Results from the Mesolithic ActivityExtraction of the protein collagen, followed by purification by means of gelatinisation and ion-exchange (Law and Hedges 1989; Hedges and Law 1989; Hedges et al 1989), was the process used to pretreat both the bone and the antler samples. The ion- exchanged gelatin was the specific fraction selected for dating.
The two charcoal samples were pretreated with an acid wash (1M HCl) to remove carbonates, followed by an alkali wash (1M NaOH) to remove humic materials, and a further acid wash to expel any absorbed carbon dioxide, before being rinsed in distilled water and dried. The process is more one of purification than a specific extraction for charcoal. The fraction chosen for dating is often referred to as humin.
Target preparation of the Stonehenge samples involved wrapping the dried pretreated product in tin-foil for flash combustion in a stream of pure oxygen in a Europa Scientific Roboprep/CHN analyzer (Hedges et al 1992). A small aliquot of gas was removed for 13C measurement in a stable isotope mass spectrometer, the remainder collected in ampoules ready for injection into the ion-source. In the case of samples measured to normal precision 1-2mg of carbon was required, and twice this for the double precision measurements.
Results from the Mesolithic Activity
Results from the Ditch Terminals
Results from the burial in the Ditch
Results from the Y and Z Holes