Some problems in the study of the chronology of the ancient nomadic cultures in Eurasia (9th - 3rd centuries BC)

This research is focused on the chronological investigations of ancient nomads belonging to the Scythian cultures which occupied the steppe and forest-steppe zones of Eurasia during the 9th-3rd centuries BC. The 14C dates for the pre-scythian and early scythian time in both Europe and Asia are presented and compared to their chronological position based on archaeological evidence. The first 14C dates have been produced for the Scythian time monuments located in the Lower Volga River basin, Urals and Transurals regions. Their chronological positions are compared with the position of the monuments of Southern Siberia and Central Asia. It was shown that the nomadic cultures belonging to the Scythian culture began to exist over the wide territory of Eurasia from the 9th-8th centuries cal BC and there are some monuments which may be synchronous to the Arzhan royal barrow (the oldest monument known). A list of new 14C dates and a map of the monuments are presented

Recent Developments in the Procedures Used at the Sscer Laboratory for the Routine Preparation of Lithium Carbide

From the 16th International Radiocarbon Conference held in Gronigen, Netherlands, June 16-20, 1997.In this paper we describe and discuss the advantages from improvements in equipment design and operating procedures developed at the State Scientific Centre of Environmental Radiogeochemistry (SSCER) laboratory in Kiev. Two experimental areas are considered, viz. 1. The direct chemisorption into a lithium alloy of carbonaceous gases produced by the controlled thermal degradation (pyrolysis) of organic materials under vacuum. This approach offers the advantage of a single stage, highly efficient and economical procedure for the production of lithium carbide. It is applicable for most types of sample material encountered in routine dating work and including organic detritus dispersed in a highly (up to 95% by weight) mineral matrix and/or carbonates. Bone collagen can also be processed without the need for its prior extraction and purification. 2. A conical thin walled reaction vessel for achieving improved and reproducible recoveries in the production of lithium carbide from CO2 gas. This apparatus allows a much improved control over the surface dependent reaction in instances where there is no option other than the direct interaction of molten lithium with prepared CO2 gas.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

Recent Developments in the Procedures Used at the SSCER Laboratory for the Routine Preparation of Lithium Carbide

From the 16th International Radiocarbon Conference held in Gronigen, Netherlands, June 16-20, 1997.In this paper we describe and discuss the advantages from improvements in equipment design and operating procedures developed at the State Scientific Centre of Environmental Radiogeochemistry (SSCER) laboratory in Kiev. Two experimental areas are considered, viz. 1. The direct chemisorption into a lithium alloy of carbonaceous gases produced by the controlled thermal degradation (pyrolysis) of organic materials under vacuum. This approach offers the advantage of a single stage, highly efficient and economical procedure for the production of lithium carbide. It is applicable for most types of sample material encountered in routine dating work and including organic detritus dispersed in a highly (up to 95% by weight) mineral matrix and/or carbonates. Bone collagen can also be processed without the need for its prior extraction and purification. 2. A conical thin walled reaction vessel for achieving improved and reproducible recoveries in the production of lithium carbide from CO2 gas. This apparatus allows a much improved control over the surface dependent reaction in instances where there is no option other than the direct interaction of molten lithium with prepared CO2 gas.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

The Chronology of the Subotiv Settlement

From the 16th International Radiocarbon Conference held in Gronigen, Netherlands, June 16-20, 1997.Samples collected at the Chornoliska culture site near the village of Subotiv, Cherkasy region during the 1994-1995 Ukrainian-German expedition were radiocarbon dated in Kiev. The foundation of the Subotiv settlement dates to 1300-1200 cal BC. A skeleton found in one of the buildings at this site is dated at the end of the early period (between 1120 and 1040 cal BC). In the youngest part (a small town) of the Subotiv settlement, we found the remains of a "building sacrifice"—the skeleton of a teenager. The average calibrated date for this skeleton is 834-807 cal BC, whereas the timber from the rampart dates between 902-810 cal BC. Thus, the rampart was apparently built between 834-807 cal BC. Among the objects found on the site were Arzhan-type bone arrowheads. Such arrowheads, when found in Eastern Europe, are believed to indicate the military expansion of Proto-Scythian nomads. The Sargary settlement in western Kazakhstan dates to 960-820 cal BC, the Arzhan arrow in Siberia to 960-850 cal BC. We assume that the Chornogorivka complexes in eastern Eurasia date to the earlier time period (960-820) than those in western Eurasia (834-807). The time of the Chornogorivka expansion on the territory of Ukraine is therefore within the range 834 to 820 BC.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

Chronological Problems with Neolithization of the Northern Caspian Sea Area and the Forest-Steppe Povolzhye Region

Steppe and forest-steppe areas of the Povolzhye area (Caucasus and central Asia) bear much interest for the Neolithic in connection with the productive economy of the region at the time. Recent data have allowed correction of the region’s chronology. A number of 14C dates denote the existence of the Neolithic in this territory as early as the 5th to 6th millennium BP. However, some questions are still under debate and require further data to clarify.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202

14C Cycle in the Hot Zone around Chernobyl

Radiocarbon from the Chernobyl accident was released mainly in two forms: fine dispersed reactor graphite, and carbon dioxide from burning graphite. The CO2 was partly assimilated by annual and perennial vegetation. Reactor graphite dispersed over a wide territory was taken up biochemically by micromicetes, transforming non-organic carbon of the reactor graphite into organic matter. Organic matter of micromicetes is the main nutrition product for soil organisms such as bacteria, worms, larvae of insects, small beetles, etc. The following relatively independent trophic chains are considered: 1. carbon dioxide → leaves, grass → insects; 2. graphite → micromicetes, protozoa, insects. The 14C content in beetles of different species sampled in the 30-km hot zone of the Chernobyl accident site in 1986-1988 agrees well with the contamination levels of insect habitats as well as with their biology.

Radiocarbon Dating of Neolithic Pottery

The direct measurement of organic matter included in archaeological pottery may yield a reliable assessment of age. The main problem consists in the identification of possible origins and assessment of distortion for the age of organic inclusions. Our experiments show that shells included in pottery fabrics are strongly influenced by the reservoir effect, which may reach 500 yr or more. Other organic inclusions, such as lake ooze, do not visibly distort the age. The obtained series of radiocarbon dates have been used for the assessing the age of the early stages of pottery manufacture in southern Russia.The Radiocarbon archives are made available by Radiocarbon and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform February 202