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During the last two decades the radiocarbon (14C) dating of hydroxyapatite archaeological cremated bones has become standard practice. Various pretreatment procedures exist among different laboratories of which some include fixation of SO2 using “Sulfix” prior to CO2 reduction. Recently it was reported that the use of Sulfix may cause the resulting 14C age to be too old. Here we report on the use Sulfix at the Aarhus AMS Centre. Further, we report on an experiment designed to test alternatives for the use of Sulfix as a purification agent.

Ramped pyrolysis radiocarbon dating was carried out on lime lumps from what was believed to be the oldest remains of Turku Cathedral, Finland, the first sacristy. Lumps extracted from bulk mortar from five sampling locations were analysed. For each sample, 5–6 fractions of CO2 from different temperature fractions were radiocarbon dated.One of the five samples exhibited significant contamination for its lowest temperature fractions. For the remaining samples, the age-temperature profiles were well-behaved, exhibiting a plateau of dates that were in statistical agreement and indicative of samples where only a single carbonate source (lime binder from the construction phase) is contributing to the radiocarbon dates. For each of the five samples, the combined radiocarbon age resulted in a calibrated age with a large probability distribution mode (typically > 85% probability) in the late 13th century AD. Combining the radiocarbon dates from all five samples (21 fractions in statistical agreement, χ2-test: df = 20, T = 7.1, 5% = 31.4) provided an age of 709 ± 11 yr BP and a calibrated age of 1276–1296 cal. AD (95.4%). This result finds excellent agreement with historical sources, previous mortar dating work, and a single radiocarbon date on organic material also embedded in some of the bulk mortar.The results demonstrate that ramped pyrolysis, applied to well-selected lime lumps, is (A) a useful diagnostic tool for establishing how reliable a sample is and (B) an accurate, precise, and repeatable technique for radiocarbon dating mortar. The results further confirm that Turku Cathedral's first sacristy was constructed from stone and mortar in the late 13th century AD.Additionally, using Turku Cathedral sacristy as a case study, two Bayesian models were presented to illustrate how, in general, mortar dating and Bayesian statistics might, in future, be applied to examine building construction dynamics for the case of (chronologically) ordered or unordered mortar derived radiocarbon dates.

The multi-stratified site of Túrkeve-Terehalom presents an exceptional opportunity to establish the start and the end of the Middle Bronze Age in the Eastern Carpathian Basin and to refine its inner chronology. The chronological potential of the site rests on the meticulous excavation campaigns over a decade. This potential has been harvested by linking stratified finds, particularly pottery, to narrow, calibrated age-ranges. The result has implications for local chronology while also prompting questions about how to synchronise long-range connectivity with central and northern Europe and the Aegean, as well. The resulting chronological model for Túrkeve-Terehalom firstly challenges prevailing chronological views regarding the life-spans of Bronze Age structures with beaten clay floors, secondly the direction of the wave of destruction and/or abandonment of multi-stratified sites in the Carpathian Basin, and thirdly the continental networking during the Middle Bronze Age.

Satellite-based maps of glacial landforms reveal that the mountain landscapes of northeast Eurasia contain over one million km2 of glaciated terrain. Previous work has speculated on the existence of large ice masses during the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM) and the preceding cold phases, but the lack of age constraints means that little is known about the timing of past glaciations across this vast region.With an aim to gain a better understanding of the glacial history of this region, we collected samples for cosmogenic 10Be exposure dating of boulder erratics and moraines in the mountains of eastern Siberia. Here, we present the first results from two sites, both within the Chersky Range: (1) Malyk Sen, which contains a succession of three end moraines in a foreland setting; and (2) Ust-Nera, which features boulder erratics and glacial bedrock pavement exposed in a previously glaciated valley. At Malyk Sen, the relative positions and corresponding ages of the three moraines indicate progressive contraction of maximum glacier extent since termination of the Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 6, with the innermost moraine dated to the LGM. Our preliminary results from Ust-Nera suggest exposure ages from glacially-transported boulders and bedrock pavement that are significantly older than the LGM. Both sites indicate limited extents of mountain glaciation during the LGM in eastern Siberia. And while the glacial chronology of our study does not extend beyond MIS 6, mapping of the surrounding areas indicates that even more expansive glaciers existed further back in time.Our findings confirm the trend of successively smaller glacial extent maxima’s in continental Eurasia towards the LGM, with at least one ice advance during MIS 5-3 larger than the LGM advance. This trend could to be linked to extreme continental settings such as in Eurasia and westernmost America, as it contrasts with larger parts of the Northern Hemisphere glaciations where Late Pleistocene maxima were reached during LGM.

