Unlocking Turkey's Ancient Secrets: The Power of Radiocarbon Dating
A Scientific Revolution in Archaeology and Beyond
In a quiet corner of the TÜBİTAK Marmara Research Center in Kocaeli, Turkey, a sophisticated machine hums quietly, its steady work revealing secrets that have been buried for millennia. This is the National 1MV Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS) Laboratory—Turkey's first and only facility dedicated to peering deep into the past using the revolutionary power of radiocarbon dating 1 3 .
Since beginning international operations in 2016, this laboratory has become a cornerstone for researchers seeking to accurately date organic materials from archaeological sites, geological formations, and environmental samples 1 . For a country with a history as rich and layered as Turkey's, this technological marvel has opened unprecedented windows into understanding ancient civilizations, climate history, and the very land itself.
Operational Since
2016
Technology
1MV AMS System
Location
Kocaeli, Turkey
The Cosmic Clock: How Radiocarbon Dating Works
From Cosmic Rays to Ancient Objects
The story of radiocarbon dating begins not in a laboratory, but in the depths of space. Cosmic rays—subatomic particles of matter that continuously rain upon Earth—collide with atoms in our upper atmosphere, creating the radioactive isotope carbon-14 4 .
Living organisms—whether trees, plants, people, or animals—constantly absorb this carbon-14 into their tissues throughout their lives. When they die, this absorption stops, and the carbon-14 begins to decay at a predictable rate, with a half-life of about 5,730 years 4 . By measuring how much carbon-14 remains in ancient organic materials—whether a piece of charcoal, a leather artifact, or wooden building material—scientists can estimate how long ago the organism died 4 .
Carbon-14 Decay
The predictable decay of Carbon-14 allows scientists to date organic materials up to approximately 50,000 years old.
The AMS Advantage
The TUBITAK laboratory employs the most advanced version of this technology: Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). Unlike earlier methods that relied on waiting for carbon atoms to decay, AMS uses a particle accelerator to directly count the atoms of carbon-14 3 4 . This approach allows for analyzing much smaller samples—sometimes as tiny as 20-50 milligrams—while achieving more precise results 4 .
The laboratory's 1MV tandem Pelletron accelerator, installed in 2015, serves as the heart of this operation, capable of separating the rare carbon-14 atoms from the abundant carbon-12 with extraordinary precision 3 .
Sample Preparation
Organic materials are converted to graphite for analysis
Acceleration
Ions are accelerated through a 1 million volt potential
Detection
Carbon-14 atoms are counted with precision detectors
Inside Turkey's National AMS Laboratory
From Sample to Graphite: The Preparation Process
Before samples ever reach the massive AMS machine, they undergo meticulous preparation in the laboratory's dedicated chemistry facilities. The process begins with careful evaluation of each sample submitted for analysis, followed by specialized cleaning and chemical treatments to remove potential contaminants that could skew results 1 4 .
The laboratory operates two systems for converting sample carbon into graphite, the form required for AMS analysis:
- An Automated Graphitization System (AGE III) for efficient processing
- A manual graphitization system based on a glass high vacuum line for specialized applications 1
For carbonate samples like shells or minerals, the laboratory uses a Carbonate Handling System (CHS) integrated with the AGE system to extract carbon dioxide and convert it into graphite 3 .
| Equipment | Function |
|---|---|
| 1MV UAMS NEC Pelletron AMS | Accelerates and separates carbon isotopes |
| Automated Graphitization System (AGE III) | Converts sample CO₂ into solid graphite |
| Manual Graphitization System | Processes specialized samples |
| Carbonate Handling System (CHS) | Processes carbonate materials |
| MC-SNICS II Ion Source | Generates negative carbon ions |
Advanced Scientific Equipment
The TUBITAK AMS Laboratory houses state-of-the-art equipment for precise radiocarbon analysis.
The Measurement Process in Action
Once prepared as graphite, samples are pressed into cathodes and placed in the AMS ion source. Here, the process that reveals their age begins 3 :
Ionization
The sample is hit with cesium ions, releasing negative carbon ions.
Initial Separation
These ions pass through an initial mass spectrometer that separates them by mass.
Acceleration
The selected ions are accelerated through a 1 million volt potential.
Molecular Destruction
The accelerated beam passes through a gas or thin foil, stripping away electrons and breaking molecular isobars.
Final Separation and Detection
A high-energy analyzing magnet and electrostatic separator further purify the beam before detectors count the individual carbon-14 atoms 3 .
