Carbon-14 dating, the benchmark in archaeometry, is performed using particle accelerators coupled with mass spectrometry (AMS) to date archaeological organic materials weighing more than 3 mg.
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The AMS method (accelerator mass spectrometry) allows for dating organic archaeomaterials but also for analyzing ancient mortars. Thanks to cutting-edge technologies, our scientists obtain precise and rigorous results, enabling the establishment of a chronology of stratigraphies.
Aware of the constraints of preventive archaeology projects, we guarantee a turnaround time of 10 working days to provide dating results and their calibration.
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The carbon-14, also called radiocarbon, is a radioactive isotope of carbon, in the sense that it is unstable (it will transform over time). All living organisms possess this isotope. During the organism's life, the concentration of carbon-14 will be constant. As soon as an organism dies, the amount of carbon-14 decreases proportionally over time. Its concentration halves every 5730 years.
Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) is an advanced technology requiring only 1 mg of pure carbon. It offers an accuracy of ±25 to 35 years on the raw age, and the complete analysis takes only a few hours.
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AMS carbon-14 datingis one of our specialties. Thanks to this method, our laboratories are able to date a wide range of organic materials:
Before each measurement, samples undergo chemical pre-treatments to remove contaminants and extract the datable fractions (cellulose for wood, collagen for bone, etc.). Our teams adapt these processes according to the material.
The carbon will then need to be extracted to create a graphite target, and the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen will be analyzed. A complete analysis will be carried out, including raw age and calibrated dates. The results will then be compiled and commented on in a study report.
Despite these numerous steps, the CIRAM laboratories guarantee a turnaround time of 10 working days to provide dating results.
Request a studyPrior to dating, samples must be purified to remove contaminants. We apply ABA (Acid-Base-Acid) treatment, which consists of :
As for the bones, they undergo a series of preliminary treatments to extract the collagen. Here's how it works:
After the treatments and extractions, it is necessary to extract the carbon from the other elements: this is the graphitization stage. In this stage, the sample is burnt to produce CO₂, which is then reduced to graphite, a solid pure carbon. At the same time, the quality of the collagen is checked by measuring the stable isotopes of carbon and nitrogen using an isotope ratio mass spectrometer (IRMS) and determining the C/N ratio with an elemental analyzer.
Since 2018, over 20,000 samples have been analyzed. CIRAM laboratories have two automated analysis and graphitization lines, each including
Some bones, especially those burned or preserved in arid environments, no longer contain collagen or are too degraded for reliable dating.
To assess collagen conservation, we measure the C/N (carbon/nitrogen) ratio. If this ratio is between 2.9 and 3.6, classical carbon-14 dating on collagen is possible. On the other hand, if this threshold is not met, dating must be carried out on bioapatite, the mineral part of the bones.
In this case, the carbon dioxide contained in the bioapatite is extracted by reaction with phosphoric acid, then cryogenically purified to be isolated from the other elements. Finally, this CO₂ is transformed into graphite for analysis by gas pedal mass spectrometry (AMS).
CIRAM is a leader in AMS radiocarbon dating and the analysis of archaeomaterials. Our laboratories, equipped with the latest technologies, also carry out analyses in anthracology/xylology, organic residues, luminescence dating (TL/OSL), and isotopic analysis.
By following rigorous protocols similar to those of public laboratories, we guarantee reliable, precise, and rapid results, adapted to the requirements of preventive archaeology.
Our scientists do not just provide physical measurements: we also offer a detailed interpretation of the results, taking into account the specific archaeological context and your issues.
Contact our teamsAny organic material can be dated, such as wood, charcoal, bones, teeth, seeds, organic residues, peat, shells and so on.
This depends on the type of sample. For example:
| Materials | Minimum quantity required | Optimum quantity recommended |
| Wood | 20 mg | 100 mg |
| Charcoal | 20 mg | 100 mg |
| Organic residue | 20 mg | 100 mg |
| Seed | 20 mg | 100 mg |
| Shell | 50 mg | 100 mg |
| Beachrock | 50 mg | 100 mg |
| Peat | 50 mg | 100 mg |
| Bone, tooth, ivory | 0.5 g | 1 g |
| Burnt bone | 2 g | 3 g |
We provide a detailed shipping protocol to ensure samples are preserved until analysis.
We guarantee results within 10 working days of receipt of samples.
Yes, it can also be used to authenticate works of art and quantify the biomass content of industrial materials.
The CIRAM has dated two fossil woods whose exceptional preservation is explained in particular by their burial in a humid, oxygen-poor environment.
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