ABSTRACT

AMS radiocarbon date A date obtained using a method of radiocarbon dating in which the amount of 14C in a sample is measured directly (rather than by waiting for decay events to occur, as in standard radiocarbon dating), using an accelerator mass spectrometer. The method greatly reduces the quantity of organic material required for radiocarbon dating, making it possible to date single small leaf fragments or pieces of wood or charcoal weighing as little as 5 milligrams.