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Radiocarbon Dating of Biochemically Characterized Hair

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

R. E. Taylor ,
P. E. Hare ,
Christine A. Prior ,
Donna L. Kirner ,
Lijun Wan  and
Richard R. Burky
R. E. Taylor
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0418 USA Also, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Riverside
P. E. Hare
Affiliation:
Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Road NW, Washington, DC 20015-1305 USA. Work was carried out during tenure as Regents' Lecturer, University of California, Riverside.
Christine A. Prior
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0418 USA
Donna L. Kirner
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0418 USA
Lijun Wan
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0418 USA
Richard R. Burky
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Department of Anthropology, University of California, Riverside, California 92521-0418 USA
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Abstract

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A series of 14C determinations have been obtained on hair samples principally from Holocene contexts that have been variously pretreated to examine different means of removing potential contamination. SEM photomicrographs have documented hair surfaces before and after different pretreatments. Amino-acid composition, C/N ratios and δ13C values have been obtained to biochemically characterize these samples and provide baseline data for future comparisons with less well-preserved samples. Our data support the view that appropriately pretreated hair samples can provide accurate 14C age determinations.

Type
II. 14C in Archaeology
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 37 , Issue 2 , 1995 , pp. 319 - 330
Copyright
Copyright © the Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona 

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