During the last decade, several radiocarbon-dated varve chronologies have been produced. The main... more During the last decade, several radiocarbon-dated varve chronologies have been produced. The main goal at first was the extension of the 14C calibration curve beyond 10,000 BP. This paper aims to discuss varve chronologies of Soppensee and Holzmaar Lakes. Although both chronologies encountered problems, high-resolution 14C dating and relative varve time have been obtained for events during the Late Glacial.
This paper gives an overview of the origin of 14 C, the global carbon cycle, anthropogenic impact... more This paper gives an overview of the origin of 14 C, the global carbon cycle, anthropogenic impacts on the atmospheric 14 C content and the background of the radiocarbon dating method. For radiocarbon dating, important aspects are sample preparation and measurement of the 14 C content. Recent advances in sample preparation allow better understanding of long-standing problems (e.g., contamination of bones), which helps to improve chronologies. In this review, various preparation techniques applied to typical sample types are described. Calibration of radiocarbon ages is the fi nal step in establishing chronologies. The present tree ring chronology-based calibration curve is being constantly pushed back in time beyond the Holocene and the Late Glacial. A reliable calibration curve covering the last 50,000-55,000 yr is of great importance for both archaeology as well as geosciences. In recent years, numerous studies have focused on the extension of the radiocarbon calibration curve (INTCAL working group) and on the reconstruction of palaeo-reservoir ages for marine records. [Die Radiokohlenstoffmethode und ihre Anwendung in der Quartärforschung] Kurzfassung: Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Herkunft von Radiokohlenstoff, den globalen Kohlenstoffkreislauf, anthropogene Einfl üsse auf das atmosphärische 14 C und die Grundlagen der Radiokohlenstoffmethode. Probenaufbereitung und das Messen der 14 C Konzentration sind wichtige Aspekte im Zusammenhang mit der Radiokohlenstoffdatierung. Gegenwärtige Fortschritte in der Probenaufbereitung erlauben ein besseres Verstehen lang bekannter Probleme (z.B. die Kontamination von Knochen) und haben zu verbesserten Chronologien geführt. In diesem Überblick werden verschiedene Aufbereitungstechniken für typische Probengattungen beschrieben. Der letzte Schritt beim Erstellen einer Chronologie ist die Kalibration der Radiokohlenstoffalter. Die gegenwärtige auf Baumringzeitreihen basierende Kalibrationskurve wird stetig über das Holozän und Spätglazial hinaus erweitert. Eine zuverlässige Kalibrationkurve für die letzten 50.000-55.000 Jahre ist von herausragender Bedeutung sowohl für die Archäologie als auch die Geowissenschaften. In den letzten Jahren haben zahlreiche Studien an der Erweiterung der Radiokohlenstoff-Kalibrationskurve (INTCAL working group) und an der Rekonstruktion des Paläo-Reservoireffekts in marinen Archiven gearbeitet.
70| Czermno is the small village in the eastern part of Lublin Voivodship, but it is very importa... more 70| Czermno is the small village in the eastern part of Lublin Voivodship, but it is very important archaeological site. According to historians in the early Middle Ages, Czerwien/Czermno was one of the largest and most important centre (capitol) of Cherven Towns region. The area of the entire complex is estimated between approximately 75 and 150 hectares; a part of this area is marshy and waterlogged. Almost 30 yares ago, the discovery was made to the north-west of the earthwork of relics of timber causeways (presumably they linked open settlements established on the holms rising within the marshy valley of the Huczwa). These causeways were dated by dendro-th th chonology to the period 12 -13 century. Started in 2013, the cooperation of archaeologist with Quaternary geologists in exploration of Czermno can not only give the answer about the stronghold location. The geoarchaeological analysis of the site can also explain the origin of loess dust sources accumulated in Pleistocene (W...
