LIPDAT · Compound-Specific Radiocarbon Analysis to Date Prehistoric Human Cultural Change

Pottery typology is the principal method used to date archaeological sites, however, the approach provides relative ratherthan absolute dates. Paradoxically, 14C dating using accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is the technique used to assignabsolute or calendrical dates, but pots, being fabricated from fired clay, i.e. aluminosilicate, lack endogenous organiccarbon and so cannot be 14C dated directly. Carbonaceous tempers, amorphous residues adhering to the surface andcarbon-based materials co-occurring in the same archaeological deposits as pots have all been 14C-dated but problemsexist with either the frequency of occurrence and/or uncertainties of their association(s) with pottery and contamination ofthese remains. To enable the routine 14C dating of pottery the PI initiated development of a new approach that usescommonly occurring fatty acid components of lipid residues derived from food processing, adsorbed within the protectedenvironment of the walls of vessels. As part of the NeoMilk ERC Advanced grant a new protocol been developed for theextraction and isolation of these compounds using preparative capillary gas chromatography in high purity and sufficientamounts for high precision 14C dating by AMS. This new approach offers a step-change in archaeological dating, which willattract international demand to date archaeological sites. Our aim now is to bring this new method of pottery dating intoroutine use in archaeology worldwide. This project will take the first steps towards achieving this ambition. This Proof ofConcept grant will allow us to (i) develop a commercialisation plan, (ii) demonstrate the utility of the approach temporallyand spatially, (iii) analyse the global market, (iv) formulate and deliver an IPR strategy, and (v) promote the method toacademic and commercial networks.