The analysis and interpretation of radiocarbon dates can involve many steps, such as switching between units or time-scales, assessing the impacts of contamination, applying marine or other offsets, inspecting calibration curves, calibrating dates, extracting probabilities from calibrated distributions, and analysing and plotting multiple dates. Here, we present rice, a new open-source R package which, together with other packages such as rbacon, Bchron, coffee and clam, enables users to perform such calculations within R, thus allowing most of the steps from data entry to calibration, age-modeling and subsequent analysis and interpretation of time-series to be performed within a single widely-used, multi-platform, transparent and open-source software environment. All calculation steps are documented and can be inspected, and users can also write new/enhanced functions. The package could thus prove useful in both educational and research settings.

La Marmotta is one of the best-preserved Early Neolithic lakeshore settlements in the Mediterranean, yet its chronology has remained poorly defined. Previous interpretations relied mainly on decoration-based ceramic classifications and a limited radiocarbon dataset, hindering our understanding of the site’s occupational dynamics and its role in the wider European Neolithic. This study presents a revised chronological framework grounded in 35 radiocarbon determinations, including 22 new dates on short-lived botanical remains and selected wooden artifacts. The samples were carefully selected from well-documented contexts to minimise post-depositional disturbance and analyzed using Bayesian modeling. Radiocarbon results were interpreted in parallel with a detailed reassessment of ceramic artifacts and decorations. This integrated approach suggests that ceramic variability does not reflect a succession of different phases, but rather the cultural diversity of a single, dynamic community.

The results of radiocarbon dating of modern fish bone collagen from the Upper Lena River have identified a large and highly variable freshwater reservoir effect, with a maximum offset age of 2389 ± 19 14C yr BP. Variable contributions from both dissolved bedrock carbonate and permafrost soil melt were identified as the drivers for these reservoir offsets using a combination of bulk and amino acid specific stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, as well as the novel application of strontium isotope ratios (87Sr/86Sr) to the study of reservoir effects. Strontium isotope ratios were used as a means of identifying the contributions of dissolved limestone and dolostone carbonate to the fish tissues in comparison to their associated radiocarbon (14C) offset ages. An updated model for δ13C and 14C age offsets in fish bone collagen was produced to interpret the potential combined contributions of old carbon from both permafrost soil melt and carbonates from bedrock erosion. The wide range of 14C offset ages identified in this study poses challenges to producing robust corrections for both modern and archaeological reservoir effects in human populations. Specifically, there is a need to address the potentially wide range of 14C ages which fish could represent, rather than using reservoir effect correction models which function best with uniform endmember contributions of old carbon.

This paper presents 56 AMS radiocarbon dates from three early medieval sites in Italy: nine from the Roman Villa of Vacone in Vacone (RI), Lazio, 29 from the Roman Villa of Selvicciola in Ischia di Castro (VT), Lazio, and 18 from the necropolis of Povegliano Veronese (VR), Veneto. These results more than double the number of previously published radiocarbon dates from early medieval Italy and are therefore a substantial contribution to the absolute chronology of early medieval cemeteries of Italy. These dates have implications for the relative dating of grave goods, grave reuse, and explaining the presence of graves with multiple individuals.

This research presents AMS radiocarbon dating results obtained from recently excavated burials and dwellings at three sites—Xiaxinguang, Wulasitai, and Daxigougoukou—located in the Wulasitai Valley of the Middle Tian Shan Mountains and attributed to the Chawuhu culture. The Bayesian modeling of these data yields a high-resolution chronological framework for Early Iron Age activity in the valley. The results identify a tripartite sequence comprising an Early Stage (cal 900–750 BC), a Middle Stage (cal 750–400 BC), and a Late Stage (cal 400–100 BC), with potential continuity into the turn of the Common Era. The δ13C and δ15N values suggest C3 plant–based diets with moderate animal protein intake, though some individuals show nearly pure plant consumption. Furthermore, through the integration of radi ocarbon data and contextual analysis, the research underscores that the Early Stage of the Chawuhu culture was contemporaneous with the Early Iron Age occupations of eastern Kazakhstan and the Altai region. Particular attention is drawn to the significance of residential graves at Xiaxinguang and Daxigougoukou, where child burials were intentionally integrated into domestic architecture, reflecting complex social and ritual practices. Additionally, radiocarbon evidence indicates that the transition from single to multiple interments occurred between the Early and Middle Stages. These discoveries offer important insights into settlement organization, mortuary practices, and cultural dynamics in the region during the Early Iron Age.

