Radiocarbon Sample Preparation at the Circe AMS Laboratory in Caserta, Italy

Passariello, Isabella; Marzaioli, Fabio; Lubritto, Carmine; Rubino, Mauro; D’Onofrio, Antonio; Cesare, N. De; Borriello, G; Casa, Giovanni Della; Palmieri, Antonio; Rogalla, Detlef; Sabbarese, C.; Terrasi, F.

doi:10.1017/s0033822200042156

Cited by 49 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…It is used to correct the measure-merits of unknown samples of C mass higher than 0.5 mg. The mean apparent age of the zinc process is comparable to the apparent age (53.3 ± 2.5 kyr, Passariello et al 2006) obtained in our lab for the H 2 /C0 2 process (sealed-tube combustion + hydrogen reduction), but it showed a greater variability in the 14 C content of the blanks. On the other hand, the result turns out to be significantly better than expected: measured modern C0 2 contamination introduced during zinc line sample processing is comparable to mean atmospheric contamination introduced by hydrogen using the same combustion procedures (Tuniz et al 1998;Hua et al 2001).…”

Section: Zinc Line 14 C Background Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Zinc reaction, because of the use of solid reagents and the possibility of pretreatments on solid reagents, has the potential for further improvements in terms of background. Since January 2006, in order to increase CIRCE graphite production through put to more than 1000 samples/yr (Passariello et al 2006), we decided to test and apply the sealedtube zinc reduction method in our 14 C preparation laboratory.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Zinc Reduction as an Alternative Method for AMS Radiocarbon Dating: Process Optimization at Circe

Marzaioli¹,

Borriello²,

Passariello³

et al. 2008

Radiocarbon

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ABSTRACT. The pretreatment of samples for radiocarbon measurements, transforming a variety of materials into graphite solid targets, represents a critical point in the accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) procedure. We describe the new, state-ofthe-art CIRCE AMS preparation laboratory, particularly the setup and optimization of an alternative method, the zinc reduc tion method, for graphite target production, compared to the more common hydrogen reduction method. Measured ,4 C values on standard and blank samples reduced via zinc reaction revealed mean background levels, accuracy, and sensitivity compa rable to those obtained by our conventional hydrogen reaction lines. Zinc line reduction at the CIRCE laboratory represents an effective and powerful alternative to the conventional hydrogen reduction, ensuring higher sample throughput with lower costs at a comparable performance level.

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Section: Zinc Line 14 C Background Characterizationsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zinc Reduction as an Alternative Method for AMS Radiocarbon Dating: Process Optimization at Circe

Marzaioli¹,

Borriello²,

Passariello³

et al. 2008

Radiocarbon

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“…Then the GEL fraction was obtained by heating the collagen to 70°C in a solution with pH 3 for 20 h [23]. Finally the gel was freeze-dried and used for the successive combustion and graphitization processes [24,25]. The obtained graphite was measured for the 14 C/ 12 C isotopic ratio using a NEC 3 MV accelerator mass spectrometer [26].…”

Section: Radiocarbon Datingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Convento di San Francesco a Folloni: the function of a Medieval Franciscan Friary seen through the burials

et al. 2015

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Background:The Franciscan Friary in Montella near Avellino in Southern Italy is of special interest because according to historical sources it was founded by St. Francis himself in AD 1221-1222. Human remains of several hundred individuals interred in the cloister walk have been unearthed during two excavation campaigns conducted in 2007-2008 and 2010. The environs of the friary have remained rural since the foundation preventing much modern contamination. The state of preservation of the skeletons is fair to good making a suite of analyses worthwhile. Results:The skeletons have been examined anthropologically and tissue samples have been subjected to radiocarbon dating, stable isotope measurements and trace element analyses by Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry and Cold Vapour Atomic Absorption Spectrometry. Conclusions:The radiocarbon dates are consistent with the historical sources and show that the cemetery in the cloister walk has been in uninterrupted use from the foundation of the friary in AD 1221-1222 and until the cemetery went out of use in AD 1524. The anthropological investigations show that the individuals interred at the friary would have been shorter than other Italians from the same time, and it seems that tuberculosis was more prevalent than leprosy. Isotopic measurements show a mixed agricultural and pastoral diet and none of the individuals were consuming marine protein. Based on the trace element analysis it seems that the people resided mainly at two distinct geographical areas, one of which was Montella. One individual stands out from the rest, because he was born and raised at some third geographical location distinct from Montella and because he sports the second oldest radiocarbon date of AD 1050-1249 (two sigma calibrated range). This date is consistent with the first generation of the founders of the friary-perhaps one of St. Francis' fellow travellers from Assisi.

