The Best possible Time resolution: How precise could a Radiocarbon dating method be?

Abstract

Today, accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) technology enables us to carry out very precise measurements of radiocarbon (14C). Unfortunately, due to fluctuations in the 14C calibration curve, the resulting calibrated time intervals vary from decades up to centuries in calibrated age. Within a time scale of several decades, we can find several time intervals on the 14C calibration curve which correspond with periods of rapid increases in atmospheric 14CO2 activity. Some of these “high slope” parts of the calibration curve could be used for fine time resolution for radiocarbon dating of individual samples. Nevertheless, there are certain limitations owing to the properties of the samples measured. We have prepared a time-resolution curve for the 14C dating method, applying calibration curve IntCal13 and assuming an uncertainty of 14C analyses ±15 yr BP (for recent samples). Our curve of the time resolution covers the last 50 ka. We found several time intervals with time resolution below 50 yr BP for the last 3 ka. Several time intervals which can enable substantially better time resolution compared to neighboring parts of the calibration curve were also found for periods older than 3 ka.

Clustering of Calibrated Radiocarbon Dates: Site-Specific Chronological Sequences Identified by Dense Radiocarbon Sampling

“…The results show that events separated by under 100 years can be detected in optimal parts of the calibration curve and even in the less optimal parts, the necessary gap does not usually exceed 300 years. In general, it can be said that the expected resolution of clustering of calibrated 14 C dates is similar to the expected resolution of the dating itself, as reported by Svetlik et al (2019).…”

“…The chronological development of this site in the second millennium BC is, nevertheless, well documented and the depositional processes understood by now, Figure 1 Minimum gap between simulated events necessary to correctly detect them using clustering of calibrated 14 C dates. Expected resolution of dating according to Svetlik et al (2019) shown for comparison.…”

On the tuning of plateaus in atmospheric and oceanic <sup>14</sup>C records to derive calendar chronologies of deep-sea cores and records of <sup>14</sup>C marine reservoir age changes

“…IntCal20, compared to previous versions of the 14 C calibration curve, profits from a multitude of improvements in all 14 C archives beyond 14 cal kyr. These include new highresolution 14 C and U-Th data from Hulu Cave , reanalysis of the Lake Suigetsu timeline (Bronk Ramsey et al, 2020), updates in the calendar scale and MRA modeling of the Cariaco basin 14 C dataset (Hughen and Heaton, 2020), floating tree-ring 14 C sequences (Adolphi et al, 2017;Turney et al, 2010Turney et al, , 2016Capano et al, 2018Capano et al, , 2020, and modeling MRA time variations to correct the marine-based records (Butzin et al, 2020). These have then been combined using a more robust Bayesian spline statistical approach (Heaton et al, 2020b) that aims to identify shared features seen in multiple records without being overly influenced by individual outlying 14 C measurements that may not provide an accurate representation of atmospheric 14 C levels.…”

Prehistoric Charcoal Graffiti Discovered in Kateřinská Cave, Czech Republic

“…Subsequently, the samples were graphitized using metallic zinc as a sole reduction agent (Rinyu et al 2013(Rinyu et al , 2015Orsovszki and Rinyu 2015). Measurement of graphites was performed at the MICADAS system in the Hertelendi Laboratory of Environmental Studies (DebA), ATOMKI HAS in Debrecen, Hungary (Molnár et al 2013a(Molnár et al , 2013bHandlos et al 2018;Svetlik et al 2019).…”