The 14C marine reservoir age in the North Atlantic and Norwegian Sea has varied through the late glacial period. Here I present a curve, called Norcoast25, for the calibration of late glacial and Early Holocene marine 14C ages from the Norwegian coast. I also present a table of ΔR values that could be used for the calibration of 14C ages with Marine20. The results are based on paired 14C dates of terrestrial plant fragments and articulated marine shells found in shallow marine deposits on the outer coast of Western Norway. The shells calcified in marine water and the 14C reservoir ages represent the surface water off the Norwegian coast. The ΔR value relative to Marine20 decreases from + 300 14C yr at 14.4 cal ka BP to − 100 14C yr at 14.2 cal ka BP and is constant throughout the Allerød. At the transition to the Younger Dryas (YD) the ΔR value increases, and reaches a maximum in the middle YD of + 80 14C yr. At the YD/Early Holocene boundary, the ΔR value drops 200 14C yr. These late glacial ΔR values from Norway’s west coast are 150–300 14C yr lower than has been reconstructed from 14C-dated sediment cores from the open ocean. The Norcoast25 calibration curve can be uploaded to the OxCal calibration program. A link to the file (Norcoast25.14c) is provided at the end of the paper.

The chronology of Late Glacial and Early Holocene dune formation and wildfire activity at the Łaskarzew site, eastern Poland, was reconstructed using a combination of accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) radiocarbon dating (14C) and optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating. The stratigraphic profile records 13 aeolian-soil cycles, characterized by alternating phases of aeolian deposition, soil formation, and wildfire episodes, reflecting the interplay between short-term climatic oscillations and aeolian processes. Radiocarbon dates were obtained from 26 charcoal samples embedded within palaeosols and charcoal horizons and calibrated using the IntCal20 curve, while OSL dating of quartz grains provided additional chronological control for aeolian sediments. The integration of these two dating methods established a robust timeline of environmental changes. The aeolian activity began during the Oldest Dryas and intensified during the Allerød interstadial, with four distinct wildfire events associated with rapid vegetation recovery and fire-prone landscapes. The Younger Dryas was marked by widespread aeolian deposition under arid climatic conditions, with no organic layers preserved. In the Holocene, nine independent wildfire episodes spanning approximately 4500 years were identified, linked to warm climatic conditions and the dominance of pine forests. Aeolian activity persisted into the Middle Holocene, accumulating nearly three meters of sediment before stabilizing around 7 ka BP due to increased vegetation cover. This study underscores the effectiveness of integrating radiocarbon and luminescence dating to resolve Late Quaternary chronologies, providing insights into fire-vegetation dynamics and aeolian processes within the European Sand Belt.

River deltas play a crucial role in the global carbon cycle, acting both as significant carbon sinks and as sources of CO₂ to the atmosphere. The Rhône River delta is a key site for studying these processes due to its high sedimentation rates and its unique radiocarbon signatures influenced by anthropogenic activities. This study compiles over 10 years of research to assess the sources and fate of organic matter (OM) in the Rhône River delta, using stable (δ13C) and radiogenic (Δ14C) carbon isotopes. New data from the MissRhoDia II campaign (2018) are compared with previous datasets (CarboRhone 2012; DICASE 2014) to analyze the interactions between terrestrial, riverine, and marine OM sources. The study examines sedimentary processes along a transect from the river mouth to the continental shelf, considering both sediment burial and porewater analyses. Results indicate that OM mineralized in proximal sediments is primarily of terrestrial origin, freshly supplied by the river, and potentially influenced by nuclear-related activity. In contrast, on the continental shelf, remineralization occurs at a slower rate due to the limited availability of organic substrate and isotopic signatures reveal a predominantly marine origin with a minimal anthropogenic influence. In the Rhône pro-delta sediments, the burial of radiocarbon-free organic carbon (aOC) underscores the role of sediment transport in long-term carbon storage, with contributions from both petrogenic and aged terrestrial organic carbon sources. The mineralization of young, labile carbon and the burial of more refractory carbon create significant differences between the 14C signatures measured in porewaters and sediments, highlighting the need to analyze both compartments. This study improves our understanding of carbon dynamics in the Rhône delta and provides valuable perspectives to better understand coastal carbon budgets, carbon sources, as well as the anthropogenic influence on marine ecosystems.

