Analysis of 14C and 13C in teeth provides precise birth dating and clues to geographical origin.

ABSTRACT: The identification of human bodies in situations when there are no clues as to the person's identity from circumstantial data, poses a difficult problem to the investigators. The determination of age and sex of the body can be crucial in order to limit the search to individuals that are a possible match. We analyzed the proportion of bomb pulse derived carbon-14 ((14)C) incorporated in the enamel of teeth from individuals from different geographical locations. The 'bomb pulse' refers to a significant increase in (14)C levels in the atmosphere caused by above ground test detonations of nuclear weapons during the cold war (1955-1963). By comparing (14)C levels in enamel with (14)C atmospheric levels systematically recorded over time, high precision birth dating of modern biological material

SUBMITTER: Alkass K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3105170 | biostudies-literature | 2011 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature