Abstract

The small sample size of AMS radiocarbon dating has changed fundamentally the preferred archaeological material requirements. In addition to the charcoal, wood and large bone samples, commonly used for conventional radiocarbon dating by beta-ray counting, a large number of different materials such as steel, ivory, silk, small bone fragments, antlers, narwhal tusks, seeds, pine and spruce needles, food remains, mud brick and walls, egg shells, paper and parchment, ropes, copper tools, etc., are now commonly dated. A decade of experience bas shown that a careful selection of these materials on the basis of their archaeological use or function as well as the careful chemical extraction and purification of the appropriate fractions has improved the accuracy and reliability of the dating results and has solved archaeological problems which could not be solved by conventional radiocarbon dating. These successes and some of the spectacular failures have created new insights into the suitability of some materials and the limitations imposed by sample contamination.