# Mineralized Remains as Adjacent Proxy for Radiocarbon Dating

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new method for radiocarbon dating using mineralized remains to determine the age of archaeological sites.

## Contribution

The novel approach involves selective dating of carbonates in mineralized organic materials to extract chronological information.

## Key findings

- Copper carbonate accretions retained a dated signature from 808 to 790 BC, indicating human activity.
- The method allows for spatially resolved dating imagery using microsamples to document site formation chronology.

## Abstract

Since the 1950s, radiocarbon dating of archeological
remains has
evolved significantly with the advent of new instruments, protocols,
and redesigned concepts. Here, we show that the recovery of chronological
information “stored” locally can be achieved by the
selective dating of carbonates present in adjacent mineralized organic
materials. We present results from the iconic Iron Age site of Creney-le-Paradis
(Aube, France). The 14C ages extracted using an innovative
selective strategy provide new evidence for the chronology of the
foundation of the site. We show that the copper carbonate accretions
retained the signature of an anthropogenic humus layer, accurately
dated between 808 and 790 BC, allowing us to infer human activity
associated with the foundation of the burial mound. This work opens
the way for the development of spatially resolved dating imagery within
sites, where the analysis of series of microsamples could document
the chronology of their formation.