Identification, Extraction, and Preparation of Reliable Lime Samples for 14 C Dating of Plasters and Mortars with the “Pure Lime Lumps” Technique

Dados Bibliográficos

ID9243183
AutoresGiovanni L A Pesce, Richard J Ball, Gianluca Quarta (0000-0002-3648-1411), Lucio Calcagnile (0000-0001-8800-218X)
Ano2012
Volume54
Fascículo3-4
Páginas933-942
Data de publicação2012-01-01
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoRadiocarbon (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 0033-8222 • E-ISSN: 1945-5755
EditoraCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0033822200047573
OpenAlexW1830310773
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas18
Referências citadas23

Radiocarbon dating was first applied to historic lime mortars during the 1960s. However, despite the relative simplicity of the technique in principle, a number of subsequent studies have highlighted important aspects that should be considered. One of the most significant of these challenges arises from sample contamination by carbonaceous substances such as incompletely burnt limestone and aggregates of fossil origin containing “dead” 14 C. More recent studies have shown that in the majority of old lime-based mixtures the contamination problem can be avoided through selection of pure lime lumps. These particular types of lumps are believed to originate from areas where the lime is incompletely mixed with the aggregate. It has been demonstrated that even a single lime lump can provide sufficient material for a 14 C date of the mortar from which the lump was taken (Pesce et al. 2009). This paper describes the practical challenges associated with location, extraction, and preparation of 4 lime lumps extracted from 2 new sites for 14 C dating. These include distinguishing the lime lumps from other lumps present in the matrix and the removal of material surrounding the lime lump. The coherence of 14 C dating with other archaeological information on the chronology of historic sites is highlighted through case studies

Archaeology · Geography · Lime · Lime mortar · Mineralogy · Mortar · Radiocarbon dating · Archaeological Research and Protection · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Geology and Paleoclimatology Research · Geology · Paleontology