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Suitability of Ostrich Eggshell for Radiocarbon Dating

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

John C Vogel,
Ebbie Visser and
Annemarie Fuls
John C Vogel
Affiliation:
Quaternary Dating Research Unit, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Email: jvogel@csir.co.za.
Ebbie Visser
Affiliation:
Quaternary Dating Research Unit, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Email: jvogel@csir.co.za.
Annemarie Fuls
Affiliation:
Quaternary Dating Research Unit, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, P.O. Box 395, Pretoria 0001, South Africa. Email: jvogel@csir.co.za.
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Abstract

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Ostrich eggshell from archaeological sites remains largely free of more recent carbon contamination and as such is suitable material for radiocarbon dating. The carbonate fraction of the shell does, however, display an initial deficit in 14C, which causes the ages to appear 180 ± 120 yr too old.

Information

Type
Notes and Technical Comments
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 43 , Issue 1 , 2001, pp. 133 - 137
Copyright
Copyright © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

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