Matthias Huels

Kiel University | CAU · Leibniz-Labor für Altersbestimmung und Isotopenforschung

This paper presents the results of analyses of metal artefacts discovered at a multi-phase site in Nowe Brzesko, Małopolskie Voivodeship, Poland. Fieldwalking prospection led to the discovery of steely iron objects, ploughed out on the site among other numerous archeological finds. A prospecting sondage yielded more corroded metal artefacts, identi...

This paper presents the results of analyses of metal artefacts discovered at a multi‐phase site in Nowe Brzesko, Małopolskie Voivodeship, Poland. Fieldwalking prospection led to the discovery of steely iron objects, ploughed out on the site among other numerous archeological finds. A prospecting sondage yielded more corroded metal artefacts, identi...

This article presents measurements of the radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) concentration in sub-annual tree rings. Samples of earlywood (EW) and latewood (LW) from dendrochronologically dated tree rings (English oak, Quercus robur ) from Kujawy, near Kraków (Poland), spanning the years of 990–997 CE, are extracted and their ¹⁴ C content is measured at the Cente...

The absolute dating of documents is still one of the most important challenges for forensic document examiners (FDE). The potential difference between the date on a questioned document and the actual year of production of the used paper can be only 1 to 5 years. Until now, there was no analytical method with this accuracy available. This study demo...

Here we report radiocarbon measurements made on wheat seed tissue (Triticum aestivum L.; winter or spring type growth habit), from the seed archive of the IPK Gatersleben, Sachsen-Anhalt, Germany, which was harvested between 1946 and 2020. The results give an overview of 75 years of radiocarbon concentration evolution in agricultural plant products...

The occurrence of rapid last glacial temperature shifts in both Greenland ice and subpolar marine sediment cores, so-called Dansgaard-Oeschger (D-O) cycles, is evidence of a tight regional climate connectivity in these northern latitudes. By contrast, processes behind high-to-low-latitude teleconnections during the D-O cycles are less well understo...

While there is substantial evidence for art and symbolic behaviour in early Homo sapiens across Africa and Eurasia, similar evidence connected to Neanderthals is sparse and often contested in scientific debates. Each new discovery is thus crucial for our understanding of Neanderthals’ cognitive capacity. Here we report on the discovery of an at lea...

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Inland waters and reservoirs in particular are significant sources of methane to the atmosphere. However, little information is available on the extent to which organic carbon from terrestrial vegetation or from internal photosynthesis fuels the methane production. This limits our ability to constrain methane emissions efficiently. We studied the i...

Radiocarbon (14 C) results on cremated bone are frequently published in high-ranking journals, but 14 C laboratories employ different pretreatment methods as they have divergent perceptions of what sources of contaminants might be present. We found pretreatment protocols to vary significantly between three laboratories (Brussels [RICH], Kiel [KIA],...

In 2009, an iron anchor was found by the coast of Camuscross, Isle of Skye, Scotland after the digging of a drainage channel exposed the object. There was initial speculation in media coverage that the anchor might be Viking, perhaps dating between the 9th–12th centuries CE. However, due to its damaged condition and the lack of precise stratigraphi...

Miyake et al. (2012, 2013, 2014) described a sudden increase of radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) concentration in annual tree rings of Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica ) and Hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa) between AD 774 and 775 and between AD 993 and 994. In both analyzed periods, the sudden increase was observed almost in a single year. The increa...

Radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) ages were determined for 10 iron samples from the war booty offering site in the Nydam peat bog (SE Denmark), and compared to archaeologically inferred periods of deposition. Additional ¹⁴ C measurements were carried out for modern iron standards made with charcoal of known isotopic composition to evaluate possible effects of ha...

Luristan Iron Mask Swords have been recovered mostly from illegal diggings in the 1920s. The about 90 known objects are characterized by a disk-shaped pommel on the top of the handle with two mounted bearded heads on two sides. According to the similarity in form and radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) measurements on two swords from museum collections, an overall...

