ITN

Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory

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The ITN Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory started its activity in 1986. Since then c. 2500 samples were processed. Liquid Scintillation Counting is used to determine the 14C content of samples, which can be of different types, namely charcoal, bones, shells, wood, etc.

This facility is equipped with:

• Sample Pretreatment Laboratory
• Benzene Synthesis Line
• Liquid Scintillation Spectrometer Packard Tri-Carb 2770 TR/SL

The ITN Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory (Sac-) is unique in Portugal. It is involved in several Research Projects, namely in the fields of Archaeometry, Palaeoceanography, Quaternary Geology, Isotope Hydrology and Palaeoenvironmental Studies. Technical services are also available to Universities, Public and Private Institutions in the above mentioned areas.

In a short time it is expected that the existent conventional laboratory will be upgraded in an AMS (Accelerator Mass Spectrometry) laboratory.

Responsible Researcher: António Manuel Monge Soares (amsoares@itn.pt)