One of the greatest challenges of contemporary archaeology is to synthesize the large amount of r... more One of the greatest challenges of contemporary archaeology is to synthesize the large amount of radiocarbon and archaeological data into a useful dialogue. For the late Epipaleolithic and the Early Neolithic of the Near East, many14C ages have been published without precise stratigraphic documentation. Consequently, for archaeological age models we often must use some more elementary approaches, such as probabilistic summation of calibrated ages. The stratigraphy of Körtik Tepe allows us for the first time to study an extended series of14C ages of the earliest Holocene. In particular, we are able to analyze the data according to stratigraphic position within a well-documented profile. However, because of a plateau in the14C age calibration curve at the transition from the Younger Dryas to the Early Holocene, dates of this period can be interpreted only if an extended sequence of dates is available. Due to problems remaining in the calibration procedure, the best way to achieve an in...
PERCORSI NEL PASSATO. MISCELLANEA DI STUDI PER I 35 ANNI DEL GRAVO E I 25 ANNI DELLA FONDAZIONE COLLUTO, 2018
Archeological structures have been widely used to infer the past relative sea level (RSL). Howeve... more Archeological structures have been widely used to infer the past relative sea level (RSL). However, pre-Classical settlement linked to sea level are rare and their use is generally limited, also for the dramatic changes occurred in the coastal landscape. An exception is represented by the lagoon belt east of Venice, where many Bronze- Age settlements are now exposed, thanks to the land reclamation carried out in the 20th century. The analysis or published information and of new stratigraphic-chronologic data allow to reconstruct sea-level rise. In addition, three different settlements categories are recognized: a) sites on Holocene fluvial ridges; b) sites on the alluvial plain of the Last Glacial Maximum settled along a groundwater-fed river; c) sites in the lagoon. Since 6000 years ago, the lagoon environment was already partly comparable to modern one in size, with the RSL around -4 m asl. At about 1800 BC, RSL was comprised between -3 and -2.7 m asl, whilst at the transition between recent and final Bronze Age (1250-1100 BCE) it was probably at -2.0 ± 0.6 m asl. The investigated settlements were abandoned during the final Bronze Age, or slightly before. At the end of Bronze Age the sea level seems to have been risen progressively, suggesting that this process was not strongly responsible of the demission phase of the coastal sites. It is likely that socio-cultural changes or other environmental factors should be considered.
NATO Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2005
High-resolution radiocarbon dating of tree ring sequences provides a tool to overcome complicatio... more High-resolution radiocarbon dating of tree ring sequences provides a tool to overcome complications of the radiocarbon calibration curve. The time (2500 BP) when the Pazyryk culture thrived in the steppes of Siberia coincides with wiggles on the radiocarbon calibration curve. Results of radiocarbon dating of tree logs from the Pazyryk 2 and Ulandryk 4 tombs allow wiggle matching to the
Summary 14 C analyses of organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5 with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) be... more Summary 14 C analyses of organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5 with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) bear the potential to contribute to the source apportionment of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles. For the separation of OC from aerosol samples, the system THEODORE (Two-step heating combustion system for the EC/OC separated determination of radiocarbon in the environment) was set up, which utilises
All results of measurements are presented versus depth on the figure. As expected, radiocarbon ag... more All results of measurements are presented versus depth on the figure. As expected, radiocarbon ages of carbonates have proved to be affected by high apparent age, ranging from few hundred up to 1500 years. Similar alteration observed for alkali-soluble fraction (SOL) may suggest, that this fraction comprises decomposed organic material, which had incorporated carbon dissolved in lake water. Furthermore, the
Radiocarbon enables a distinction between contemporary and fossil carbon, which can be used for t... more Radiocarbon enables a distinction between contemporary and fossil carbon, which can be used for the appor- tionment of biogenic and anthropogenic sources in environmental studies. In order to apply this approach to carbonaceous atmospheric aerosols, it is necessary to adapt pretreatment procedures to the requirements of 14C measurements. In this work, we followed an approach in which total carbon (TC)
