Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-27T10:33:34.543Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Mortar Dating Using AMS 14C and Sequential Dissolution: Examples from Medieval, Non-Hydraulic Lime Mortars from the Åland Islands, SW Finland

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Alf Lindroos ,
Jan Heinemeier ,
Åsa Ringbom ,
Mats Braskén  and
Ámy Sveinbjörnsdóttir
Alf Lindroos*
Affiliation:
Åbo Akademi University, Finland, Dept. of Geology and Mineralogy
Jan Heinemeier
Affiliation:
University of århus, Denmark, AMS Dating Centre
Åsa Ringbom
Affiliation:
Åbo Akademi University, Finland, Dept. of Art History
Mats Braskén
Affiliation:
Swedish Polytechnic, Vasa, Finland
Ámy Sveinbjörnsdóttir
Affiliation:
University of Iceland, Science Institute
*
Corresponding author. Email: alindroo@abo.fi.
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.

Non-hydraulic mortars contain datable binder carbonate with a direct relation to the time when it was used in a building, but they also contain contaminants that disturb radiocarbon dating attempts. The most relevant contaminants either have a geological provenance and age or they can be related to delayed carbonate formation or devitrification and recrystallization of the mortar. We studied the mortars using cathodoluminescence (CL), mass spectrometry (MS), and accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) in order to identify, characterize, and date different generations of carbonates. The parameters—dissolution rate, 13C/12C and 18O/16O ratios, and 14C age—were measured or calculated from experiments where the mortars were dissolved in phosphoric acid and each successive CO2 increment was collected, analyzed, and dated. Consequently, mortar dating comprises a CL characterization of the sample and a CO2 evolution pressure curve, a 14C age, and stable isotope profiles from at least 5 successive dissolution increments representing nearly total dissolution. The data is used for modeling the interfering effects of the different carbonates on the binder carbonate age. The models help us to interpret the 14C age profiles and identify CO2 increments that are as uncontaminated as possible. The dating method was implemented on medieval and younger mortars from churches in the Åland Archipelago between Finland and Sweden. The results are used to develop the method for a more general and international use.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 49 , Issue 1 , 2007 , pp. 47 - 67
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Ambers, J. 1987. Stable carbon isotope ratios and their relevance to the determination of accurate radiocarbon dates for lime mortars. Journal of Archaeological Science 14:569–76.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Baxter, MS, Walton, A. 1970. Radiocarbon dating of mortars. Nature 225(5236):937–8.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Charola, AE, Lewin, SZ. 1979. Efflorescences on building stones. SEM in the characterization and elucidation of the mechanisms of formation. Scanning Electron Microscopy 1:379–86.Google Scholar
Dansgaard, W. 1964. Stable isotopes in precipitation. Tellus 16:436–68.Google Scholar
Deer, WA, Howie, RA, Zussman, J. 1992. An Introduction to the Rock-Forming Minerals. 2nd edition. New York: Wiley. 696 p.Google Scholar
Delibrias, G, Labeyrie, J. 1965. The dating of mortars by the carbon-14 method. In: Chatters, RM, Olson, EA, editors. Proceedings from the 6th International Conference on 14C and Tritium Dating. Washington, D.C.: Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific & Technological Information, Natural Bureau of Standards. U.S. Dept. Commerce. p 344–7.Google Scholar
Folk, RL, Valastro, S Jr. 1976. Successful technique for dating of lime mortars by carbon-14. Journal of Field Archaeology 3:203–8.Google Scholar
Habermann, D, Neuser, RD, Richter, K. 2000. Quantitative high resolution spectral analysis of Mn2+ in sedimentary calcite. In: Pagel, M, Barbin, V, Blanc, P, Ohnenstetter, D, editors. Cathodoluminescence in Geosciences. New York: Springer-Verlag. p 331–58.Google Scholar
Hale, J, Heinemeier, J, Lancaster, L, Lindroos, A, Ringbom, Å. 2003. Dating ancient mortar. American Scientist 91(2):130–7.Google Scholar
Heinemeier, J, Jungner, H, Lindroos, A, Ringbom, Å, von Konow, T, Rud, N. 1997. AMS 14C dating of lime mortar. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 123(1–4):487–95.Google Scholar
Hoefs, J. 2004. Stable Isotope Geochemistry. 5th edition. New York: Springer-Verlag. 244 p.Google Scholar
Labeyrie, J, Delibrias, G. 1964. Dating of old mortars by the carbon-14 method. Nature 201(4920):742.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lindroos, A. 2005. Carbonate phases in historical building mortars and pozzolana concrete. Implications for AMS 14C dating [FD thesis]. Turku, Finland: Åbo Akademi University. ISBN 952-12-1560-7. 92 p.Google Scholar
