Development of <sup>14</sup>C Dating of Mortars at ETH Zurich
Irka Hajdas, Mantana Maurer, Maria Belen Röttig
Abstract
ABSTRACT The ages of mortars and plaster can help reveal the history of monuments, their construction, or restoration times. However, these anthropogenic carbonates pose a challenge when it comes to separation of the atmospheric radiocarbon ( 14 C) signal of the CO 2 fixed in the mortar at the time of consolidation, i.e., the time of binder formation. The variety and heterogeneity of mortars require individual assessments of each sample and 14 C results. Here we present our current preparation method and summarize experience based on results collected during the last 20 years of mortar dating at the ETH laboratory.
Topics & Concepts
MortarRadiocarbon datingConsolidation (business)Accelerator mass spectrometryGeologyArchaeologyMineralogyGeochemistryHistoryAccountingBusinessBuilding materials and conservationArchaeology and ancient environmental studiesGeology and Paleoclimatology Research