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“…We isolated the rings corresponding to the years 2010, 2005, 2000, 1998, and 1997 from both trees and sliced them into small pieces, without homogenizing them. We pretreated the samples with the standard AAA method applied at CIRCE (Passariello et al 2007): a 3 % HCl solution attack of 1 hr; followed by a bath in a 3 % concentration of NaOH solution for 1 hr; and a final wash in a 3 % concentration of HCl solution for 1 hr. Between the different steps, the solution was sequentially rinsed with deionized water until reaching neutral pH.…”

Section: Fossil Dilution Investigationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The method normally employed at CIRCE for dating of wood samples is the AAA pretreatment with a concentration of all the solutions of 3% (Passariello et al 2007). Thus, we started with this method on 1 piece and repeated it 3 times on the other pieces, increasing the concentration of the alkali solution to 10% and 17%.…”

Section: Restoration Removal Testsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Preliminary Radiocarbon Analyses of Contemporaneous and Archaeological Wood from the Ansanto Valley (Southern Italy)

et al. 2012

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ABSTRACT. The Ansanto Valley (southern Italy) is characterized by hydrothermal phenomena, with volcanic gas emissions arising from some vents. In the 1 st millennium BC, a sanctuary dedicated to the goddess Mephitis was built but later destroyed by landslides in the valley. During archaeological excavations in the 1950s, many items were found including wooden artifacts, preserved thanks to the imbibition and subsequent mineralization of the wood tissues due to the gas emissions. Radiocarbon dating of these objects is underway at CIRCE (Centre for Isotopic Research on Cultural and Environmental Heritage), in Caserta, Italy. Unfortunately, 2 main problems arise in dating these materials. The first is possible fossil dilution caused by the C0 2 emitted from the nearby volcanic vents, which could affect the trees of the valley and also the archaeological materials. In order to determine the magnitude of the fossil dilution in the area, 14 C measurements were performed on contemporaneous wood cored from 2 oak trees growing near the vents. 14 C values measured in these samples confirmed the presence of a strong fossil dilution in the Ansanto Valley. The second problem is the restoration that the objects underwent during the last century (mostly by using modern organic substances). To investigate suitable pretreatment procedures for removing the restoration materials from the archaeological findings, contemporaneous wood was also analyzed. The wood of trees from the Ansanto Valley and from a distant village (unaffected by the Ansanto fossil dilution) were submitted to the same restoration process applied to the archaeological artifacts, followed by an "artificial weathering" process. Some archaeological materials were also tested for the removal of restoration materials. We subjected the artificially aged trees and the archaeological samples to different chemical processes. Here, we present the results of these processes. Almost all methods turned out to be suitable for the contemporaneous wood, while the results for the archaeological samples remain uncertain. For this reason, more tests are needed, concerning the "artificial weathering," the restoration, and the chemical procedure for removing the consolidation materials.

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Radiocarbon Sample Preparation at the Circe AMS Laboratory in Caserta, Italy

Cited by 49 publications

References 12 publications

Zinc Reduction as an Alternative Method for AMS Radiocarbon Dating: Process Optimization at Circe

Zinc Reduction as an Alternative Method for AMS Radiocarbon Dating: Process Optimization at Circe

Convento di San Francesco a Folloni: the function of a Medieval Franciscan Friary seen through the burials

Preliminary Radiocarbon Analyses of Contemporaneous and Archaeological Wood from the Ansanto Valley (Southern Italy)

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