Mesolithic Human Bones from the Upper Volga Basin: Radiocarbon and Trace Elements

Human bones from 3 Mesolithic sites in the Upper Volga basin were analyzed for trace elements, and dated by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS). The radiocarbon dates of the bones correspond to the Mesolithic era. However, some dates differ from those obtained for the enclosing deposits and for the worked wood fragments in the cultural layer. The elemental composition of the bones is interpreted in terms of increased concentrations of some elements and their impact on human health and behavior.

Stable carbon and radiocarbon isotope compositions of particle size fractions to determine origins of sedimentary organic matter in an estuary

Stable and radioactive carbon isotopic compositions of particle size fractions of a surface sediment from the Ems-Dollard estuary vary considerably with particle size. The organic material in the fine fractions (<20 µm) has considerably higher 14C values (14a~80%) than that in the coarse fractions (52%) and has higher δ13C values (average of -23‰ and -25.6‰, respectively). This shows that OM in the fine and the coarse fractions has different sources. The organic carbon in the fractions with particle sizes <20 µm is mainly imported from the North Sea. The contribution of material from the Ems river appears negligible. The carbon isotopic composition of the coarse fractions points to a terrestrial contribution. Discrete organic fragments are found of both terrestrial and marine/estuarine origin.

Atmospheric radiocarbon calibration to 45,000 yr BP: Late glacial fluctuations and cosmogenic isotope production

More than 250 carbon-14 accelerator mass spectrometry dates of terrestrial macrofossils from annually laminated sediments from Lake Suigetsu (Japan) provide a first atmospheric calibration for almost the total range of the radiocarbon method (45,000 years before the present), The results confirm the (recently revised) floating German pine chronology and are consistent with data from European and marine varved sediments, and combined uranium-thorium and carbon-14 dating of corals up to the Last Glacial Maximum, The data during the Glacial show large fluctuations in the atmospheric carbon-14 content, related to changes in global environment and in cosmogenic isotope production