‘Old wood’ effect in radiocarbon dating of prehistoric cremated bones?

Numerous reports of successful radiocarbon dating of cremated bones have emerged during the last decade. The success of radiocarbon dating cremated bones depends on the temperature during burning and the degree of recrystallisation of the inorganic bone matrix. During cremation bones undergo major morphological and mineralogical changes which have raised some interesting questions and discussion on the origin of the carbon source in archaeologically cremated bones. Recent laboratory experiments reveal that the properties of the combustion atmosphere play a significant role regarding the source carbon in cremated bones. Thus radiocarbon dating cremated bones is potentially dating the wood used for the cremation fire. Here we compare a high precision radiocarbon dated human bone with an associated dendrochronological age from an oak coffin. We find that the age discrepancy between the dendrochronological age and the cremated bone of 73 ± 26 14C yr is best accounted for by the so called ‘old wood’ effect.

Prehistoric Archaeology, Gubbio Museo Comunale, Umbria

Contribution to Gubbio commune Museum – Palazzo dei Consoli

Hagar Qim and Mnajdra Visitor Centre, Ggantija Visitor Centre:Prehistoric World Heritage Sites visitor centre media and academic content

2010-12 Expert Assistance with research material, digital illustration and text for Visitor Centres in Malta and Gozo (Heritage Malta) and National Museum

Intensive survey of prehistoric sites in the Stilo region, Calabria.

Hodder, I. and C.A.T. Malone, . Proceedings of the Prehistoric Society

English Heritage Official Guidebook to the monuments of Avebury.:The prehistoric monuments of Avebury

Malone, C., 1990, (numerous reprints and in several languages), London, HBMC-English Heritage.

English Heritage Official Guidebook to the monuments of Avebury.:The Prehistoric Monuments of Avebury

Malone, C., 1990, (numerous reprints and several languages), London, HBMC-English Heritage.