In this article, we present the results of a recent program of high-resolution radiocarbon dating on the urban sequence at Kilwa Kisiwani in southern Tanzania, including Bayesian modeling of 21 calibrated 14C dates. These data come from the 2016 excavation of a large trench directly adjacent to trench ZLL, one of the key 1960s excavations that served to establish the original chronology of the town. The new sequence reported here anchors the phases of Kilwa’s development for the first time in absolute terms. The dates, stratigraphy, and artifact assemblage offer a number of new insights into the timing and tempo of the occupation at Kilwa, notably placing the first coral buildings and coins at the end of the tenth century. Insights also include findings related to the earliest phases of settlement and periods of possible urban decline. We argue against a trend for understanding Swahili towns according to a common coastal trajectory and suggest that it is important to consider regional diversity by recognizing the particular, episodic sequence at Kilwa.

Knowledge of the marine reservoir age is fundamental for creating reliable chronologies of marine sediment archives based on radiocarbon dating. This age difference between the 14C age of a marine sample and that of its contemporaneous atmosphere is dependent on several factors, among others ocean circulation, water mass distribution, terrestrial runoff, upwelling, sea-ice cover and is therefore spatially heterogenous. Anthropogenic influence on the global isotopic carbon system, mostly through atmospheric nuclear tests, has complicated the determination of the regional reservoir age correction ΔR, which therefore can only be measured on historic samples of known age. In this study we expand on the few existing measurements of ΔR for the coastal waters around Greenland, by adding 92 new radiocarbon dates on mollusks from museum collections. All studied mollusk samples were collected during historic expeditions of the late 19th and early 20th centuries and besides coastal sites around Greenland, the dataset also includes localities from the western Labrador Sea, Baffin Bay, and the Iceland Sea. Together with existing measurements, the new results are used to calculate average ΔR values for different regions around Greenland, all in relation to Marine20, the most recent radiocarbon calibration curve. To support further discussions and comparison with previous datasets, we introduce the term ΔR13 where the suffix 13 refers to the previous calibration curve Marine13. Our study explores the links between the marine reservoir age and oceanography, sea ice cover, water depth, mollusk feeding habits, and the presence of carbonate bedrock. Although we provide regional averages, we encourage people to consult the full catalogue of measurements and determine a suitable ΔR for each case individually, based on the exact location including water depth. Despite this significant expansion of the regional reservoir age database around Greenland, data from the northern coast, directly bordering the Arctic Ocean remains missing.

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) are oxidative enzymes that help break down lignocellulose, making them highly attractive for improving biomass utilization in biotechnological purposes. The catalytically essential N-terminal histidine (His1) of LPMOs is post-translationally modified by methylation in filamentous fungi to protect them from auto-oxidative inactivation, however, the responsible methyltransferase enzyme is unknown. Using mass-spectrometry-based quantitative proteomics in combination with systematic CRISPR/Cas9 knockout screening in Aspergillus nidulans, we identified the N-terminal histidine methyltransferase (NHMT) encoded by the gene AN4663. Targeted proteomics confirmed that NHMT was solely responsible for His1 methylation of LPMOs. NHMT is predicted to encode a unique seven-transmembrane segment anchoring a soluble methyltransferase domain. Co-localization studies showed endoplasmic reticulum residence of NHMT and co-expression in the industrial production yeast Komagataella phaffii with LPMOs resulted in His1 methylation of the LPMOs. This demonstrates the biotechnological potential of recombinant production of proteins and peptides harbouring this unique post-translational modification.

