MINISTÈRE DE L'ÉDUCATION NATIONALE, DE L'ENSEIGNEMENT SUPÉRIEUR ETDE LA RECHERCHE

Institut français d’archéologie orientale

The Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory

Analysis Report

IFAO _60

37, El-Sheikh Ali Youssef.street . BP Qasr el-Ainy 11562-11421 CAIRO – EGYPTTel: + 202 79 71 615 fax: +202 7944 635

C14@ifao.egnet.net mmahran @ifao.egnet.nethttp://www.ifao.egnet.net

Sample identification :Site : Belad al-ShamClient : Union Of Arab ArchaeologistsReference of the sample given by the client : 4BFMLaboratory Data base Registration Nr.  : 134

Sample Characteristics:Description

Sample of bio-organic material found on a basalt stone surface

Estimated Age by searcher : 1000 year Before ChristPretreatment in the laboratoryPhysical treatment :Macro contaminants were removed from the sample by mechanical

handpicking under optical microscope. The selected portion of the sample was

treated with H2O2 in order to chemically remove any possible source of surface

contamination.

Chemical treatment :The purified sample material was then converted to carbon dioxide by acid attack. The

obtained carbon dioxide was converted at 550°C into graphite by using ultrahigh purity

Hydrogen as reducing medium and 2 mg iron powder as catalyst. The sample yielded enough

graphite to allow an accurate determination of the radiocarbon age by the accelerator mass

spectrometer.

The radiocarbon concentrations have been determined by CEDAD - AMS

Radiocarbon Dating and IBA Facility_University of Lecce_Department of Engineering and

Innovation in the accelerator mass spectrometer by comparing the 12C, 13C currents and the14C counts obtained from the samples with those obtained from standard materials supplied

by IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) and NIST (National Institute of Standard and

Technology). The “conventional radiocarbon age” was calculated with a δ13C correction

based on the 13C/12C ratio measured directly with the accelerator.

For the estimation of the measurement uncertainty (standard deviation) both

the radioisotope counting statistics and the scattering of the data have been taken into

account. The larger of the two is given as:

Analysis Report IFAO_0060

Results 

Conventional 14C Age: -2150 ± 40 BP ( 1σ ) .(One δ 13C account measured: - 12,00 %± ,0,1 vs PDB)(Compared by reference standard from National Institute of Standards and Technology )

Calibrated 14C Date : 351 BC : 298 BC 23,9 % 228 BC : 222 BC 1,6 % 210 BC : 151 BC 32,1 % 140 BC : 112 BC 10,6 % ( 1σ )

260 BC : 87 BC 61,9 % 295 BC : 276 BC 30,0 % ( 2σ )

(Calibration curve  : IntCal 04 : Reimer .PJ and al .. 2004. IntCal 04 terrestrialradiocarbon age calibration ,0-26 cal kyr BP . Radiocarbon . 46 ( 3 ) 1029 – 1058 ).

For the publication of the results, we recommend the following presentation resulting fromthe International Conventions:

Dating by radiocarbon : Conventional age 14C : - 2150 ± 40 BP . (measured δ 13C of–12,00 ± 0,1% vs PDB reference ) .

Calibrated 14C Date : 351 BC : 298 BC  23,9 % 228 BC : 222 BC  1,6 % 210 BC : 151 BC  32,1 % 140 BC : 112 BC  10,6 % ( 1σ )

Calibration Curve: IntCal 04: Reimer PJ and Al. 2004. IntCal 04 terrestrial radiocarbonage calibration, 0-26 cal kyr LP. Radiocarbon. 46 (3) 1029 - 1058).

Note 

The conventional 14C age is expressed in years BP (before present, the present being by convention year1950). It is calculated by using the period of Libby ( 5568 years ) and by measured δ 13C of –12,00 % vs PDB). The uncertainty is given with a degree of confidence of 68,2 % of (either a sigma: 1σ ) .

The δ 14C activity is calculated in percent compared to the activity of the International Standard, with anuncertainty of more or less ( 1 sigma ) .The calibrated 14C date given above is the interval within probability of the true value is 68,3% (1 sigma)

It is expressed in years BC (Before Christ or before J-C.)or AD (Anno Domini or after J.-C.) . The date iscalculated using the calibration OxCal 4,0 calibration software (Bronk Ramsey C . 1995. Radiocarboncalibration and analysis of stratigraphy : the OxCal program. Radiocarbon 37 (2) 425-430 and BronkRamsey C. 2001. Development of radiocarbon calibration program OxCal, Radiocarbon 43 (2A) 355- 363)

Analysis Report IFAO_0060

Analysis Nature of the sample 14C Conventional Age ( 1σ ) Calibrated Date

IFAO _0060 Bio-organicmaterial -2150 ± 40 BP

Probability 68,2% (1σ)351 BC : 298 BC  23,9 %228 BC : 222 BC  1,6 %210 BC : 151 BC  32,1 %140 BC : 112 BC  10,6 %

Probability 95,4% (2σ)260 BC : 87 BC  61,9 %

295 BC : 276 BC  30,0 %

Calibration Diagram

Analysis Report IFAO_0060

4BFM

AnalysisReport IFAO_0060

Sampling spots on the stone by the IFAO Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory in Dubai -UAEthe bright color is the bio-oganic materials