D , Bogomolov E S , Sementsov A A , Lokhova O V
Published: July 2016

We investigated the dolmen known as Kolikho (Black Sea coast, Russia), discovered accidentally in 2008. It is a unique, undisturbed megalithic structure. The burial chamber contains disarticulated human remains from about 70 individuals. Radiocarbon dating shows that the dolmen was in use between roughly the 19th to 13th centuries BC. Strontium isotopes are used to investigate the origin and last residence location of the people buried in the structure.
Chronological Problems with Neolithization of the Northern Caspian Sea Area and the Forest-Steppe Povolzhye Region
Authors: Vybornov A , Zaitseva G , Kovaliukh N , Kulkova M , Possnert G , Skripkin V
Published: July 2016

Steppe and forest-steppe areas of the Povolzhye area (Caucasus and central Asia) bear much interest for the Neolithic in connection with the productive economy of the region at the time. Recent data have allowed correction of the region's chronology. A number of 14C dates denote the existence of the Neolithic in this territory as early as the 5th to 6th millennium BP. However, some questions are still under debate and require further data to clarify.
Mussels with Meat: Bivalve Tissue-Shell Radiocarbon Age Differences and Archaeological Implications
Authors: Fernandes Ricardo , Bergemann Stefanie , Hartz Sönke , Grootes Pieter M , Nadeau Marie-Josée , Melzner Frank , Rakowski Andrzej , Hüls Matthias
Published: July 2016

Local reservoir ages are often estimated from the difference between the radiocarbon ages of aquatic material and associated terrestrial samples for which no reservoir effect is expected. Frequently, the selected aquatic material consists of bivalve shells that are typically well preserved in the archaeological record. For instance, large shell middens attest to the importance of mussel consumption at both coastal and inland sites. However, different physiological mechanisms associated with tissue and shell growth may result in differences in reservoir effects between the surviving component (shell) and the component relevant to dietary reservoir effects in consumers (tissue). The current study examines bivalve tissue-shell age differences both from freshwater and marine contexts close to archaeological sites where human consumption of mollusks has been attested. Results exhibited significant 14C age differences between bivalve tissue and shell in a freshwater context. In a marine context, no significant bivalve tissue-shell age differences were observed. The results also showed that riverine and lacustrine shells show large and variable freshwater reservoir effects. The results have important implications for establishing local reservoir effects especially in a freshwater environment. For good a priori knowledge of expected 14C differences in organic and inorganic water, carbon is thus necessary. Furthermore, the high variability in freshwater shell 14C ages implies the need for representative sampling from the archaeological record.
On the Resolution of14C Dating Anomalies: Case Studies from New World Archaeology
Authors: Taylor R E , Southon John
Published: July 2016

We submit that anomalies in radiocarbon data in archaeological studies should be viewed positively as a stimulus to undertake further targeted research. Additional analyses to resolve anomalies have the potential to provide important insights into heretofore unstudied or incompletely understood depositional or geochemical processes affecting14C values, particularly in certain types of samples and samples from certain types of environments. We consider 2 major categories or sources of14C dating anomalies that we posit are mostly responsible for the vast majority of problematic14C results: anomalous sample contexts and anomalous sample composition. Two additional sources of14C anomalies are much more rarely encountered. Six case studies taken from New World archaeological studies are briefly presented to provide examples of where questions concerning the validity of14C measurements generated additional and ultimately more accurate understandings of temporal relationships. AMS-based14C measurement technology has rendered detailed investigations of14C anomalies routinely feasible.
Absolute Dating of the Bronze Age Defensive Settlement in Horodnianka (NE Poland)
Authors: Krapiec Marek , Bolka Monika , Brzozowski Jerzy
Published: July 2016

In 2008–2009, during construction of the ring road around the town of Sztabin in NE Poland, archaeological rescue excavations were carried out at site no. 12 in Horodnianka. The excavations revealed the remains of a defensive settlement from the Bronze Age, with a total surface of 3 ha. Concentric wooden palisades reinforcing the settlement were situated on sandy, elevated embankments of the Biebrza River. Altogether, 189 samples of archaeological wood, mainly oak (Quercus sp.), were collected. Dendrochronological analysis demonstrated that the trees were cut down within a relatively short period of only 22 yr. On the basis of 22 contemporaneous dendrochronological sequences, the average curve HOR_AA1 (89 yr long) was constructed. However, attempts at dating the average curve against the chronologies from adjacent areas were unsuccessful. Therefore, determination of the time interval represented by the palisade oaks was attempted with the wiggle-matching method. Radiocarbon dating using liquid scintillation counting (LSC) was conducted for 6 suitable samples selected from the average curve. The 14C results, after calibration, suggest the dates of cutting the oaks outlining the Horodnianka chronology most probably fall in the time interval 870–795 cal BC. This means that Horodnianka could be the furthest northeastern defensive fortification of the Lusatian culture.