Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Corrections for the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas

Abstract

Radiocarbon measurements of nine known age shells from the Mediterranean and the Aegean Seas combined with previous measurements provide an updated value for δR, the local variation in the reservoir correction for marine samples. Comparison of pre-1950s samples from the Algerian coast, with one collected in 1954, indicates early incorporation of nuclear weapons testing 14 C into the shallow surface waters of the Mediterranean. Comparisons between different basins indicate the surface waters of the Mediterranean are relatively homogenous. The recommended δR for calibration of the Mediterranean marine samples with the 1998 marine calibration dataset is 58 ± 85 14 C yr, but variations in the reservoir age beyond 6000 cal BP should be considered.