Radiocarbon dating is essential for establishing robust chronologies in archaeological and paleoenvironmental contexts spanning the last 55,000 years. Pottery, pervasive in the archaeological record, offers a crucial framework for dating human activity during the Holocene. Traditionally, radiocarbon dating of pottery has relied on targeting carbonaceous inclusions such as organic temper or measuring stratigraphically associated materials like bone and charcoal. Inaccuracies can arise, however, if the targeted fraction does not reflect the timing of vessel use or if stratigraphic associations are uncertain. An alternative involves radiocarbon dating of lipid residues, particularly fatty acids absorbed into the ceramic matrix during the processing and storage of plant and animal-derived resources. This approach holds promise for delivering highly accurate measurements directly correlating to vessel use. At the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, efforts have been made to develop this methodology through compound-specific radiocarbon dating of pottery, employing a gas chromatography (GC)-preparative fraction collector (PFC) approach. Here, we describe the protocol and present preliminary findings, including analyses conducted on pottery samples sourced from an archaeological site with an established chronology.

Burial mounds, or kurgans, are a widespread archaeological feature in ancient Eurasia. In the South Caucasus, the Kura-Araxes (KA) culture adopted these funerary structures to express horizontal social ideology through collective inhumations. KA communities also constantly re-engaged with the dead through the regular reopening of burials, contributing to a rich organic archive that relates to episodes of funerary manipulation. This article reports on the results of a radiocarbon wiggle-match obtained from a semi-burnt branch of Juniperus sp. associated with Kurgan 8 at Uzun Rama (Ganja, Azerbaijan). This structure yielded evidence of burial activity during the KA I phase (ca. 3500–3000/2900 BCE) and the post-KA, the “Early Kurgan” period (ca. 2500–2000 BCE), and the Late Bronze Age (ca. 1500–1150 BCE). The sample came from a wooden structure constructed and then burnt in the ritual closure of the kurgan by fire, marking the final stage of its KA use. The results of the wiggle-match allowed us to produce a close estimate for the felling of the branch, thus providing a refined Terminus Post Quem (TPQ) for the construction of the wooden structure itself and its use within 3204–3174 BCE. These results shed light on finer temporal resolution of burial history not just pertaining to funerary sequences, but also in terms of social engagement with visible landmarks and long-term cultural or generational memory. The results correlate with broader trends observed in other KA kurgans and settlements excavated along the Kura basin, pointing at large-scale landscape (or even historical) reconfigurations across the Kura-Araxes world.

Radiocarbon dates have become a cornerstone in archaeological reconstructions of past population dynamics. The increasing reliance on large-scale radiocarbon databases, usually aggregated from diverse sources, however, raises persistent concerns about sampling bias, especially heterogeneous sampling intensity across sites. In this paper, we introduce a rescaling method that adjusts the frequency of dates in radiocarbon datasets in proportion to dwelling counts at the settlement level, using weighting and bootstrap resampling. Through a series of simulations, we show that this approach consistently yields probability distributions that more closely reflect hypothetical population trends, particularly in contexts with high inter-settlement variability in sampling intensity. We apply our method to archaeological data from two areas in Korea, the Yeongsan and Geum River Basins, during the Proto–Three Kingdoms (1C BC–AD 3C) and Three Kingdoms Periods (AD 4–7C). Results demonstrate that rescaled datasets offer significantly different interpretations of population organization and reconfiguration than those derived from original data. This study highlights the importance of addressing sampling heterogeneity in local-scale demographic research and suggests that rescaling is a valuable complement to existing bias-correction strategies in archaeological studies of demography.

