Bomb-Pulse Dating of Human Material: Modeling the Influence of Diet

Abstract

The atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons during the 1950s and early 1960s produced large amounts of radiocarbon. This 14 C bomb pulse provides useful age information in numerous scientific fields, e.g. in geosciences and environmental sciences. Bomb-pulse dating can also be used to date human material (e.g. in forensics and medical science). Bomb-pulse dating relies on precise measurements of the declining 14 C concentration in atmospheric carbon dioxide collected at clean-air sites. However, local variations in the 14 C specific activity of air and foodstuffs occur, which are caused by natural processes as well as by various human activities. As 14 C enters the human body mainly through the diet, variations of 14 C concentration in foodstuffs need to be considered. The marine component of the diet is believed to be of particular importance due to the non-equilibrium in 14 C specific activity between the atmosphere and aquatic reservoirs during the bomb pulse. This article reviews the 14 C concentration in marine foodstuffs during the bomb-pulse era, and models how the marine component in one's diet can affect the precision of bomb-pulse dating of human material.