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An Attempt at Absolute 14C Dating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Jacob Szabo
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
Israel Carmi
Affiliation:
Department of Environmental Sciences and Energy Research, Weizmann Institute of Science, P.O. Box 26, 76100 Rehovot, Israel
Dror Segal
Affiliation:
Israel Antiquities Authority, 91004 Jerusalem, Israel
Eugenia Mintz
Affiliation:
Israel Antiquities Authority, 91004 Jerusalem, Israel
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Abstract

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The accepted state-of-the-art 14C dating method relies on calibration curves to determine initial 14C levels in a sample. The paper reconsiders the basis of 14C dating and offers a possible alternative that eliminates the need to employ calibration curves. The idea is to measure the level of radiogenic nitrogen atoms retained in the sample molecules after 14C β-decay. The practicality of this alternative method still has to be proven.

Type
Part 1: Methods
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

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