A new vacuum system for the preparation of graphite samples for radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) measurement using an accelerator mass spectrometer (AMS) was constructed at the Dendrochronological Laboratory in AGH-UST Kraków. The central part of the system is a manual vacuum line for the production of graphite from carbon dioxide for subsequent AMS measurement...

Radiocarbon dating and metalurgic analysis of three Luristan Iron Mask Swords

Radiocarbon dating of selected objects such as swords and nails from the Nydam peat bog sacrifices.

An increase in atmospheric radiocarbon ( ¹⁴ C) content of about 11.3‰ in the period AD 993–994 was observed in annual tree rings from Japanese cedar ( Cryptomeria japonica ) and Hinoki cypress ( Chamaecyparis obtusa) (Miyake et al. 2013, 2014). Single-year samples of dendrochronologically dated tree rings (English oak, Quercus robur ) from Kujawy,...

In a case study to assess the possibilities and limitations of determining the exact age of paper, we measured 14C concentrations in bulk-paper cellulose and starch extracts from 20 known-age paper samples of the last 65 years. As expected, 14C concentrations in single- seasonal grown starch extracts are in reasonably good agreement with post-bomb...

The so-called 8.2 ka event represents one of the most prominent cold climate anomalies during the Holocene warm period. Accordingly, several studies have addressed its trigger mechanisms, absolute dating and regional characteristics so far. However, knowledge about subsequent climate recovery is still limited although this might be essential for th...

Since its invention in the late 1940s, radiocarbon (14C) dating has become an important tool for absolute dating. A prerequisite for the acceptance of this method is consistency between, and compatibility of, 14C dates from different laboratories. To meet these requirements, international laboratory intercomparison studies with different sample mat...

To assess the possibilities and limitations of dating paper production, we measured 14C concentrations in 18 cellulose and 11 starch extracts from known-age paper of the last 65 years. As expected, starch 14C concentrations are in reasonably good agreement with post-bomb atmospheric 14C, indicating a residence time between harvesting and paper-maki...

A radiocarbon intercomparison study between the Leibniz-Laboratory in Kiel (Germany), the Centre for Isotope Research (CIO) in Groningen (The Netherlands), and the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU; United Kingdom) was performed on three Pleistocene (MIS3) mammal bone samples from the Brick Quarry site Coenen (BQC) in Germany. Observed diff...

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In this issue, Lull et al. (2015) have compiled a list of anomalous radiocarbon dates on samples of archaeological material from La Bastida and other sites in Spain, reported by our laboratory in 2009–2013. On this basis, they suggest that “at least from 2009 onwards” all Kiel’s dates on organic samples are potentially inaccurate, and often too old...

Succession of profundal ostracod palaeoassemblages in response to environmental changes during the Late Glacial and Holocene was studied in a ~ 15-m-long sediment sequence from pre-Alpine lake Mondsee (Austria). First local ostracod assemblage zone LOAZ-1 (prior to 15,700 a BP), with low abundances of Leucocythere mirabilis and Limnocytherina sanct...

Presented are results of our new quality control protocol, including the measurement of a number of known samples going through chemical sample treatment (tertiary standards), sealing and combustion (secondary standards), and primary standards (oxalic acid).

Here the apparent radiocarbon background signature of different organic materials such as crude oil, anthracite, plant remains, and bone is shown.

Evidence of a rapid increase in atmospheric radiocarbon content in AD 774-775 was presented by Miyake et al. (2012, 2013). An increase of about 12‰ in the 14 C content was observed in annual tree rings from Japanese cedar. Usoskin et al. (2013) report a similar 14 C spike in German oak, and attribute it to exceptional solar activity. If this phenom...

A fairly complete lower jawof an adult mammoth from the stream bed of the RiverWeser in Bremen-Vegesack contains both molars (M3).The number of enamel lamellae of the molars is each 23, probably the specimen deceased at an individual age of more than 50 years. The bone is well-preserved and contains around 10 percent collagen in comparison with fre...

