Preparation and Dating of Mortar Samples-Mortar Dating Inter-Comparison Study (MODIS)

Seven radiocarbon laboratories: Åbo/Aarhus, CIRCE, CIRCe, ETHZ, Pozna?, RICH, and Milano-Bicocca performed separation of carbonaceous fractions suitable for C dating of four mortar samples selected for the MOrtar Dating Inter-comparison Study (MODIS). In addition, optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) analyses were completed by Milano-Bicocca and IRAMAT-CRP2A Bordeaux. Each laboratory performed separation according to laboratory protocol. Results of this first intercomparison show that even though consistent C ages were obtained by different laboratories, two mortars yielded ages different than expected from the archaeological context.