Pitfalls in the AMS radiocarbon-dating of terrestrial macrofossils

The AMS ¹⁴C technique has the advantage that small samples of Late Quaternary age can be dated with high accuracy, and that errors due to reservoir effects can be avoided if specifically determined terrestrial micro- and macrofossils are measured. However, to obtain such high-accuracy measurements, it is important how small samples are handled prior to treatment in the radiocarbon laboratories. Here we present a set of 51 AMS ¹⁴C measurements, of which 31 dates gave expected ages and 20 dates resulted in anomalously young ages, despite the fact that all samples consisted of clearly identified Late Weichselian terrestrial plant macrofossils. To evaluate possible sources of error, we compared these samples in respect to preparation methods, sample storage and sample weight. Our results show that the long-term storage of wet macrofossil samples appears to have a significant effect on the radiocarbon age obtained, even when the samples are kept cool. Fungi or micro-organisms may easily be incorporated into a sample during preparation and identification, and can easily contribute to the contamination of a sample, if stored cool and wet for several months. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The new 14C chronology for the Palaeolithic site of La Ferrassie,France: the disappearance of Neanderthals and the arrival of Homo sapiens in France

The grand abri at La Ferrassie (France) has been a key site for Palaeolithic research since the early part of the 20th century. It became the eponymous site for one variant of Middle Palaeolithic stone tools, and its sequence was used to define stages of the Aurignacian, an early phase of the Upper Palaeolithic. Several Neanderthal remains, including two relatively intact skeletons, make it one of the most important sites for the study of Neanderthal morphology and one of the more important data sets when discussing the Neanderthal treatment of the dead. However, the site has remained essentially undated. Our goal here is to provide a robust chronological framework of the La Ferrassie sequence to be used for broad regional models about human behaviour during the late Middle to Upper Palaeolithic periods. To achieve this goal, we used a combination of modern excavation methods, extensive geoarchaeological analyses, and radiocarbon dating. If we accept that Neanderthals were responsible for the Châtelperronian, then our results suggest an overlap of ca. 1600 years with the newly arrived Homo sapiens found elsewhere in France.     

Deep sea circulation of particulate organic carbon in the Japan Sea

Seasonal and spatial variations of particulate organic carbon (POC) flux were observed with sediment traps at three sites in the Japan Sea (western and eastern Japan Basin and Yamato Basin). In order to investigate the transport processes of POC, radiocarbon (¹⁴C) measurements were also carried out. Annual mean POC flux at 1 km depth was 30.7 mg m⁻²day⁻¹ in the western Japan Basin, 12.0 mg m⁻²day⁻¹ in the eastern Japan Basin and 23.8 mg m⁻²day⁻¹ in the Yamato Basin. At all stations, notably higher POC flux was observed in spring (March–May), indicating biological production and rapid sinking of POC in this season. Sinking POC in the high flux season showed modern Δ¹⁴C values (>0‰) and aged POC (Δ¹⁴C < −40‰) was observed in winter (December–January). The Δ¹⁴C values in sinking POC were negatively correlated with aluminum concentration, indicating that Δ¹⁴C is strongly related to the lateral supply of lithogenic materials. The Δ¹⁴C values also showed correlations with excess manganese (Mn_xs) concentrations in sinking particles. The Δ¹⁴C-Mn_xs relationship suggested that (1) the majority of the aged POC was advected by bottom currents and incorporated into sinking particles, and (2) some of the aged POC might be supplied from the sea surface at the trap site as part of terrestrial POC. From the difference in the Δ¹⁴C-Mn_xs relationships between the Japan Basin and the Yamato Basin, we consider that basin-scale transport processes of POC occur in the Japan Sea.     

Understanding the dynamics and contamination of an urban aquifer system using groundwater age (14C, 3H,CFCs) and chemistry

The quality of the groundwater supplying drinking water to the Guadalajara metropolitan area has deteriorated due to both endogenic and exogenic processes. Previous studies of this complex neotectonic volcanic environment suggest that the sources of contamination here are underground fluids derived from an active volcanic center and surface wastewater derived from regional land‐use intensification. This study uses isotopic, gaseous, and chemical signatures to more comprehensively characterize this groundwater flow and its contamination paths. Groundwater is mainly recharged at the La Primavera Caldera to the west and is discharged into the Santiago River to the east. The exception to this trend is the Toluquilla area, where groundwater most likely represents rainfall originating from outside the basin limits. Evaporation affects groundwater in these areas, especially waters that have been affected by recycling below urban areas in the Atejamac area and by intensive agricultural activity in the Toluquilla area. Additionally, we present evidence that groundwater flow through alluvial sediments and tuffs in deeper wells mixes with a lower aquifer unit in basaltic‐andesitic rocks, which are in contact with hydrothermal fluids. Groundwater ages range from postbomb in the western and northwestern regions of the study area (i.e., the Atemajac aquifer unit) to Late Pleistocene in the southern and southeastern regions (i.e., the Toluquilla aquifer unit). Recently recharged water records little mixing and is located mostly in or near the La Primavera volcanic system. As groundwater undergoes gravitational flow towards discharge areas, it mixes with older water components. Chloride and sodium concentrations above natural background levels are primarily related to volcanic activity, nitrate is associated with human activities, and sulfate originates from both anthropogenic sources and water–rock interactions. Nitrate originating from land‐use activities (such as sewers, septic tanks, landfills, and agricultural fields) that is introduced into the deeper part of the groundwater system is expected to travel with the groundwater to the discharge areas because oxidizing conditions will prevent microbial reduction. See Supplementary Information.     