This study investigates solar variability between 650 CE and 1900 based on new and published 14C records with a time resolution of two years or higher. The new high-resolution 14C data presented here are derived from Danish oak and span the period 1058–1250 CE. We determine the durations of past solar minima and periods with moderate solar activity from the solar modulation potential calculated using a carbon-box model with the high-resolution 14C records as input. The observed intervals of solar minima and intermittent periods with moderate activity levels suggest that a Maunder-type minimum occurred in 656–707 CE. We tentatively propose to name this minimum the Horrebow Minimum after Christian Horrebow, an early Danish astronomer who studied the occurrence of sunspots and was the first to propose that they follow a cyclic behaviour. Changes in amplitude and cycle length of the 11-year solar cycle are investigated by bandpass filtering 23 individual 14C records. The filtered 14C data indicate that the length of the 11-year solar cycle may be prolonged before the onset of the Oort, Maunder, and Spörer minima. The amplitude of the 11-year solar cycle associated with solar minima and periods with moderate solar activity between 650 CE and 1900 is estimated to 1.1‰. A two-sample Kolmogorov-Smirnov goodness-of-fit test indicates that there is no significant difference between the amplitude distribution of 11-year solar cycles during solar minima and periods of moderate solar activity. A review of the high-resolution 14C records encompassing the near-Earth supernova events that occurred in 1006 CE, 1054, 1181, 1572, and 1604 suggests that these events were not accompanied by distinct changes in the 14C production rate. Nonetheless, an unusual increase of c. 10‰ in Δ14C between 1048 CE and 1055 is observed and discussed.

Galectins are a group of carbohydrate-binding proteins with a presumed immunomodulatory role and an elusive function on antigen-presenting cells. Here we used an in-depth and dynamic proteomic and phosphoproteomic analysis of human macrophages stimulated with galectin-1 and show that galectin-1 induces a tolerogenic macrophage phenotype with increased expression of key immune checkpoint protein programmed cell death 1 ligand 1 (PD-L1/CD274) and immunomodulator indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase-1 (IDO1). Galectin-1 induced IDO1 and its active metabolite kynurenine in a dose-dependent manner dependent on JAK/STAT signaling. Analyzing the expression of galectin-1 showed that galectin-1 is upregulated across multiple tumors and in a 3D organotypic model system equipped with genetically engineered tumorigenic epithelial cells we find that the tumor-associated galectin-1 is derived from both epithelial and stromal cells. Our results highlight the potential of targeting galectin-1 in immunotherapeutic treatment of human cancers.

Ancient Gerasa (Jerash, since the Islamic period) is a city with a rich archaeological heritage from prehistory onwards, with the periods from Roman times into the Early Islamic period best attested. A Danish-German team has been working in the Northwest Quarter of the city since 2011. Among the findings was a Roman period monumental cistern that was intentionally filled in, at one point in time. The complexity of the archaeology raised chronological questions regarding the construction, destruction and subsequent backfilling of the cistern. This study contributed to answer these questions by radiocarbon dating lime plaster excavated from the cistern, and comparing the results with charcoal radiocarbon dates from other studies. Radiocarbon dating of plaster and mortar in Jerash is challenging because of contamination of geological carbonates from the local limestone geology. Quoting previous mortar dating studies, this study utilized sample characterization by alkalinity screening, petrography, SEM-EDS, and sample pre-treatment and preparation by wet sieving, sedimentation and stepwise injection. The plaster dates argued for the construction of the cistern being in the last half of the 1st century BCE to the middle of the 1st century CE. A few samples had later mortar dates, which argued for the filling event of the cistern taking place sometime in the late 3rd century CE or later.