Throughout this process, the laboratory maintains rigorous quality control, routinely measuring standard reference materials alongside unknown samples to ensure accuracy and precision 5 .
A Day in the Lab: Dating Ancient Timber at Uşaklı Höyük
The Archaeological Mystery
In a compelling example of the laboratory's capabilities, researchers turned to the TUBITAK AMS facility to solve a dating puzzle at Uşaklı Höyük, a multi-period archaeological mound in Yozgat, Turkey 2 . Archaeologists had discovered charcoal samples, identified as cedar and oak, within different contexts of the site. The burning question was: to which historical periods did these wooden remains belong?
The Scientific Approach
The research team faced significant challenges. The tree-ring sequences from the charcoal samples were too short for reliable dendrochronological dating—the cedar samples formed a "floating chronology" of just 49 rings, while single tree-ring sequences reached only 34 rings for cedar and 23 for oak 2 . With insufficient reference chronologies available for cross-dating, the researchers employed radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching analysis as their primary methods.
| Sample Type | Maximum Rings | Dating Method |
|---|---|---|
| Cedar (Cedrus sp.) | 34 rings | Radiocarbon wiggle-matching |
| Oak (Quercus sp.) | 23 rings | Radiocarbon wiggle-matching |
Revelations from the Past
The radiocarbon analysis yielded crucial historical insights:
1415–1363 BCE
The wooden post from Building III was dated to this period, confirming it was an original architectural element from the Late Bronze Age/Hittite period 2 .
1008–905 BCE
Charcoal pieces from Pit 330 yielded these dates, though researchers noted these required verification with additional samples 2 .
763–486 BCE
Samples associated with the stone glacis constructed atop Building III dated to this period, confirming their connection to the Iron Age occupation at the site 2 .
| Sample Context | Dated Period | Calendar Age (2σ range) | Historical Significance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Building III | Late Bronze Age/Hittite | 1415–1363 BCE | Original construction element |
| Pit 330 | Early Iron Age | 1008–905 BCE | Requires additional verification |
| Stone Glacis | Iron Age | 763–486 BCE | Confirms Iron Age occupation |
This application demonstrates how radiocarbon dating at the TUBITAK AMS laboratory has become indispensable for constructing accurate timelines of Turkey's rich archaeological heritage.
Beyond Archaeology: Expanding Research Horizons
While archaeological dating remains a significant application, the TUBITAK AMS laboratory's capabilities extend far beyond dating ancient artifacts. The facility also contributes to:
Climate Science and Environmental Research
Radiocarbon dating has played a crucial role in understanding environmental changes, including human-caused climate change 4 . By tracking carbon isotopes in the atmosphere, scientists can distinguish between carbon from fossil fuels (which contain virtually no carbon-14) and carbon from natural sources 4 .
The laboratory has supported research on Lake Van, Turkey's largest soda lake, where scientists investigated radiocarbon reservoir effects to better understand the region's climate history 6 . This research revealed significant reservoir ages ranging between 2,500-3,300 years in Lake Van's sediments, providing crucial data for interpreting paleoclimate records from this important regional archive 6 .
Multidisciplinary Applications
The AMS system's design enables measurement of other rare isotopes besides carbon-14, including:
- Beryllium-10 and Aluminum-26 for geological dating and erosion studies
- Iodine-129 for environmental tracing
- Calcium-41 for biomedical applications 3 5
This versatility allows the laboratory to support diverse research initiatives, from studying groundwater systems to tracking environmental contaminants 1 .
A Future Rooted in the Past
Since its establishment, Turkey's National 1MV AMS Laboratory has become an indispensable national resource, supporting both commercial analysis and cutting-edge research 1 . The laboratory actively develops interdisciplinary projects and collaborates with national and international research teams, expanding our understanding of Turkey's rich historical and environmental heritage 1 .
The journey from Willard Libby's initial discovery of radiocarbon dating at the University of Chicago in the 1940s to today's advanced AMS technology represents a remarkable scientific evolution 4 . As the TUBITAK laboratory continues its work, it stands as a testament to human curiosity and our enduring desire to understand the past, illuminate the present, and inform the future.
Radiocarbon data made "a world prehistory possible by contributing a time scale that transcends local, regional and continental boundaries" 4 .
At Turkey's National AMS Laboratory, this vision continues to be realized, one sample at a time.