Soils comprise the largest terrestrial mercury (Hg) pool in exchange with the atmosphere. To pred... more Soils comprise the largest terrestrial mercury (Hg) pool in exchange with the atmosphere. To predict how anthropogenic emissions affect global Hg cycling and eventually human Hg exposure, it is crucial to understand Hg deposition and re-emission of legacy Hg from soils. However, assessing Hg deposition and re-emission pathways remains difficult because of an insufficient understanding of the governing processes. We measured Hg stable isotope signatures of radiocarbon-dated boreal forest soils and modeled atmospheric Hg deposition and re-emission pathways and fluxes using a combined source and process tracing approach. Our results suggest that Hg in the soils was dominantly derived from deposition of litter (∼90% on average). The remaining fraction was attributed to precipitation-derived Hg, which showed increasing contributions in older, deeper soil horizons (up to 27%) indicative of an accumulation over decades. We provide evidence for significant Hg re-emission from organic soil horizons most likely caused by nonphotochemical abiotic reduction by natural organic matter, a process previously not observed unambiguously in nature. Our data suggest that Histosols (peat soils), which exhibit at least seasonally water-saturated conditions, have re-emitted up to one-third of previously deposited Hg back to the atmosphere. Re-emission of legacy Hg following reduction by natural organic matter may therefore be an important pathway to be considered in global models, further supporting the need for a process-based assessment of land/atmosphere Hg exchange.
Recent developments in Quaternary dating methods Irka Hajdas (1), Susan Ivy-Ochs (1, 2) &... more Recent developments in Quaternary dating methods Irka Hajdas (1), Susan Ivy-Ochs (1, 2) & Frank Preusser (3) (1) Ion Beam Physics, Paul Scherrer ... well as the landscape, where the animals were sent to graze (as an example for the Neolithic see Kühn and Hadorn 2004 and ...
During the last decade, several radiocarbon-dated varve chronologies have been produced. The main... more During the last decade, several radiocarbon-dated varve chronologies have been produced. The main goal at first was the extension of the 14C calibration curve beyond 10,000 BP. This paper aims to discuss varve chronologies of Soppensee and Holzmaar Lakes. Although both chronologies encountered problems, high-resolution 14C dating and relative varve time have been obtained for events during the Late Glacial.
This paper gives an overview of the origin of 14 C, the global carbon cycle, anthropogenic impact... more This paper gives an overview of the origin of 14 C, the global carbon cycle, anthropogenic impacts on the atmospheric 14 C content and the background of the radiocarbon dating method. For radiocarbon dating, important aspects are sample preparation and measurement of the 14 C content. Recent advances in sample preparation allow better understanding of long-standing problems (e.g., contamination of bones), which helps to improve chronologies. In this review, various preparation techniques applied to typical sample types are described. Calibration of radiocarbon ages is the fi nal step in establishing chronologies. The present tree ring chronology-based calibration curve is being constantly pushed back in time beyond the Holocene and the Late Glacial. A reliable calibration curve covering the last 50,000-55,000 yr is of great importance for both archaeology as well as geosciences. In recent years, numerous studies have focused on the extension of the radiocarbon calibration curve (INTCAL working group) and on the reconstruction of palaeo-reservoir ages for marine records. [Die Radiokohlenstoffmethode und ihre Anwendung in der Quartärforschung] Kurzfassung: Dieser Beitrag gibt einen Überblick über die Herkunft von Radiokohlenstoff, den globalen Kohlenstoffkreislauf, anthropogene Einfl üsse auf das atmosphärische 14 C und die Grundlagen der Radiokohlenstoffmethode. Probenaufbereitung und das Messen der 14 C Konzentration sind wichtige Aspekte im Zusammenhang mit der Radiokohlenstoffdatierung. Gegenwärtige Fortschritte in der Probenaufbereitung erlauben ein besseres Verstehen lang bekannter Probleme (z.B. die Kontamination von Knochen) und haben zu verbesserten Chronologien geführt. In diesem Überblick werden verschiedene Aufbereitungstechniken für typische Probengattungen beschrieben. Der letzte Schritt beim Erstellen einer Chronologie ist die Kalibration der Radiokohlenstoffalter. Die gegenwärtige auf Baumringzeitreihen basierende Kalibrationskurve wird stetig über das Holozän und Spätglazial hinaus erweitert. Eine zuverlässige Kalibrationkurve für die letzten 50.000-55.000 Jahre ist von herausragender Bedeutung sowohl für die Archäologie als auch die Geowissenschaften. In den letzten Jahren haben zahlreiche Studien an der Erweiterung der Radiokohlenstoff-Kalibrationskurve (INTCAL working group) und an der Rekonstruktion des Paläo-Reservoireffekts in marinen Archiven gearbeitet.
