AMS radiocarbon dating of archeological samples at the Zagreb Radiocarbon Laboratory

Radiocarbon dating at the Zagreb Radiocarbon Laboratory of the Ruđer Boskovic Institute is presented, with emphasis on samples prepared for accelerator mas spectrometry (AMS). After introduction of vacuum lines for sample preparation for AMS, a new types of sample can be radiocarbon dated, particulary intersting for archeologist. Therefore, AMS is a perfect solution for radiocarbon dating of small size archeological samples (like grains, hair, paper, parchment or any other usual carbon-bearing material that is not abundant at the site) and valuable cultural heritage samples that need to be preserved. Also, AMS enables dating of particular fractions of samples. For example, apatite carbonate from cremated bones could be dated by AMS only due to a small portion of datable carbon. Mortar is another sample type that contains only a fraction of radiocarbon-datable material, i.e., only a small fraction of carbon that was adsorbed from the atmosphere at the time of mortar formation