Hydroxyproline Dating: Experiments on the 14C Analysis of Contaminated and Low-Collagen Bones

Abstract

Dating of the amino acid hydroxyproline from bone collagen has been shown to produce accurate and reliable radiocarbon dates. Here, we present further application of the method demonstrating it can be used to obtain dates for both low collagen and contaminated bones, extending the capability of radiocarbon dating archaeological bone from conventional limits imposed by alternative pretreatment methods. The method therefore has potential for significantly benefiting the AMS dating community in the radiocarbon dating of archaeological bone.

DOI: 10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16301