Radiocarbon 28

Cooperating laboratories will investigate each stage of the dating process in a two year programme: collaborators are sought.

On 18 months' routine dating work.

Describes advances made since the 11th International Radiocarbon Conference. Belfast can present a primary standard of high integrity on which to base calibrations.

Technical account. Implications of the technique are (1) the good consistency of amino acid ages; (2) multiple samples can become routine; (3) amino acid racemization is unnecessary for bones under c 40 000 yr BP since AMS can compete directly in terms of sample size.

Describes progress towards selection of suitable samples for dating. Same authors (led by Van Strydonck) also offer (pp 702-10) 'The influence of contaminating (fossil) carbonate and the variations of delta 13C in mortar dating'.

Examining sherd carbon for its potential for radioCarbon dating, authors tested experimentally-made pots in both reducing and oxidizing atmospheres. The need is to separate the carbon of combustion (useful for dating) from the intrinsic carbon of the potting clay. The technique would be useful when no better dating material was available.

Offers a sample record form to obtain comprehensive standardized documentation. Although there are 115 active radiocarbon laboratories, only 20 labs per year (average) publish date lists in Radiocarbon.

Proposes a high-level record structure for ready interchange of data.

Reports the conventions internationally adopted for the correct reporting of radiocarbon dates: conventional 14C ages are to be reported in 'years BP', dendrochronologically calibrated ages as 'Cal AD', 'Cal BC', or 'Cal BP'. (See also 87/191.)

Indicates the strict conditions under which archaeologists must operate if they are to use the newly refined chronometric instrument of the bidecadal high-precision calibration curve to fullest advantage.