Best practice methodology for 14C calibration of marine and mixed terrestrial/marine samples

• Published in: Quaternary Geochronology
• Main Authors: Cook, G.T., Ascough, P.L., Bonsall, C., Hamilton, W.D., Russell, N., Sayle, K.L., Scott, E.M., Bownes, J.M.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V. 2015
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/104463/; https://eprints.gla.ac.uk/104463/1/104463.pdf

There is a lack of detailed guidance in the published literature on how to calibrate 14C measurements made on marine or mixed marine/terrestrial (primarily human remains) samples. We describe what we consider to be the best approach towards achieving the most accurate calibrated age ranges, using the most appropriate ΔR and percentage marine diet estimates, and associated, realistic error terms on these values. However, this approach will increase the calibrated age range(s) by fully accounting for the variability in both the model and the material. While the discussion is based on examples from the UK and Iceland, the same fundamental arguments can be applied in any geographic location largely devoid of C4 plants as the high δ13C values from such plants can make identification of marine intake difficult to determine.