Carbon dating labs

Laboratory for AMS Radiocarbon Preparation and Research (NSRL)

From human remains to the clothing of a Coptic mummy: radiocarbon dating allows us to discover the age of many objects. The lab has over sixty years of experience and is unique in Belgium. We conduct dating for archaeologists, geologists, art historians, and museums in Belgium and abroad. We can also provide added value for climate research. Private individuals also call on us, especially for the dating of artworks.

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Beta Analytic has provided high-quality radiocarbon dating services since The lab has demonstrated technical competence in the measurement of a natural levels of radiocarbon by AMS, and b stable isotope ratios of carbon, deuterium, nitrogen, and oxygen by Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry IRMS. As a tracer-free lab, we do not accept biomedical samples or any materials with artificial carbon, carbon, carbon or any other isotopes to avoid the risk of cross-contamination. As part of our quality control measures, internal standards are run daily in our in-house particle accelerators with SNICS ion sources.

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Radiocarbon dating is an analysis method based on the measurement of the radioactive C isotope of carbon that accumulates in organisms during their life and decays after their death. Radiocarbon dating is used to estimate the age of biological samples and materials of organic origin, such as fossils and historical objects, along with some inorganic samples that contain carbon. In archaeology and fossil research, radiocarbon dating is used to study the past conditions and environments on Earth. C dating can also be used to determine the age of different materials and objects containing carbon-based organic or inorganic compounds. Very recent samples cannot be dated reliably — instead, the material should originate from before the 18th century. On the other end of the spectrum, the age of the sample can be approximated up to 62, years, but radiocarbon dating gets more difficult when the sample is over 40, years old.

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Carbon-14 dating, explained

Skip to Content. NSRL works in collaboration with accelerator mass spectrometry AMS measurement facilities to provide state-of-the-art radiocarbon preparation and measurement services to the local University and Federal research communities. The lab also pursues in-house research on applications of 14 C dating to climate change studies, calibration of the 14 C timescale, and the use of 14 C as a geochemical and geophysical tracer in the Earth system.

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