Achaeometrical Research in Hungary II., 1988

BIBLIOGRAPHY - SUMMARIES - DATING

Csapó J., Pap L, Költő L.: Archaeological Age deterniination of fossil bone samples containing protein based on amino acid Racemization and Epimerization = Anthropologia Hungarica XX (1988) 67-86. The authors carried out analyses for determining the ages of fossils, using the method of isoleucine and other protein amino acid racemizations. By measuring D-allo-isolecine bone samples over 50.000 years, by the fast Racemization amino acid D-and L-versions, followed by ion exchange column chromatography separation with chiral silica gel layer the ages of bone finds between 5.000 and 50.000 years could be determined with the error of the analytical method (for D-allo-isoleucine ±5 % and ±15-20 % for the other amino acids). A proposal is made for determining bone samples with the approximate Age of 1.000 years, with the possible application of amino acids with sulphur and with fatty acids. With 4 tables and 5 figures. Csapó J., Pap L, Költő L.: Archaeological Age determination based on Racemization and Epimerization of amino Acids = Humanbiology 19 (1989) 77-79. A method for determining the archaeological Age of fossil bone samples, using the method of Racemization of isoleucine, D-allo-isoleucine and other protein amino acids has been adapted. The Stock-Breeding Faculty of the agricultural University in Kaposvár in collaboration with the Department of Anthropology of the Hungarian Natural History Museum, Budapest and with the Museum of County Somogy, Kaposvár has initiated the study. After elaboration of the method of separation and determination of amino acid enantiomers, the authors gathered 100 bone samples of known Age from various Hungarian collections. Their Age ranged from 2.000 to 500.000 yr. The raw protein content, the amino acid composition (D-allo-isoleucine) and the ratio of D-and L-amino acids were determined. According to the degree of Racemization the amino acids were categorised into three groups. For all amino acids of each group the D/L ratio was expressed as a function of time, enabling us to draw 4-5 calibration curves for each group. It is possible to determine the Age of the samples older than 50.000 yr. with isoleucine and D-allo-isoleucine, while amino acids having a rapid Racemization time can be used for Age deterniination between 5.000 and 50.000 yr. the stated accuracy. Csapó J., Csapó-Kiss Zs., Költő L., Pap I.: Age determination of fossil bone samples based on the ratio of amino acid Racemization = Archaeometry '90, Basel, Schweiz (1990) 627-635. A method, based on the ratio of amino acid Racemization, has been developed to determine the Age of fossil samples with protein content. One-hundred fossil bone samples of known ages from Hungary were collected and analysed to determine the ratio of D- and L-amino acids. As the Racemization of amino acids is affected by temperature, pH and metal content in the Soil, in addition to the period of the effect, These factors were eliminated by referring to the Age determined by the radiocarbon method. Determining the D- and L- amino acid contents in samples of known Age - and the half life of Racemization - and plotting the D/L ratio as a function of time, calibration curves were obtained. These curves can be used for the Age estimation of samples after determining their D- and L-amino acid contents. The D/L ratio for 2-3 of various amino acids was determined for each sample, the mean value of 277