Radiocarbon (14C) dating is the standard method for obtaining the age of marine sediments of Holocene and late Pleistocene age. For accurate calibrations, however, this tool relies on precise knowledge of the local radiocarbon reservoir age of the surface ocean, i.e. the regional difference (ΔR) from the average global marine calibration dataset. This parameter has become impossible to measure from modern material samples because of 14C contamination from extensive testing of thermo-nuclear bombs in the second half of the twentieth century. The local reservoir age can thus only be calculated from the radiocarbon age of samples collected before AD 1950 or from sediment records containing absolute age markers, derived from e.g. tephrochronology or paleomagnetism.Knowledge of the marine reservoir age around Greenland is sparse and relies on work by a few studies, represented by measurements clustered in local patches. In this study we add new radiocarbon measurements on samples from historical mollusk collections from Arctic expeditions of the late 19th and early 20th Century. The 92 new samples are from central east Greenland and the entire western Greenland coast. Although the new data is mostly coastal, it includes a few deeper sites from the Labrador Sea and northeastern North Atlantic Ocean, where deep waters were found to be very young. Together with existing measurements, the new results are used to calculate average ΔR values for different regions around Greenland, all in relation to Marine20, the most recent radiocarbon calibration curve. Despite the significant addition of new measurements, very few data exist for southeastern Greenland, while no data at all is available for the Arctic Ocean coast in northern Greenland.

Ancient Gerasa (its Greco-Roman name)/Islamic Jerash (its later Arab name) is one of the most well-known pre-modern urban sites in northern Jordan, which flourished throughout antiquity and into the early Islamic period. Direct dating of mortar and plaster in Jerash is challenging due to the area's abundance of geological carbonates that hamper the use of radiocarbon mortar methodologies as shown by previous attempts. Therefore, this study revisited the important problem of Jerash mortar dating. The aim was to advance solutions to the challenges with geological carbonates through sample pre-treatment and preparation methods such as wet sieving, sedimentation, cryo2sonic and stepwise injection of diluted acid. To characterize the samples we used alkalinity screening and cathodoluminescence microscopy. Ten plaster samples from an Umayyad house, destroyed by the earthquake in 749 CE, in Jerash were radiocarbon dated. These produced 12 conclusive dates out of 20 attempted datings, and here some samples had multiple attempted datings. These dates confirmed the early Islamic date of the house structure, while some samples suggested reuse of older material. Five comparative mortar samples from medieval Finland and Sweden critically evaluated the methodology proposed in this article. These have known ages, and they produced five conclusive dates that compared accurately with the expected ages. Compared to previous attempts at Jerash mortar dating, this study made substantial contributions to Jerash mortar dating.

The biography and chronology of ritual wetland deposits of animal bones has proven difficult to establish and has been based on the study and typology of associated groups of objects (ceramics and weapons) deposited at the same site. As a result, animal bone deposits are often generalised and perceived in plural, even though several sites exhibit evidence of multiple, clearly separate deposits of individual animals or animal parts. To surmount these shortcomings, this study presents and discusses the results of targeted radiocarbon dating of animal bone depositions from a number of well-established ritual wetland sites dated to the early Iron Age within the area of present-day Denmark. The study includes 154 radiocarbon dates from 10 different sites. The results confirm that the biography of ritual animal bone depositions in wetland sites is highly complex and indicate that the use of wetlands during the early Iron Age for ritualized deposition of animal bones lasted for up to 800 years from the 4th – 5th century BC. The study also shows that domestic animal species were preferred over wild animals, and it confirms that some species may have held a special significance. It is further suggested that some animal species were deposited in wetland ritual depositions for a longer period of time than others, and that some wetland sites were in use through multiple centuries, whereas others were not. All in all, the study suggests a complex and dynamic use of wetlands and animals as part of early Iron Age ritual life.

Multiplexing approaches using tandem mass tags with a carrier proteome to boost sensitivity have advanced single cell proteomics by mass spectrometry (SCoPE-MS). Here, we probe the carrier proteome effects in single cell proteomics with mixed species TMTpro-labeled samples. We demonstrate that carrier proteomes, while increasing overall identifications, dictate which proteins are identified. We show that quantitative precision and signal intensity are limited at high carrier levels, hindering the recognition of regulated proteins. Guidelines for optimized mass spectrometry acquisition parameters and best practices for fold-change or protein copy number-based comparisons are provided.

