Text Alternative for Radiocarbon Dating Figure 19
An accessible text alternative for figure 19 of a flow diagram to illustrate the steps needed when deciding which carbonised plant remains should be dated.
Characterise carbonised material.
If it is wood charcoal is it a twig? If so, it's suitable for dating.
If it's not a twig, is it large enough to be identified.
If not, don't submit unless desperate (accept only provides a TPQ).
If it is large enough to be identified, is it a short-lived species or sapwood?
If not, it is a long-lived species of the inner part of a tree (accept only provides a TPQ).
If it is a short-lived species or sapwood then it is suitable for dating.
If the carbonise material is plant material, is it terrestrial?
If not, be very afraid and look for something better.
If it is terrestrial, is a single macro more than 10mg?
Yes, it is suitable for dating.
If it's not, can macros of the same species be bulked so you get a sample that's more than 10mg in size?
If yes, it is suitable for dating but not as good as if you can find a single piece that's big enough (2nd choice).
If macros of the same species cannot be bulked to make 10mg, then can macros from different species be bulked so they're more than 10mg?
If yes, then it's suitable for dating but it's worse than if you had to bulk samples that are the same species or if you've only got a single macro that's big enough (3rd choice).
If you haven't got enough items that can be bulked together to weigh more than 10mg, then it's unlikely that your sample has sufficient carbon for dating.