A study of the construction times of the ancient cities in Ganjia Basin,Gansu Province,China

The Ganjia Basin in Xiahe County,Gansu Province,China,is located on the northeastern edge of the Tibetan Plateau.The area lies in the transitional zone between the Plateau ethnic groups dominated by ancestral Tibetans,and the Central Plains dynasties dominated by ancestral Han in history.The Ganjia Basin is therefore well suited to studying the history of the intermixing of the Han and Tibetan peoples.In this study,we collected samples of organic materials from two ancient cities,Bajiaocheng(BJC) and Sirougucheng(SRGC),in the Ganjia Basin,which were used for radiocarbon dating.Our aims were to determine the construction times and function of the cities,based on the radiocarbon ages,Bayesian age modeling,and the analysis of relevant historical records.The results are used to discuss the role of the Ganjia Basin in the conflicts between and the integration of the two ethnic groups during the historical period.We conclude that BJC was established during 663–732 CE(Common Era);its early occupation history can be divided into an initial establishment phase(670–780 CE) and a phase of regeneration(880–1030 CE).SRGC was probably built at the time of the transition between the Song and Yuan dynasties(～1271 CE).Combining the dating results with an analysis of the architectural styles and historical records,we conclude that BJC was originally built by the Tubo Kingdom as a military stronghold,and its major functions were military,economic and religious,and to support the major eastward expansion of the Tubo.SRGC was most likely a temple-focused city intended to promote Tibetan Buddhism which was a major political and religious leadership for the Tibetans at that time,reflecting changes in the status of different religions in the Ganjia Basin.In addition,the intermixing and blending of the Han and Tibetan groups,reflected by the human activities in the Ganjia Basin,was an important demographic and cultural foundation for the formation of the culturally-diverse but spiritually-united modern Chinese people.     

Bayesian estimates of marine radiocarbon reservoir effect in northern Iberia during the Early and Middle Holocene

Reconstructing the past variability of marine radiocarbon reservoir effects (MRE) is crucial for generating reliable chronologies for marine species and their consumers. We investigated the temporal MRE variability at the Early-to Mid-Holocene site of El Mazo (Asturias, northern Spain) by using a combination of new and previously published radiocarbon measurements on marine and terrestrial samples. The El Mazo site is characterized by overall well-defined archaeological layers of unknown occupation length with the predominant presence of two mollusc species (Patella vulgata Linnaeus, 1758 and topshell Phorcus lineatus [da Costa, 1778]) which were analysed for radiocarbon measurements. We employed the recently released IntCal20 calibration curve for the northern hemisphere and Bayesian modelling to reconstruct the site's chronology and temporal variability in MREs according to mollusc species. Obtained radiocarbon modelling results, although the estimate precision is not high, reveal a temporal variability in MREs that can be interpreted in view of known past climatic and environmental events such as the 8.2 ka event. The results also revealed differences in MREs according to mollusc species, which need to be taken into account in future chronological modelling. Overall, our results provide reference MRE values for the study of chronologies in northern Iberia during the Early-to Mid-Holocene. In this respect, a non-conservative ΔR reference for local marine samples dating earlier than c. 8.1 ka cal BP is −238 ± 28 ¹⁴C years.     

The long-singular ridges of the Halland Coastal Moraines,South-Western Sweden

Radiocarbon dates of shells from the long singular ridges belonging to the Halland Coastal Moraines indicate that the ridges are younger than 12 400 yr BP, whereas according to the existing chronostratigraphy of western Sweden, the area was ice free before 12 700 yr BP. The ridges are interpreted as push moraines and not deposits of a stationary ice margin. The chronostratigraphy of western Sweden seems to need revision; however, further study is necessary before it is possible to present a new model.     

Elemental and isotopic signatures of particulate organic carbon in the Zengjiang River,southern China

Riverine total suspended sediment (TSS) at the lower reach section of the Zengjiang River, a low‐turbidity river in the southern China, was sampled on a 4‐week basis from March 2002 to February 2003. The gross TSS was divided into sedimentary and suspended fractions (SED and SUS) by the sedimentation method. Organic carbon and nitrogen, ¹⁴C and ¹³C were analysed using an elemental analyser and accelerator mass spectrometer respectively. The results show that particulate organic carbon (POC) yield is 0·8 × 10⁶ g km^?2 year^?1 in the Zengjiang River drainage basin, which is about one‐tenth of that in the Zhujiang (Pearl) River drainage basin. The C/N ratio demonstrates that aquatic biomass is the major contributor to POC in the Zengjiang River. The average share of aquatic biomass in the SUS‐fraction POC and SED‐fraction POC is about 88·89% and 62·76% respectively, with a substantial seasonal variation. δ¹³C values of SUS‐fraction POC (?26·56 to ? 22·89‰) is slightly lighter than that of SED‐fraction POC (?25·05 to ? 22·20‰), indicating that the contribution of aquatic biomass to δ¹³C values is more pronounced in the SUS‐fraction POC than in the SED‐fraction POC. The ‘bomb’–¹⁴C signature is not detected in the POC of Zengjiang River, and the contribution from geological organic carbon is very little. Δ¹⁴C values of the SED‐fraction POC vary from ? 44 to ? 223‰, and the Δ¹⁴C values of the SUS‐fraction POC vary from ? 33 to ? 165‰. For most paired samples, the SED‐fraction POC is generally more depleted in ¹⁴C than that of its counterpart SUS‐fraction POC. Compared with other small mountainous rivers, the ¹⁴C enrichment of POC in the Zengjiang River indicates slight drainage basin erosion. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.