Recent discoveries of rapid changes in the atmospheric 14C concentration linked to solar particle events have spurred the construction of new radiocarbon annual calibration datasets [1–13]. With these datasets, radiocarbon dating becomes relevant for urban sites, which require dates at higher resolution than previous calibration datasets could offer. Here we use the single-year radiocarbon calibration curves to anchor the archaeological stratigraphy of the beginning of the Viking Age in time. We present absolutely dated evidence for artefact finds charting the expansion of long-distance trade from as far away as Arctic Norway and the Middle East, which we linked to the beginning of the Viking Age at ad 790 ± 10. The methods developed here enable human interactions and cultural, climatic and environmental changes to be compared in archaeological stratigraphies worldwide. Recent discoveries of rapid changes in the atmospheric 14C concentration linked to solar particle events have spurred the construction of new radiocarbon annual calibration datasets 1–13. With these datasets, radiocarbon dating becomes relevant for urban sites, which require dates at higher resolution than previous calibration datasets could offer. Here we use a single-year radiocarbon calibration curve to anchor the archaeological stratigraphy of a Viking Age trade centre in time. We present absolutely dated evidence for artefact finds charting the expansion of long-distance trade from as far away as Arctic Norway and the Middle East, which we linked to the beginning of the Viking Age at ad 790 ± 10. The methods developed here enable human interactions and cultural, climatic and environmental changes to be compared in archaeological stratigraphies worldwide.

Cosmogenic 10Be dates from bedrock knobs on six outlying tiny islands along a stretch of 300 km of the Southwest Greenland coast, indicate that the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) margin here was retreating on the inner shelf close to the coast during the Younger Dryas (YD) cold period. A survey of recently published 10Be and 14C-dated records show that this unexpected behaviour of the ice-margin has been seen also in other parts of Greenland, but with very large variations in extent and speed of retreat even between neighbouring areas. In contrast to this, landforms appearing in high resolution bathymetry surveys on the shelf, have recently been suggested to indicate YD readvance or long-lasting ice-margin still stand on mid shelf, far from the coast. However, these features have been dated primarily by correlation with cold periods in the ice core temperature records, and therefore cannot inform about the ice-margin/climate relation. Ice-margin retreat during a YD cooling has been explained by advection of warm subsurface water melting the ice-margin, and by increased seasonality of the climate with the temperature drop mainly in winter, with high impact on sea ice extent and duration, but little effect on glacier mass balance. This study therefore adds to the complexity of the climate/ice-margin relation, where local factors may for some time overrule or mute overall temperature change. It also points to the urgent need for climate-independent dating of the rich treasure trove of information coming from the shelf in these years.

Exposing the sensitivity of the Greenland Ice Sheet (GrIS) to Holocene climate changes is a key prerequisite for understanding the future response of the ice sheet to global warming. In this study, we present new information on the Holocene glacial history of the GrIS in Inglefield Land, north Greenland. We use 10Be and in-situ 14C exposure dating to constrain the timing of deglaciation in the area and radiocarbon dating of reworked molluscs and wood fragments to constrain when the ice sheet retreated behind its present-day extent. The 10Be ages are scattered ranging from c. 92.7 to 6.8 ka whereas the in-situ 14C ages range from c. 14.2 to 6.7 ka. Almost half of the apparent 10Be ages predate the Last Glacial Maximum and up to 89 % are to some degree affected by nuclide inheritance. Based on the few reliable 10Be ages, the in-situ 14C ages and existing radiocarbon ages from Inglefield Land, we find that the deglaciation along the coast commenced c. 8.6–8.3 cal. ka BP in the western part and c. 7.9 ka in the central part, following the opening of Nares Strait and arrival of warm waters. The ice margin reached its present-day position c. 8.2 ka at the Humboldt Glacier and c. 6.7 ka in the central part of Inglefield Land. Radiocarbon ages of reworked molluscs and wood fragments show that the ice margin was behind its present-day extent from c. 5.8 to 0.5 cal. ka BP. After 0.5 cal. ka BP, the ice advanced towards its Little Ice Age position. Our results emphasize that the slowly eroding and possibly cold-based ice in north Greenland makes it difficult to constrain the deglaciation history based on 10Be ages alone unless it is paired with in-situ 14C ages. Further, combining our findings with those of recently published studies reveals distinct differences between deglaciation patterns of northwest and north Greenland. Deglaciation of the land areas in northwest Greenland occurred earlier than in north Greenland and periods of restricted ice extent were longer, spanning middle and late Holocene. Overall, this highlights past ice sheet sensitivity towards Holocene climate changes in an area where little information was available just a few years ago.

