At CIRAM, we put our expertise in archaeometry to archaeologists, museums, and institutions for reliable and relevant carbon 14 dating.
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Whether you are working on bones, teeth, charcoal, peat, or other organic remains, carbon-14 dating can provide decisive informations. It allows you to:
At CIRAM, we're with you every step of the way, from sample preparation to interpretation of results.
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For accurate and reliable carbon-14 dating, CIRAM uses rigorous analysis techniques tailored to the specific characteristics of archaeological samples:
Our team of experts selects the most appropriate techniques according to the nature of your sample and your research objectives.
Find out more about carbon-14 dating by AMSThe analysis process at CIRAM is rigorous and transparent:
We discuss your research objectives and advise you on the best analytical approach.
We provide you with clear instructions on how to collect and send the sample, while respecting conservation protocols.
Our experts carefully prepare the sample to eliminate contamination and guarantee accurate results.
We carry out carbon-14 analysis using the most appropriate technique.
We provide you with a detailed analysis report and help you integrate the results into the archaeological context.
By choosing CIRAM for your carbon 14 dating, you benefit from:
Trust CIRAM for reliable and relevant carbon 14 dating, carried out in compliance with the strictest scientific standards.
Contact our teamsCarbon-14 dating can be used to date a wide variety of organic artifacts, such as bones, wood, charcoal, seeds, pollen, shells, peat 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 |
Carbon-14 dating is effective for dating modern objects (21st century) back some 50,000 years.
We provide a detailed shipping protocol to ensure samples are preserved until analysis.
The duration of a carbon 14 analysis depends on the nature of the sample and the technique used. It generally takes 10 working days to obtain the results.
Thanks to 3D imaging and X-rays, you can explore the inside of funeral urns without opening them, revealing their contents and state of preservation.
Thermoluminescence (TL) makes it possible to accurately date heated ceramics, terracotta and minerals by analyzing their last exposure to a heat source.
Determine the age of sediments and geological formations using optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), an essential method for reconstructing ancient environments.
Identify the composition and age of ancient mortars to better understand construction techniques and chronologically align heritage structures.
The CIRAM has dated two fossil woods whose exceptional preservation is explained in particular by their burial in a humid, oxygen-poor environment.
Discover the differences between scientific dating methods: Carbon 14, thermoluminescence (TL), and OSL.
Discover how mass spectrometry applied to archaeology enables precise dating and analysis of ancient materials.
Discover the advantages, limitations, and concrete examples of cross-dating methods in an archaeological context.
The dating of mummies is an essential analysis that allows archaeologists to accurately reconstruct the history of civilizations.
Find out how carbon-14 dating supports preventive archaeology and preserves France's heritage.
