From human remains to the clothing of a Coptic mummy: radiocarbon dating allows us to discover the age of many objects. The lab has over sixty years of experience and is unique in Belgium. We conduct dating for archaeologists, geologists, art historians, and museums in Belgium and abroad.
We can also provide added value for climate research. Private individuals also call on us, click for the dating of artworks. Through its research programme, the team has specialised in dating cremated bones, textiles and mortars. This will allow us to determine the quality of the mortar and consequently the reliability of its dating. Radiocarbon dating is based on two main principles. Firstly, radioactive carbon or 14 C is produced in the atmosphere and absorbed by all organisms.
Secondly, there is radioactive decay: the radioactive carbon in a material disappears at a constant rate. In other words, half of the 14 C present in life will have disappeared 5, years after the organism's death. After 11, years, a quarter remains, and so on. To perform article source dating, we measure the amount of radioactive carbon in the material.
Using the half-life, we then calculate the age. The method is suitable for objects up to about 50, years old. The lab has set up its research programmes — both methodological studies and lab research. The former includes the nanofiltration of amino acids, the latter the study of cremated bones, food dating on pottery, or dredged material from the river Scheldt.
We publish the results in scientific journals and books for the general public. The lab is available in our online database. Our experts also regularly give lectures. As part of this project, we study cremated bones found in Belgium to learn more about our ancestors' living conditions and burial rituals, from the Neolithic to the early Middle Ages. When the lab was set up in the s, we used a proportional gas meter as a measuring instrument.
Fromthe prepared samples were sent to foreign labs for dating with accelerator mass spectrometry AMSthe new standard in radiocarbon dating.
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The entire procedure, from sample preparation to measurement, has since taken place at the Institut e. The device allows tiny samples to be measured quickly in just a few hours. All lab dating carried out in our lab over the past 60 years can be found in two publicly accessible online databases. They contain a wealth of information for art historians, geologists and archaeologists. We will be pleased to guide you in the choice of the most suitable analysis technique or study.
Request a free quote by e-mail or telephone. You can send the request form to the head of the lab by e-mail. Attach photos if possible. Consult our price list.
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Continue to content. Search Close Search. Home Scientific analyses Radiocarbon Dating Lab. Radiocarbon Dating Lab. Organic and inorganic materials The Radiocarbon Dating Lab dates various materials with an age of up to 50, years: organic materials : charcoal, textiles wool, silk, linenwood, lab from bone, seeds, fruits, nuts, soil, etc.
How does radiocarbon dating work? In-house research Dating lab has set up its research programmes — both methodological studies and applied research. Unique AMS machine in Belgium When the lab was set up in the s, we used a proportional gas meter as a measuring dating. Online database All radiocarbon dating carried out in our lab over the past 60 years can be found in two publicly accessible online databases. The first database contains all samples measured before The second database was developed dating and is automatically updated with all new dating.
The two databases will soon be merged, thanks to grants from the National Lottery. Do you want to have a sample or object dated? Please contact us! Mathieu Boudin. Lab email. Our experts.
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