Background: Blood-based, cancer-associated biomarkers may detect subjects at risk of having neoplastic diseases. The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether elevated serological protein biomarker levels may identify adenoma patients, who are at increased risk of being diagnosed with subsequent primary malignancy. Methods: Levels of CEA, CA19-9, TIMP-1 and YKL-40 were determined in blood samples collected prior to diagnostic bowel endoscopy due to symptoms of colorectal neoplasia. Follow-up time was ten years, and identified adenoma patients, who were diagnosed with subsequent primary intra- or extra-colonic malignant diseases. The biomarker levels were also determined in 400 subjects, who underwent diagnostic colonoscopy, had clean colorectum and were without apparent co-morbidity; these levels were used as reference levels. In the present study, biomarkers were interpreted as elevated when levels were above the reference intervals adjusting for age and gender. The 1-year and 5-years cumulative incidences were calculated. Results: Primary malignancies were identified in 175 (19%) of the 923 subjects diagnosed with adenomas at the primary bowel endoscopy. In detail, 20 of the 175 subjects were diagnosed with colorectal cancer (CRC) and 155 subjects with extra-colonic cancers. Thirty patients were diagnosed with malignancy within the first year. Three groups were established: 0: no elevated biomarkers; 1: 1 of the 4 biomarkers elevated; and 2: ≥2 biomarkers elevated. The cumulative 5-years incidence of malignancy was: 0: 6.9%; 1: 11.8%; and 2: 17.5% (p =.0009). Conclusion: Elevated blood-based, cancer-associated protein biomarker levels in subjects diagnosed with adenomas at large bowel endoscopy identifies subjects at increased risk of being diagnosed with subsequent primary malignancy.

Background: Frequently, subjects offered colonoscopy due to symptoms of colorectal neoplasia are diagnosed with diverticula. The symptoms may, however, also be related to extra-colonic neoplasia. The present retrospective study evaluated a possible association between increased levels of predefined biomarkers in subjects diagnosed with diverticula and risk of developing a primary malignant disease. Methods: During 2004/2005, about 4509 subjects were included in a multicenter study with collection of blood samples before bowel endoscopy. The aim was to evaluate a relation between the protein biomarkers CEA, TIMP-1, CA19-9 and YKL-40 and findings at endoscopy. Diverticula were diagnosed in 1021 subjects. By 31 December 2012, subjects who had developed primary malignancy were identified retrospectively and relation between biomarker levels at endoscopy and risk of developing primary malignancy was calculated. The relation with the four biomarkers was divided into three groups: 0 = none increased; 1 = one increased and 2 = two or more increased. Results: In the observation period, 148 subjects developed a primary malignant disease. Univariable analyzes of the biomarker levels showed that CEA, TIMP-1 and CA19-9 were significantly associated with development of primary malignancy. A multivariable analysis showed that increased levels were associated with development of malignancy (p< 0.0001). The 1-and 5-year cumulative risks of being diagnosed with a primary malignancy were: group 0: 1.1%/5.5%; group 1: 4.2%/10.1% and group 2: 11.4%/18.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Increased levels of CEA, TIMP-1 and CA19-9 at endoscopy with findings of diverticula were associated with a significantly increased risk of being diagnosed with a subsequent primary malignant disease. Background: Frequently, subjects offered colonoscopy due to symptoms of colorectal neoplasia are diagnosed with diverticula. The symptoms may, however, also be related to extra-colonic neoplasia. The present retrospective study evaluated a possible association between increased levels of predefined biomarkers in subjects diagnosed with diverticula and risk of developing a primary malignant disease. Methods: During 2004/2005, about 4509 subjects were included in a multicenter study with collection of blood samples before bowel endoscopy. The aim was to evaluate a relation between the protein biomarkers CEA, TIMP-1, CA19-9 and YKL-40 and findings at endoscopy. Diverticula were diagnosed in 1021 subjects. By 31 December 2012, subjects who had developed primary malignancy were identified retrospectively and relation between biomarker levels at endoscopy and risk of developing primary malignancy was calculated. The relation with the four biomarkers was divided into three groups: 0 = none increased; 1 = one increased and 2 = two or more increased. Results: In the observation period, 148 subjects developed a primary malignant disease. Univariable analyzes of the biomarker levels showed that CEA, TIMP-1 and CA19-9 were significantly associated with development of primary malignancy. A multivariable analysis showed that increased levels were associated with development of malignancy (p< 0.0001). The 1-and 5-year cumulative risks of being diagnosed with a primary malignancy were: group 0: 1.1%/5.5%; group 1: 4.2%/10.1% and group 2: 11.4%/18.8%, respectively. Conclusion: Increased levels of CEA, TIMP-1 and CA19-9 at endoscopy with findings of diverticula were associated with a significantly increased risk of being diagnosed with a subsequent primary malignant disease.

