Beta Analytic, the world leader of carbon-14 testing, has been providing radiocarbon dating and stable isotope analysis to the archaeological community since 1979. The lab utilizes the Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) technique to ensure the most advanced precision and accuracy for carbon-14 measurements.
Radiocarbon dating has been a powerful tool for archaeology due to its capability of determining the age of smaller samples and chronologies with a limit of approximately 50,000 years. The carbon-14 amount can be measured in a wide variety of sample types including bones, wood, textile, sediments, and shells, to name a few. Testing results reveal both the age of the sample tested and potential ages and chronologies of archaeological features and sites. Additionally, dates provide relevant data for quaternary and climate change studies. By analyzing lake and marine cores, sediments, macrofossils and foraminifera samples, scientists can identify climate chronologies such as temperature changes and glacial events.
Stable isotope analysis is also a widely used technique by archaeologists. The δ13C and δ15N measurements of bone and teeth samples can provide insights on ancient diets. These analyses can identify the food source in the food chain, which allows researchers to understand the diet of ancient peoples indicating whether they consumed a more terrestrial or marine-based diet and whether they were more herbivorous or carnivorous. Furthermore, measuring δ13C and δ18O in carbonates can be used to investigate paleoclimate and paleotemperature.
Beta Analytic was the first radiocarbon dating laboratory worldwide to receive the ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accreditation which is the highest level of recognized quality a testing and calibration facility can attain. We ensure that our clients benefit from the radiocarbon dating experience we provide which includes:
- Results delivered within 3-14 business days to meet their deadlines.
- All analyses include δ13C measurements by IRMS, quality assurance reports, and calendar calibration (when applicable).
- Accredited results providing unquestionable data for high end publication.
- Technical support in more than 9 languages including sampling advice to analyze the most suitable samples.
Join Beta’s scientific community by starting a conversation with an expert consultant