A Late Palaeolithic amber figurine has been skilfully recovered and reassembled from a ploughed open site in northern Germany. Dated between 11 800 and 11 680 cal BC it occupies a key point between the Magdalenian and the Mesolithic. The authors show that the figurine represents a female elk which was probably carried on the top of a wooden staff....

This study presents a record of Holocene surface runoff events and several large earthquakes, preserved in the sediments of pre-Alpine Lake Iseo, northern Italy. A combination of high-resolution seismic surveying, detailed sediment microfacies analysis, non-destructive core-scanning techniques and AMS 14C dating of terrestrial macrofossils was used...

a b s t r a c t Radiocarbon dating of bone mineral (carbonate in the apatite lattice) has been the target of sporadic research for the last 40 years. Results obtained by different decontamination protocols have, however, failed to provide a consistent agreement with reference ages. In particular, quality criteria to assess bone mineral radiocarbon...

Local reservoir ages are often estimated from the difference between the radiocarbon ages of aquatic material and associated terrestrial samples for which no reservoir effect is expected. Frequently, the selected aquatic material consists of bivalve shells that are typically well preserved in the archaeological record. For instance, large shell mid...

Radiocarbon measurements have been performed on iron samples (iron girders) as well as organic samples (charcoal, wood) from the Aachener Cathedral

Investigation of the sedimentary record of pre-Alpine Lake Mondsee (Upper Austria) focused on the environmental reaction to rapid Lateglacial climatic changes. Results of this study reveal complex proxy responses that are variable in time and influenced by the long-term evolution of the lake and its catchment. A new field sampling approach facilita...

Before the 17th century, charcoal was regularly used in the production of iron (smelting and forging) and some of this charcoal carbon was incorporated into the iron. Depending on the age of the wood used to produce the charcoal, the age of the carbon incorporated in the iron lattice can reflect the age of manufacture of the iron artifacts. A relia...

Lauterbach, S., Brauer, A., Andersen, N., Danielopol, D. L., Dulski, P., Hüls, M., Milecka, K., Namiotko, T., Plessen, B., von Grafenstein, U. & DecLakes participants 2010: Multi-proxy evidence for early to mid-Holocene environmental and climatic changes in northeastern Poland. Boreas, 10.1111/j.1502-3885.2010.00159.x. ISSN 0300-9483. We investigat...

Interdisciplinary investigation of an ivory find from Cap Sim (Essaouira, Morocco) conducted as a part of the joint-venture between the Institut National des Sciences de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine (Rabat) and the Deutsches Archäologisches Institut (Madrid) offer a point of departure for further research. By attributing the ivory to the African...

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We investigated the sedimentary record of Lake Hancza (northeastern Poland) using a multi-proxy approach, focusing on early to mid-Holocene climatic and environmental changes. AMS 14C dating of terrestrial macrofossils and sedimentation rate estimates from occasional varve thickness measurements were used to establish a chronology. The onset of the...

Within the frame of the ESF EuroCLIMATE project DecLakes (Decadal Holocene and Lateglacial variability of the oxygen isotopic composition in precipitation over Europe reconstructed from deep-lake sediments), the sediment record of pre-alpine Lake Mondsee (Upper Austria) has been investigated with a special focus on the Lateglacial. The use of a mul...

Ultrafiltration of bone collagen, dissolved as gelatin (M ~100,000 D), has received considerable attention as a means to remove small contaminants and thus produce more reliable dates (Brown et al. 1988; Bronk Ramsey et al. 2004; Higham et al. 2006; Mellars 2006). However, comparative dating studies have raised the question whether this cleaning st...

A remarkable new site consisting of a concentration of as many as forty or more camel skeletons has been discovered in Abu Dhabi’s Western Region in the United Arab Emirates. Eight camel bone samples (from six individuals) from the site have been AMS radiocarbon dated by the Leibniz Laboratory for Radiometric Dating and Stable Isotope Research, Kie...