The discovery of radiocarbon (14C) peaks in AD 774–775 and AD 993–994 sparked the search for other anomalous events, leading to the identification of one around 660 BC. However, the ∼660 BC event appears to show a more prolonged increase, raising the question whether the event is qualitatively different. To investigate this, we measured high-latitude tree rings from Finnish Lapland, expected to be highly sensitive to energetic particle events. We measured the 14C content of full rings, as well as their separated earlywood and latewood components. We found that the 14C concentrations start rising already in the latewood of 665 BC and reach almost its full intensity by 664 BC. This rapid increase is similar to that at another high-latitude site (Yamal, Russia) but contrasts with that of low-latitude sites, which show a later peak. The earlier increase of the 14C at high-latitude tree rings compared to lower latitudes is consistent with similar observations for the AD 774 and AD 993 Miyake events. Based on carbon-cycle box modeling, the structure of the subsequent amplitude increase can be explained by either single or double initial 14C pulses. The fast increase coupled with a slower subsequent peak structure suggests similar mechanisms behind the high-latitude observations, i.e., tropospheric 14C production and/or a fast component of polar air flow across the tropopause combined with the full stratospheric-tropospheric CO2 exchange. Our results strongly emphasize the need for dynamic carbon cycle models to understand the observed differences between high- and lower-latitude data.

The Nerja Cave is a key archaeological site in the Southern Iberian Peninsula. It was inhabited by humans from the Upper Palaeolithic until recent Prehistory (30 and 3.7 ka cal BP). Various excavation campaigns performed in its external chambers (Vestíbulo, Mina and Torca) have recovered evidence of its use as habitat and burial site. Multiple studies on these matters have been published, but, until now, no Bayesian chronological modeling that utilized radiocarbon dates of the three chambers has been performed. To do so, all the available radiocarbon dates and stratigraphic and archaeological data have been compiled. These comprehend ample and diverse information about which, firstly, individual phase models based on the stratigraphic sequence of each one of the chambers have been created. After critically evaluating the results for each of the chambers, a general phase model for the prehistoric occupation of the external chambers has been created considering the cultural adscription of the samples. This has enabled the identification of 11 phases which correspond to the different technocomplexes of the Gravettian, Solutrean, Magdalenian, Epipalaeolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic and Chalcolithic. Still pending are the refinement and improvement of the model for the Neolithic horizon among other phases of the sequence. The individual and the general models have evidenced important differences between the different archaeological phases in radiocarbon information as well as in the occupation of the three chambers.

The reduction of anthropogenic methane emissions is a priority due to its potent global warming potential. Radiocarbon (14C) can distinguish between methane from natural biogenic and fossil fuel sources, however, the analysis of methane 14C by conventional accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) techniques is demanding. At SUERC, a prototype positive ion mass spectrometer (PIMS) is set up to directly analyze 14C in methane with minimal sample preparation. Methane gas was mixed with a stoichiometric amount of oxygen in an open split and admitted directly into the source. A series of modern, blank and unknown methane samples were clearly distinguishable by their 14C/13C raw ratios. The collision cell gas flowrate was then increased to lower the limit of detection. We obtained a corrected 14C/13C raw ratio of less than 2 × 10–13 for blank fossil methane which corresponds to a radiocarbon age greater than 50 kyr. Modern biogenic methane had a measured 14C/13C raw ratio approaching 1 × 10–10 which is consistent with the nominal value of contemporary atmospheric methane. These first results indicate that PIMS has the potential to be a valuable new analytical technique for screening the 14C content of biogas and in climate research studies.

We report the results of radiocarbon dating performed at the ETH laboratory on soft tissue of the mummified body found in September 1991 on the Hauslabjoch in the Ötztaler Alps (near the Similaun Mountain), South Tyrol. Over the past three decades, additional analyses of the sample, which had been stored frozen in a glass jar, have improved the precision of the first published radiocarbon ages. The frozen jar and the story of a mummified body found in the Alps fascinated visitors to the laboratory, mostly primary and high-school students. As part of educational projects, 11 samples were prepared and analyzed, yielding a combined radiocarbon age of 4525 ± 7 BP. This agreement with 4550 ± 27 BP, i.e., the very first results by Bonani et al. (1994), highlights the quality of the analysis performed decades ago. The combined age of all the 14C ages measured at the ETH laboratory is 4527 ± 7 BP.

