Comparison between radiocarbon and varve dating in Lake Lampellonjärvi, south Finland

Abstract

The annual nature of organic laminations in the sediment from a small lake, Lampellonjärvi (61°04'N; 25°04'E), was determined. The core was obtained using an in situ freezing method and the laminations were checked by a detailed microscopical analysis of adhesive tape preparations. A series of six radiocarbon dates were obtained for levels in the core which had previously been dated by means of varve counts to ages between A.D. 182 and AD. 1513. The radiocarbon dates were between 547 and 1525 years older. Two additional 14C dates from the lower part of the same profile (ca. 1880 B.C. and ca. 3100 B.C.), however, gave expected results. Erosion of old organic terrestrial material due to agricultural activity in the surroundings of the lake was assumed to have been the cause of abnormally old radiocarbon ages. Dates from the pre‐agricultural period had a deviation from varve years similar to the difference between tree rings, historical documents and radiocarbon dating recorded in other studies.