Radiocarbon Dating of Biochemically Characterized Hair

Abstract

A series of 14 C determinations have been obtained on hair samples principally from Holocene contexts that have been variously pretreated to examine different means of removing potential contamination. SEM photomicrographs have documented hair surfaces before and after different pretreatments. Amino-acid composition, C/N ratios and δ 13 C values have been obtained to biochemically characterize these samples and provide baseline data for future comparisons with less well-preserved samples. Our data support the view that appropriately pretreated hair samples can provide accurate 14 C age determinations.