70| Czermno is the small village in the eastern part of Lublin Voivodship, but it is very importa... more 70| Czermno is the small village in the eastern part of Lublin Voivodship, but it is very important archaeological site. According to historians in the early Middle Ages, Czerwien/Czermno was one of the largest and most important centre (capitol) of Cherven Towns region. The area of the entire complex is estimated between approximately 75 and 150 hectares; a part of this area is marshy and waterlogged. Almost 30 yares ago, the discovery was made to the north-west of the earthwork of relics of timber causeways (presumably they linked open settlements established on the holms rising within the marshy valley of the Huczwa). These causeways were dated by dendro-th th chonology to the period 12 -13 century. Started in 2013, the cooperation of archaeologist with Quaternary geologists in exploration of Czermno can not only give the answer about the stronghold location. The geoarchaeological analysis of the site can also explain the origin of loess dust sources accumulated in Pleistocene (W...
One of the greatest challenges of contemporary archaeology is to synthesize the large amount of r... more One of the greatest challenges of contemporary archaeology is to synthesize the large amount of radiocarbon and archaeological data into a useful dialogue. For the late Epipaleolithic and the Early Neolithic of the Near East, many14C ages have been published without precise stratigraphic documentation. Consequently, for archaeological age models we often must use some more elementary approaches, such as probabilistic summation of calibrated ages. The stratigraphy of Körtik Tepe allows us for the first time to study an extended series of14C ages of the earliest Holocene. In particular, we are able to analyze the data according to stratigraphic position within a well-documented profile. However, because of a plateau in the14C age calibration curve at the transition from the Younger Dryas to the Early Holocene, dates of this period can be interpreted only if an extended sequence of dates is available. Due to problems remaining in the calibration procedure, the best way to achieve an in...
PERCORSI NEL PASSATO. MISCELLANEA DI STUDI PER I 35 ANNI DEL GRAVO E I 25 ANNI DELLA FONDAZIONE COLLUTO, 2018
Archeological structures have been widely used to infer the past relative sea level (RSL). Howeve... more Archeological structures have been widely used to infer the past relative sea level (RSL). However, pre-Classical settlement linked to sea level are rare and their use is generally limited, also for the dramatic changes occurred in the coastal landscape. An exception is represented by the lagoon belt east of Venice, where many Bronze- Age settlements are now exposed, thanks to the land reclamation carried out in the 20th century. The analysis or published information and of new stratigraphic-chronologic data allow to reconstruct sea-level rise. In addition, three different settlements categories are recognized: a) sites on Holocene fluvial ridges; b) sites on the alluvial plain of the Last Glacial Maximum settled along a groundwater-fed river; c) sites in the lagoon. Since 6000 years ago, the lagoon environment was already partly comparable to modern one in size, with the RSL around -4 m asl. At about 1800 BC, RSL was comprised between -3 and -2.7 m asl, whilst at the transition between recent and final Bronze Age (1250-1100 BCE) it was probably at -2.0 ± 0.6 m asl. The investigated settlements were abandoned during the final Bronze Age, or slightly before. At the end of Bronze Age the sea level seems to have been risen progressively, suggesting that this process was not strongly responsible of the demission phase of the coastal sites. It is likely that socio-cultural changes or other environmental factors should be considered.
