Successful AMS 14 C Dating of Non-Hydraulic Lime Mortars from the Medieval Churches of the Åland Islands, Finland

Datos Bibliográficos

ID9243164
AutoresJan Heinemeier (0000-0003-3024-6709), Åsa Ringbom (0000-0002-7774-496X), Alf Lindroos, Árný E Sveinbjörnsdóttir
Año2010
Volumen52
Número1
Páginas171-204
Fecha de publicación2010-01-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaRadiocarbon (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0033-8222 • E-ISSN: 1945-5755
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0033822200045124
OpenAlexW2186062638
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas58
Referencias citadas20

Fifteen years of research on accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating of non-hydraulic mortar has now led to the establishment of a chronology for the medieval stone churches of the Åland Islands (Finland), where no contemporary written records could shed light on the first building phases. In contrast to other material for dating, well-preserved mortar is abundantly available from every building stage. We have gathered experience from AMS dating of 150 Åland mortar samples. Approximately half of them have age control from dendrochronology or from 14 C analysis of wooden fragments in direct contact with the mortar. Of the samples with age control, 95% of the results agree with the age of the wood. The age control from dendrochronology, petrologic microscopy, chemical testing of the mortars, and mathematical modeling of their behavior during dissolution in acid have helped us to define criteria of reliability to interpret the 14 C results when mortar dating is the only possibility to constrain the buildings in time. With these criteria, 80% of all samples reached conclusive results, and we have thus far been able to establish the chronology of 12 out of the 14 churches and chapels, while 2 still require complementary analyses

Absolute dating · Accelerator mass spectrometry · Archaeology · Chronology · Dendrochronology · Geochemistry · Geography · Lime · Lime mortar · Mortar · Radiocarbon dating · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Cultural Heritage Materials Analysis · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Geology · Paleontology