Radiocarbon age of consolidants and adhesives used in archaeological conservation

Crann, Carley; Grant, Tara

doi:10.1016/j.jasrep.2019.03.023

Cited by 7 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…There is no record and no visual evidence of the maize remains being treated with consolidants or adhesives. The application of most of the commonly used consolidants and adhesives would result in older, not younger, ages than anticipated (Crann and Grant 2019). Three of the organic consolidants and glues analyzed by Crann and Grant (rabbit skin glue, technical gelatine, and wheat starch) produced modern ages.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dating of Meadowcroft Rockshelter Maize

Hart

Adovasio

2022

Radiocarbon

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The Meadowcroft Rockshelter in southwestern Pennsylvania is best known for its pre-Clovis occupation. Potentially important for later times is the recovery of maize macrobotanical remains from higher strata dating as early as the 4th century BC based on radiometric radiocarbon (14C) dates on wood charcoal. These remains have been considered to be potentially as old as the earliest microbotanical evidence for maize in Michigan, New York and Québec recovered from directly dated charred cooking residues adhering to pottery. The results of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) dating 17 samples from maize specimens from all Meadowcroft strata producing maize, indicate that the specimens originated from historical use of the shelter, most likely after AD 1800. These results further emphasize the need to obtain direct dates on maize macrobotanical remains recovered from early contexts prior to the development and common use of AMS dating.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dating of Meadowcroft Rockshelter Maize

Hart

Adovasio

2022

Radiocarbon

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“…Because those substances contain carbon, it is critical prior to AMS 14 C dating that museum materials be treated with routine acid–alkali–acid rinses in combination with organic solvents specific to every conservation substance [ 102 , 103 ] ( figure 2 ). The apparent 14 C ages of the most commonly used solvents group into two classes: ones with modern 14 C content (post-1950 AD) and those with age ranges of 15 000 to more than 40 000 years [ 104 ]. Depending on the age of the fossil, solvents can, therefore, cause bones to be dated older or younger than their actual age.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bone need not remain an elephant in the room for radiocarbon dating

Herrando‐Pérez

2021

R. Soc. open sci.

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Radiocarbon ( 14 C) analysis of skeletal remains by accelerator mass spectrometry is an essential tool in multiple branches of science. However, bone 14 C dating results can be inconsistent and not comparable due to disparate laboratory pretreatment protocols that remove contamination. And, pretreatments are rarely discussed or reported by end-users, making it an ‘elephant in the room’ for Quaternary scientists. Through a questionnaire survey, I quantified consensus on the reliability of collagen pretreatments for 14 C dating across 132 experts (25 countries). I discovered that while more than 95% of the audience was wary of contamination and would avoid gelatinization alone (minimum pretreatment used by most 14 C facilities), 52% asked laboratories to choose the pretreatment method for them, and 58% could not rank the reliability of at least one pretreatment. Ultrafiltration was highly popular, and purification by XAD resins seemed restricted to American researchers. Isolating and dating the amino acid hydroxyproline was perceived as the most reliable pretreatment, but is expensive, time-consuming and not widely available. Solid evidence supports that only molecular-level dating accommodates all known bone contaminants and guarantees complete removal of humic and fulvic acids and conservation substances, with three key areas of progress: (i) innovation and more funded research is required to develop affordable analytical chemistry that can handle low-mass samples of collagen amino acids, (ii) a certification agency overseeing dating-quality control is needed to enhance methodological reproducibility and dating accuracy among laboratories, and (iii) more cross-disciplinary work with better 14 C reporting etiquette will promote the integration of 14 C dating across disciplines. Those developments could conclude long-standing debates based on low-accuracy data used to build chronologies for animal domestications, human/megafauna extirpations and migrations, archaeology, palaeoecology, palaeontology and palaeoclimate models.

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“…Although no official accurate survey exists, it is estimated that a significant proportion of paintings in museum collections have undergone conservation and restoration treatments. This implies that upon inadequate sample preparation procedures, i. e ., incomplete removal of restoration products, the measured 14 C date may be significantly biased [41] . In addition to older ages caused by 14 C depleted petroleum‐based conservation materials, younger ages can also result, for instance when a naturally‐derived substance such as beeswax has been used.…”

Section: Radiocarbon (14c) Dating and Heritage Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

“…This implies that upon inadequate sample preparation procedures, i. e., incomplete removal of restoration products, the measured 14 C date may be significantly biased. [41] In Figure 1. A) Bildnis Margrit mit roter Jacke und Konzertkleid, Franz Rederer, 1962, oil on canvas, 100 × 140 cm, Photograph: SIK-ISEA (Philipp Hitz).…”

Section: Radiocarbon ( 14 C) Dating and Heritage Sciencementioning

confidence: 99%

Compound Specific Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice

Hendriks

Portmann

2022

Helvetica Chimica Acta

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For generations, humanity has preserved customs, places, objects, artistic expressions, and values – our cultural heritage. The use of color on cultural heritage objects is ubiquitous and found on artefacts from prehistoric rock art to present day contemporary artworks. The chemical identification of the colored materials used within an artwork often provides information about the work's origin. At the simplest level, a comparison of the materials present with information on their first date of discovery indicates the earliest possible period in which the colored artefact was created. More precise constraints on the date of creation can be provided by radiocarbon (14C) dating, however until today no such analysis has ever been conducted on the compounds responsible for the object's color. The analysis of natural organic dyes and pigments is challenging, as the limited sampling access, their low concentrations and presence in highly complex matrix, are all major challenges to be overcome. The separation of intermingled carbon sources is without question the most difficult problem, yet feasible with the help of compound specific radiocarbon analysis (CSRA). Here, we discuss the potential of radiocarbon dating isolated natural organic dyes and pigments and explore new routes to date cultural heritage objects.

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Radiocarbon age of consolidants and adhesives used in archaeological conservation

Cited by 7 publications

References 9 publications

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dating of Meadowcroft Rockshelter Maize

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dating of Meadowcroft Rockshelter Maize

Bone need not remain an elephant in the room for radiocarbon dating

Compound Specific Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice

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Radiocarbon age of consolidants and adhesives used in archaeological conservation

Cited by 7 publications

References 9 publications

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dating of Meadowcroft Rockshelter Maize

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Dating of Meadowcroft Rockshelter Maize

Bone need not remain an elephant in the room for radiocarbon dating

Compound Specific Radiocarbon (14C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice

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Product

Resources

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Compound Specific Radiocarbon (¹⁴C) Dating of Our Colorful Past: from Theory to Practice