Hostname: page-component-7dd5485656-gs9qr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-10-31T22:41:53.720Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

High-Precision 14C Measurement of Irish Oaks to Show the Natural 14C Variations from 200 BC to 4000 BC

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

G W Pearson ,
J R Pilcher  and
M G L Baillie
G W Pearson
Affiliation:
Palaeoecology Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
J R Pilcher
Affiliation:
Palaeoecology Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
M G L Baillie
Affiliation:
Palaeoecology Centre, The Queen's University of Belfast, Northern Ireland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Bi-decade samples of dendrochronologically matched Irish Oak, measured with a precision of ca ± 20 years, covering the period 200 to 4000 BC are presented. The data are compared with the published data of Suess, de Jong, and Mook to provide a general calibration of the 14C time scale for this period. Although the dendrochronologic sequences presented are not absolutely tied to present, the best fit (based on 14C evidence) of the Belfast data to absolute chronologies, the error and evidence associated with such positioning is given. The intervals chosen for analysis were 20 years, reducing slightly the resolution of short-term variations when compared to 10-year intervals, which are sometimes measured. However, this calibration would suffice for most scientific purposes and certainly for the calendrical conversion of 14C dates derived from archaeologic samples.

Information

Type
I. Natural 14C Variations
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 25 , Issue 2: 11th International Radiocarbon Conference , 1983 , pp. 179 - 186
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Baillie, M G L, Pilcher, J R, and Pearson, G W, 1983, Dendrochronology at Belfast as a background to high-precision calibration, in Stuiver, Minze and Kra, Renee, eds, Internatl radiocarbon conf, 11th Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25.Google Scholar
de Jong, A F M, (ms) 1981 Natural 14C variations: Unpub Phd dissert, University Groningen.Google Scholar
de Jong, A F M, Mook, W G and Becker, B 1979, Confirmation of the Suess wiggles: 3200–3700 BC: Nature, v 280 p 48–49.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kruse, H H, Suess, H E and Becker, B, 1980, Computer-matched radiocarbon dates of floating tree-ring series, in Stuiver, Minze and Kra, Renee, eds, Internatl radiocarbon conf, 10th Proc: Radiocarbon v 22, no 2, p 260–266.Google Scholar
Pearson, G W, 1979, Precise 14C measurement by liquid scintillation counting: Radiocarbon, v 21, p 1–21.Google Scholar
Pearson, G W, 1980, High precision radiocarbon dating by liquid scintillation counting applied to radiocarbon time-scale calibration: in Stuiver, Minze, and Kra, Renee, eds, Internatl radiocarbon conf, 10th Proc: Radiocarbon, v 25.Google Scholar
Reinsch, C H, 1967, Smoothing by spline functions: Numerische Mathematik, v 10, p 177–183.Google Scholar
Scott, E M, Baxter, M S, and Aitchison, T C, in press, 14C dating reproducibility: Evidence from a combined experimental and statistical programme, in Internatl symposium on 14C and archaeology, 1st, Proc: Groningen, 1981, in press.Google Scholar
Stuiver, Minze, 1982, A high-precision calibration of the AD radiocarbon timescale: Radiocarbon, v 24, p 1–26 Google Scholar
Suess, H E, 1978, La Jolla measurements of radiocarbon in tree-ring dated wood: Radiocarbon, v 20, p 1–18.Google Scholar