The role of C-14 dating in ironpan formation

The results of novel experiments undertaken to attempt to date ironpans usi ng AMS radiocarbon dating are reported. In the absence of clear stratigraph ic control, for example where buried soils are present, it is difficult to put into sequence the events which have led to the formation of present-day soil profiles. Micromorphology can give some indications of sequence, part icularly when evidence of one process has been superimposed onto another. H owever, this still does not give absolute dates that can be tied in accurat ely with archaeological and other environmental (particularly palynological ) information. Problems exist in the interpretation of radiocarbon dates of organic matter from mineral soils. However, some of the organic C fraction of a soil can become protected, particularly by clay minerals and pedologi cal features such as ironpans, and dating of this should, in theory, provid e a date for the formation of that feature. This technique was applied to i ronpans of the ironpan stagnopodzols from the Hiraethog Moors in North Wale s. This is a novel use of C-14 dating which has begun the process of clarif ying the techniques which need to be employed in the preparation of such sa mples and in the interpretation of the results.