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Holocene Variations in the Scottish Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Effect

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Philippa L Ascough ,
Gordon T Cook ,
Andrew J Dugmore ,
John Barber ,
Elaine Higney  and
E Marian Scott
Philippa L Ascough*
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, United Kingdom Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 OQF, United Kingdom
Gordon T Cook
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 OQF, United Kingdom
Andrew J Dugmore
Affiliation:
Institute of Geography, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH8 9XP, United Kingdom
John Barber
Affiliation:
AOC Archaeology Group, Edgefield Road, Loanhead EH20 9SY, United Kingdom
Elaine Higney
Affiliation:
Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre, Scottish Enterprise Technology Park, Rankine Avenue, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 OQF, United Kingdom
E Marian Scott
Affiliation:
Department of Statistics, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author: Email: pasc@geo.ed.ac.uk.
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Abstract

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We assessed the evidence for variations in the marine radiocarbon reservoir effect (MRE) at coastal, archaeological Iron Age sites in north and west Scotland by comparing AMS measurements of paired marine and terrestrial materials (4 pairs per context). ΔR values were calculated from measurements on material from 3 sites using 6 sets of samples, all of which were deposited around 2000 BP. The weighted mean of the ΔR determinations was −79 ± 17 14C yr, which indicates a consistent, reduced offset between atmospheric and surface ocean 14C specific activity for these sites during this period, relative to the present day (ΔR = ∼0 14C yr). We discuss the significance of this revised ΔR correction by using the example of wheelhouse chronologies at Hornish Point and their development in relation to brochs. In addition, we assess the importance of using the concepts of MRE correction and ΔR variations when constructing chronologies using 14C measurements made on materials that contain marine-derived carbon.

Type
Part II
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 46 , Issue 2: Proceedings of the 18th International Radiocarbon Conference (Part 2 of 2), Conference Editors: Nancy Beavan Athfield, Rodger J Sparks , 2004 , pp. 611 - 620
Copyright
Copyright © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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