The following list comprises measurements made since those reported in NPL II and is complete to the end of

No abstract

The dating equipment at the National Physical Laboratory was completed by the summer of 1960. A series of calibration and intercomparison measurements was undertaken however, using the NBS oxalic acid reference standard, a modern wood standard (1850 oak tree) and other material before starting routine measurements toward the end of 1961. All results have been obtained using a 4.5 L copper proportional counter filled with CO2 at a constant density corresponding to standard conditions of 22°C and an absolute pressure of 150 cm Hg. The counter is shielded by 8 in. of steel, 6 in. of paraffin wax containing boric oxide, 23 Geiger counters arranged as two independent groups and finally by 1 in. of mercury.

The following list comprises measurements made since those reported in NPL I and is complete to the end of November 1963.Ages are relative to a.d. 1950 and are calculated using a half-life of 5568 yr. The measurements have been corrected for fractionation and referred to 0.950 times the activity of the NBS oxalic acid as a contemporary reference standard. The quoted uncertainty is one standard deviation derived from a proper combination of the parameter variances, viz. those of the standard and background measurements over a rolling twenty-week period, of the sample measurements from at least three independent fillings, of the δC13 measurements and of the de Vries effect (assumed to add an additional uncertainty equivalent to a standard deviation of 80 yr). Any uncertainty in the half-life has been excluded so that relative C14 ages may be correctly compared. Absolute age assessments, however, should be made using the accepted best value for the half-life and the appropriate uncertainty included. If the net sample activity is less than 4 times the standard error of the difference between the sample and background activities, a lower limit to the age is reported equivalent to a sample activity of 4 times the standard error of this difference.The description of each sample is based on information provided by the person submitting the sample to the Laboratory.The work reported forms part of the research programme of the Laboratory and is published by permission of the Director.

The following list comprises measurements made since those reported in NPL III and is complete to the end of November 1965.Ages are relative to A.D. 1950 and are calculated using a half-life of 5568 yr. The measurements, corrected for fractionation (quoted δC13 values are relative to the P.D.B. standard), are referred to 0.950 times the activity of the NBS oxalic acid as contemporary reference standard. The quoted uncertainty is one standard deviation derived from a proper combination of the parameter variances as described in detail in NPL III. These variances are those of the standard and background measurements over a rolling twenty week period, of the sample δC14 and δC13 measurements and of the de Vries effect (assumed to add an additional uncertainty equivalent to a standard deviation of 80 yr). Any uncertainty in the half-life has been excluded so that relative C14 ages may be correctly compared. Absolute age assessments, however, should be made using the accepted best value for the half-life and the appropriate uncertainty then included. If the net sample count rate is less than 4 times the standard error of the difference between the sample and background count rates, a lower limit to the age is reported corresponding to a net sample count rate of 4 times the standard error of this difference.