NATO Science Series: IV: Earth and Environmental Sciences, 2005
High-resolution radiocarbon dating of tree ring sequences provides a tool to overcome complicatio... more High-resolution radiocarbon dating of tree ring sequences provides a tool to overcome complications of the radiocarbon calibration curve. The time (2500 BP) when the Pazyryk culture thrived in the steppes of Siberia coincides with wiggles on the radiocarbon calibration curve. Results of radiocarbon dating of tree logs from the Pazyryk 2 and Ulandryk 4 tombs allow wiggle matching to the
Summary 14 C analyses of organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5 with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) be... more Summary 14 C analyses of organic carbon (OC) in PM2.5 with accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) bear the potential to contribute to the source apportionment of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) particles. For the separation of OC from aerosol samples, the system THEODORE (Two-step heating combustion system for the EC/OC separated determination of radiocarbon in the environment) was set up, which utilises
All results of measurements are presented versus depth on the figure. As expected, radiocarbon ag... more All results of measurements are presented versus depth on the figure. As expected, radiocarbon ages of carbonates have proved to be affected by high apparent age, ranging from few hundred up to 1500 years. Similar alteration observed for alkali-soluble fraction (SOL) may suggest, that this fraction comprises decomposed organic material, which had incorporated carbon dissolved in lake water. Furthermore, the
Radiocarbon enables a distinction between contemporary and fossil carbon, which can be used for t... more Radiocarbon enables a distinction between contemporary and fossil carbon, which can be used for the appor- tionment of biogenic and anthropogenic sources in environmental studies. In order to apply this approach to carbonaceous atmospheric aerosols, it is necessary to adapt pretreatment procedures to the requirements of 14C measurements. In this work, we followed an approach in which total carbon (TC)
Soils comprise the largest terrestrial mercury (Hg) pool in exchange with the atmosphere. To pred... more Soils comprise the largest terrestrial mercury (Hg) pool in exchange with the atmosphere. To predict how anthropogenic emissions affect global Hg cycling and eventually human Hg exposure, it is crucial to understand Hg deposition and re-emission of legacy Hg from soils. However, assessing Hg deposition and re-emission pathways remains difficult because of an insufficient understanding of the governing processes. We measured Hg stable isotope signatures of radiocarbon-dated boreal forest soils and modeled atmospheric Hg deposition and re-emission pathways and fluxes using a combined source and process tracing approach. Our results suggest that Hg in the soils was dominantly derived from deposition of litter (∼90% on average). The remaining fraction was attributed to precipitation-derived Hg, which showed increasing contributions in older, deeper soil horizons (up to 27%) indicative of an accumulation over decades. We provide evidence for significant Hg re-emission from organic soil horizons most likely caused by nonphotochemical abiotic reduction by natural organic matter, a process previously not observed unambiguously in nature. Our data suggest that Histosols (peat soils), which exhibit at least seasonally water-saturated conditions, have re-emitted up to one-third of previously deposited Hg back to the atmosphere. Re-emission of legacy Hg following reduction by natural organic matter may therefore be an important pathway to be considered in global models, further supporting the need for a process-based assessment of land/atmosphere Hg exchange.
Recent developments in Quaternary dating methods Irka Hajdas (1), Susan Ivy-Ochs (1, 2) &... more Recent developments in Quaternary dating methods Irka Hajdas (1), Susan Ivy-Ochs (1, 2) & Frank Preusser (3) (1) Ion Beam Physics, Paul Scherrer ... well as the landscape, where the animals were sent to graze (as an example for the Neolithic see Kühn and Hadorn 2004 and ...
J. Reinhard / K. Weber / E. Gross / G.F. Schaeren / Ph. Rentzel / B. Steiner / I. Hajdas / St. St... more J. Reinhard / K. Weber / E. Gross / G.F. Schaeren / Ph. Rentzel / B. Steiner / I. Hajdas / St. Steiner-Osimitz, Fundmeldung 'Zug, Schützenmatt: Sondierbohrungen'. Tugium 32, 2016, 74-76.
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