A field guide to mortar sampling for radiocarbon dating*

Abstract

bs_bs_banner research shows that adequate and proper sampling of mortar samples is of fundamental importance for a conclusive radiocarbon analysis. Therefore, this article thoroughly reviews the processes and environmental factors that may cause problems for successful radiocarbon dating of mortar samples, and presents best-practice sampling strategies for radiocarbon mortar dating.

Artificial neural network for high-throughput spectral data processing in LIBS imaging: application to archaeological mortar

“…Indeed, if we compare with the optical image, (i) could be due to a secondary calcite phase. 41 Secondary calcite corresponds to the formation of new crystals after the mortar has set. In fact, in the presence of ambient water (due to precipitation, surface water and groundwater), the mortar binder could dissolve, react with fresh atmospheric CO 2 and redeposit.…”

Radiocarbon Dating of Straw Fragments in the Plasters of St. Philip Church in Archaeological Site Hierapolis of Phrygia (Denizli, Turkey)

“…A complete characterization of the mortar before 14 C dating is thus mandatory to identify the type of mortar and then an efficient procedure that allows us to extract the only carbon deriving from the moment in which the mortar hardens (Toffolo et al 2020; Cantisani et al 2021; Daugbjerg et al 2021). For instance, petrographic analysis gives us information about each component of the mortar (binder, aggregates, and inorganic additives) and about the identification of raw materials and technologies used for their production (Franzini et al 2000; Riccardi et al 2007; Rampazzi et al 2016; Cantisani et al 2022).…”

Mortars in context: An integrated study of mortars and plasters from the so‐called Ginnasio in Solunto (Sicily, Italy)

“…Other publications offer guidelines for their analysis (e.g., Artioli et al, 2019;Arizzi & Cultrone, 2021;Cantisani et al, 2022) or focus on raw material provenance and the technology of mortar production (e.g., Carò et al, 2008;Corti et al, 2016;De Luca et al, 2015;Pavía & Caro, 2008). Recent years have seen the emergence of mortar and plaster studies dealing with dating and related methodological issues (Daugbjerg et al, 2021;Dietzel & Boch, 2019;Schön et al, 2019;Toffolo, 2020). However, studies that interpret the results of scientific analysis on these materials within their environmental and archaeological context are still quite limited (e.g., Barone et al, 2004;Miriello et al, 2010;Montana et al, 2016Montana et al, , 2018Montana et al, , 2019Schmölder-Veit et al, 2016;Schön et al, 2019).…”