ACRA Webinar: Radiocarbon Dating Basics

Based in Miami, Florida, Beta Analytic’s laboratory has been providing radiocarbon dates since 1979. This presentation will give an introduction to radiocarbon dating with a focus on what radiocarbon dating is and how it can be used. This includes a discussion on radiocarbon production in the atmosphere and integration into biological matter, carbon-14 variability in the recent past due to anthropogenic influences and the deep past due to solar cycles, and variability in dating uncertainty due to wiggles within the radiocarbon curve.

The presentation will discuss types of organisms and artefacts that can be dated using radiocarbon. Furthermore, there will be a focus on how radiocarbon is measured using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry and how that data can be used. Lastly, attendees will learn about recommendations on how to best select and prepare samples for radiocarbon dating.

Note: This webinar will occur on Eastern Time

Presenter

Maren Pauly, Beta Analytic, Scientific Associate

Maren Pauly is a paleoclimatologist who undertook her PhD in Natural Sciences at the Freie Universität Berlin and previously completed her Master of Science and Bachelor of Science at the University of Waterloo in Canada. She has research experience reconstructing climate from modern corals and subfossil tree-rings, in addition to Late Glacial radiocarbon calibration. She is currently working at Beta Analytic, providing technical support to clients in Scandinavia, while lecturing part-time at Bath Spa University.