Machel, H. 2000. Application of cathodoluminescence to carbonate diagenesis. In: Pagel, M, Barbin, V, Blanc, P, Ohnenstetter, D, editors. Cathodoluminescence in Geosciences. New York: Springer-Verlag. p 271–301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacLeod, G, Hall, AJ, Fallick, AE. 1990. An applied mineralogical investigation of concrete degradation in a major concrete road bridge. Mineralogical Magazine 54:637–44.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
MacLeod, G, Hall, AJ, Fallick, AE. 1991. Mechanism of carbonate mineral growth on concrete structures as elucidated by carbon and oxygen isotope analyses. Chemical Geology 86:335–43.Google Scholar
Marshall, DJ. 1988. Cathodoluminescence of Geological Materials. Boston: Unwin Hyman. 146 p.Google Scholar
Pachiaudi, C, Marechal, J, Van Strydonck, M, Dupas, M, Dauchot-Dehon, M. 1986. Isotopic fractionation of carbon during CO2 absorption by mortar. Radiocarbon 28(2A):691–7.Google Scholar
Ringbom, Å, Remmer, C. 1995. Ålands Kyrkor. Volume I. Hammarland Och Eckerö. Ålands landskapsstyrelse/museibyrån. 300 p. In Swedish with English summary.Google Scholar
Ringbom, Å, Remmer, C. 2000. Ålands Kyrkor. Volume II. Saltvik. Ålands landskapsstyrelse/museibyrán. 300 p. In Swedish with English summary.Google Scholar
Ringbom, Å, Remmer, C. 2005. Ålands Kyrkor. Volume III. Sund Och Vårdö. Ålands landskapsstyrelse/museibyrån. 336 p. In Swedish with English summary.Google Scholar
Ringbom, Å, Lindroos, A, Heinemeier, J, Lancaster, L, Hale, J. 2003. When did mortar harden? [abstract]. XVI International Congress of Classical Archaeology, AIAC conference. 23–26 August 2003, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA. Harvard University. p 54–5.Google Scholar
Ringbom, Å, Hale, J, Heinemeier, J, Lindroos, A, Brock, F. 2006. Mortar dating in medieval and classical archaeology. Construction History Newsletter 73:10–7.Google Scholar
Sonninen, E, Erämetsä, P, Jungner, H. 1985. Dating of mortar and bricks from the castle of Kastelholm. Iskos 5:384–9.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Smith, CS. 1965. Radiocarbon dating of ancient mortar and plaster. In: Chatters, RM, Olson, EA, editors. Proceedings of the 6th International Conference on Radiocarbon and Tritium Dating. Washington, D.C.: Clearinghouse for Federal Scientific & Technological Information, Natural Bureau of Standards. U.S. Department of Commerce. p 338–43.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Waldren, WH. 1975. 14C carbonate dating and the age of post-Talayotic lime burials in Mallorca. Nature 255(5508):475–6.Google Scholar
Swart, PK, Burns, SJ, Leder, JJ. 1991. Fractionation of the stable isotopes of oxygen and carbon in carbon dioxide during the reaction of calcite with phosphoric acid as a function of temperature and technique. Chemical Geology (Isotope Geoscience Section) 86:89–96.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tynni, R. 1982. On Paleozoic microfossils in clastic dykes on the Åland Islands and in the core samples from Lumparn. In: Paleozoic Sediments in the Rapakivi Area of the Åland Islands. Geological Survey of Finland, Bulletin 317:35–94.Google Scholar
Van Strydonck, M, Dupas, M. 1991. The classification and dating of lime mortars by chemical analysis and radiocarbon dating: a review. In: Waldren, WH, Ensenyat, JA, Kennard, RC, editors. Second Deya International Conference of Prehistory. Volume II. BAR International Series 574:5–43 Google Scholar
Van Strydonck, M, Dupas, M, Dauchot-Dehon, M. 1983. Radiocarbon dating of old mortars. In: Mook, WG, Waterbolk, HT, editors. 14C and Archaeology, Proceedings. PACT 8:337–43.Google Scholar
Van Strydonck, M, Dupas, M, Dauchot-Dehon, M, Pachiaudi, C, Marechal, J. 1986. The influence of contaminating (fossil) carbonate and the variation of δ13C in mortar dating. Radiocarbon 28(2A):702–10.Google Scholar
Van Strydonck, M, Dupas, M, Keppens, E. 1989. Isotopic fractionation of oxygen and carbon in lime mortar under natural environmental conditions. Radiocarbon 31(3):610–8.Google Scholar
Van Strydonck, MJY, van der Borg, K, de Jong, AFM, Keppens, E. 1992. Radiocarbon dating of lime fractions and organic material from buildings. Radiocarbon 34(3):873–9.Google Scholar
Wachter, EA, Hayes, JM. 1985. Exchange of oxygen isotopes in carbon dioxide-phosporic acid systems. Chemical Geology (Isotope Geoscience Section) 52:365–74.Google Scholar
Walters, LJ, Claypool, GE, Choquette, PW. 1972. Reaction rates and δ18O variation for the carbonate-phosphoric acid preparation method. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta 36(2):129–40.Google Scholar
Willaime, B, Coppens, R, Jaegy, R. 1983. Datation des mortiers du château de Châtel-sur-Moselle per le carbon 14. In: Mook, WG, Waterbolk, HT, editors. 14C and Archaeology, Proceedings. PACT 8:345–50. In French.Google Scholar
Yurtsever, Y. 1975. Worldwide survey of stable isotopes in precipitation. Rep. Isotope Hydrology Section. November 1975. Vienna: IAEA. 40 p.Google Scholar