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Radiocarbon Laboratory at the National Autonomous University of Mexico: First Set of Samples and New 14C Internal Reference Material

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Laura E Beramendi-Orosco*
Affiliation:
Laboratorio Universitario de Radiocarbono, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México City 04510, México
Galia Gonzalez-Hernandez
Affiliation:
Laboratorio Universitario de Radiocarbono, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México City 04510, México
Jaime Urrutia-Fucugauchi
Affiliation:
Laboratorio Universitario de Radiocarbono, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México City 04510, México
Ofelia Morton-Bermea
Affiliation:
Laboratorio Universitario de Radiocarbono, Instituto de Geofísica, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad Universitaria, México City 04510, México
*
Corresponding author. Email: laura@geofisica.unam.mx.
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Abstract

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This contribution reports the first set of samples and the creation of an internal reference material at the recently opened Radiocarbon Laboratory at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). Samples for the initial measurements were selected from archaeological and dating projects on Teotihuacán, one of the largest and best-studied Mesoamerican urban and ceremonial centers. The 14C dates were compared to results obtained by 2 other laboratories in order to assess the results obtained at UNAM and validate the adopted methodology. As part of the quality assurance protocol, an internal reference material was created that consists of charred wood from the Teotihuacán site with a 14C activity in the value range expected for samples from Mesoamerican archaeological sites. Results from 7 analyses have a mean of 1750 ± 16 BP (80.43 ± 0.16 pMC).

Type
Technical Report
Copyright
Copyright © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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