14C-AMS dates on iron objects from Nydam Bog

As part of our bone dating development, we have tested the ultrafiltration of bone gelatin using 2 different filters-Vivaspin 20™ (VS20), a polyethersulfone, and Vivaspin 15R™ (VS15R), a cellulose, both with a 30,000 molecular weight cutoff-and bone collagen from dated samples ranging in age from 1.5 to >50 kyr BP. A direct accelerator mass spectro...

The history of the Roman aqueduct of Al Harif, Syria, was reconstructed from information contained in the tufa deposits precipitated on its walls. The aqueduct was placed directly across a branch of the northern extension of the tectonically active Dead Sea Fault System (Missyaf Segment) and its disruption by earth quakes was recorded in its tufa d...

Iron is combusted with CuxO as an oxygen donor in a sealed quartz tube to extract its carbon for radiocarbon dating. We used "modern" iron and steel samples with carbon contents between 0.07% and 3.8%, to test the efficiency of carbon extraction varying: (a) the grain size of the sample aliquot, (b) temperature (1000 and 1050 degreesC), (c) duratio...

The response of the tropical ocean to global climate change and the extent of sea ice in the glacial nordic seas belong to the great controversies in paleoclimatology. Our new reconstruction of peak glacial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Atlantic is based on census counts of planktic foraminifera, using the Maximum Similarity Technique Vers...

The response of the tropical ocean to global climate change and the extent of sea ice in the glacial nordic seas belong to the great controversies in paleoclimatology. Our new reconstruction of peak glacial sea surface temperatures (SSTs) in the Atlantic is based on census counts of planktic foraminifera, using the Maximum Similarity Technique Vers...

High-resolution, well-dated calcareous dinoflagellate cyst and organic carbon records from a 58 kyr sediment core (M35003-4) located southeast of the island of Grenada show that rapid and pronounced changes in cyst association and accumulation and organic carbon deposition occurred, controlled by (1) a significant southward shift in the position of...

High-resolution, well-dated calcareous dinoflagellate cyst and organic carbon records from a 58 kyr sediment core (M35003-4) located southeast of the island of Grenada show that rapid and pronounced changes in cyst association and accumulation and organic carbon deposition occurred, controlled by (1) a significant southward shift in the position of...

Planktonic foraminiferal census counts are used to construct high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) and subsurface (thermocline) temperature records at a core site in the Tobago Basin, Lesser Antilles. The record is used to document climatic variability at this tropical site in comparison to middle- and high-latitude sites and to test curren...

Planktonic foraminiferal census counts are used to construct high-resolution sea surface temperature (SST) and subsurface (thermocline) temperature records at a core site in the Tobago Basin, Lesser Antilles. The record is used to document climatic variability at this tropical site in comparison to middle- and high-latitude sites and to test curren...

Zugl.: Kiel, Univ., Diss., 1999.

Based on pollen analysis of a sediment core from the Atlantic Ocean off Liberia the West African vegetation history for the last 400 ka is reconstructed. During the cold oxygen isotope stages 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3 and 2 an arid climate is indicated, resulting in a southward shifting of the southern border of the savanna. Late Pleistocene glacial stage...

Based on pollen analysis of a sediment core from the Atlantic Ocean off Liberia the West African vegetation history for the last 400 ka is reconstructed. During the cold oxygen isotope stages 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3 and 2 an arid climate is indicated, resulting in a southward shifting of the southern border of the savanna. Late Pleistocene glacial stage...

In connection with the risk assessment of an old fuel storage depot, tracers were used to investigate the groundwater in the Upper Muschelkalk (mo2) of the Kindel area in western Thuringia. First, 12 kg uranine dissolved in 250 l water were introduced into a 21 m deep recharge well. Second, 10 m3 concentrated salt solution (NaCl) were introduced in...