We present a short database of the mole fraction of CO2 and 14CO2 in atmospheric air samples from an urban area in Gliwice, Silesia, Poland. The research covered a period from August 2023 to July 2024. A new laboratory air sampler stand was established to monitor carbon dioxide levels in Gliwice, giving the possibility to determine CO2 levels in the air using appropriate instruments to collect the air samples, extract CO2 from them, and thus measure carbon isotopes ratio 14C/12C. The analysis of the mole fraction of CO2 was determined using a low-cost system (CARBOCAP GMP343), while the carbon isotopes concentration was measured using MICADAS. The 14C in the air samples varied randomly from –55 to –24‰, while the monthly mole fraction of CO2 varied from 428 to 470 ppm. It has been also observed also that CO2 concentration is linked with the planetary boundary layer. The fraction of fossil of total CO2 has been estimated at the level of 2.5% during the investigated period of time. Another aim of this study was to investigate pine needles as 14C archives in a contemporary environment. The examination of the needles was based on the analysis of the similarities and differences in radiocarbon concentrations in pine needles of various ages collected in the middle of consecutive seasons, with 3 months resolution in Gliwice. The concentration of 14C in the needles was determined using a liquid scintillation counter. The mean F14C from all the samples was 99.80(70) pMC.

The date of the Thera eruption has been a subject of intense debate since the mid-20th century. In recent years, the disagreements have escalated with the introduction of IntCal20. The increased number of annual measurements around the time period of the eruption has highlighted potential fluctuations in the atmospheric radiocarbon record, shedding new light on the date of the disastrous event. The Centre for Isotope Research in Groningen has already contributed data from this time period to IntCal20, and here, we report a new set of annual data of approximately 90 radiocarbon measurements between 1660 and 1507 BCE. We investigate the potential anomalies in the calibration curve and compare our dataset with those from other leading laboratories. Although we do not find compelling evidence of any rapid increases in radiocarbon production during this period, the results do point to the presence of minor differences between datasets which could be species, region or laboratory pretreatment related. By quantifying such offsets, we assess their impact on chronological models related to the eruption of Thera.

Between 2021 and 2023, the Center for Applied Isotope Studies (CAIS) tested over 500 samples for biobased carbon content under the United States Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Biopreferred Program using the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) biobased testing standard D6866. We describe some of the novel approaches we used to prepare a diverse array of biobased products and summarize those radiocarbon test results and success rates in meeting the USDA Minimum Biobased Content (MBC).

Radiocarbon dating by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) requires transforming samples into graphite, a step that typically depends on liquid nitrogen and high-purity carrier gases, increasing both cost and operational complexity. We present μGRAPHILINE, a fully automated, modular combustion–graphitization line that removes these dependencies by combining dual-zone combustion with iron–zinc reduction. Performance was evaluated on more than 180 standards and reference materials targets measured on two independent AMS systems. The μGRAPHILINE consistently achieved >90% graphitization yields, stable backgrounds of ∼0.24 pMC (≈48,500 BP), and sample throughput of ∼3.5 hours per target. Reliable operation was demonstrated for a broad sample-size range, from routine 1 mg C down to ∼0.2 mg C, with ion currents sufficient for precise AMS analysis. The system’s automation, modularity, and low memory effect support improved laboratory throughput and operator efficiency. These results indicate that μGRAPHILINE provides a robust and efficient approach to radiocarbon sample preparation with broad potential applications.

The suitability of marine limpet shells for radiocarbon dating may depend on potential offsets due to diet and habitat, especially with regard to grazing mollusks on carbonate substrates (Dye 1994; England et al. 2013). A previous study on one grazing limpet species on the coast of Ireland found no offsets from carbonate substrates (Allen et al. 2019), but a similar study from mediterranean coasts found significant offsets on carbonate substrates (Ferguson et al. 2011). We carried out a new study of radiocarbon and stable carbon isotopes, using multiple species of mollusks collected live from the coasts of Gibraltar and Sardinia, from both carbonate and non-carbonate substrates. The 14C results indicate that one species, inhabiting the upper shore, has a significant offset at the carbonate locations. This species, Patella rustica, has adapted to tolerate desiccation and may have biological traits that result in higher metabolic-derived carbon incorporated in its shell. The results of this preliminary study imply that selected species of grazing mollusks are suitable for radiocarbon dating, even in areas of carbonate geology.