The medieval Modena cathedral (Northern Italy) was modified in the 15th century with the construction of 23 new vaults, which were progressively added throughout. A detailed survey of the vaults binder revealed the scars of multiple repair works after several earthquakes, resulting in a complex patchwork of lime mortar repairs over original gypsum vaults and gypsum repairs over original lime vaults. No apparent systematic construction criteria were followed to dictate the use of lime or gypsum binders. We used an integrated approach based on different absolute dating techniques in order to clarify the original vaults construction timing and to define the chronology of the restorations. The aim was to correlate the main restoration works to the earthquake chronology deduced from the catalogue of historic earthquakes. Radiocarbon dating using sequential dissolution (Lindroos et al., 2018) and Optically Stimulated Luminescence of the sand aggregate (Panzeri et al., 2018) were carried out to date the lime mortars and Thermoluminescence to date bricks. The preliminary results suggest that lime mortar was used both as original building material and for later major repairs. Some vaults were entirely rebuilt using a gypsum binder, and some others originally built using lime mortars were modified at least two times using two different gypsum mortars. These results are particularly significant because we were able to demonstrate that the vaults suffered much larger damage induced by earthquakes than previously assessed just by mapping fracture and crack networks.

This study shows how radiocarbon dating can be used to monitor the success of a wetland restoration program and its impact on global climate.The Danish River Odense Å was channelized in the years 1944-1950 and the surrounding riparian wetlands drained to provide land for agriculture. In 2003, it was brought back to its original meandering course (between Brobyværk and Lyndelse, 4.6 km of straight channel were remeandered to 6 km of natural channel with 16 meander bows) and 125 ha of wetlands were restored. One of the expected benefits of this operation is the increased sequestration of carbon in the sediments accumulating around the river. This would result in reduced CO2 emissions, thus be an advantage for global climate and reduce Denmark’s carbon footprint.We measured the radiocarbon ages of the bulk organic sediment from different distances to the river and at different depths below surface. Furthermore, we analysed reference samples of surface soil, which had been collected immediately before the start of the restoration project. The radiocarbon ages of sediments accumulating after the restoration are decreasing: The deepest sediment samples, which had accumulated just after the restoration, have the highest ages. Today’s surface samples have the youngest ages. This shows that increasing amounts of young carbon are sequestered in the wetland, while the amounts of old, redeposited carbon are decreasing. However, these observations also show that the radiocarbon age of bulk sediment samples does not yield the time of deposition, but rather indicate the source of the carbon.A complicating factor are reservoir ages of plants contributing to the sediment organic matter. Therefore, we also radiocarbon dated aquatic and terrestrial vegetation. Surprisingly, not only aquatic, but also meadow plants such as soft rush, rough bluegrass and meadowsweet have considerable reservoir effects. CO2 from decaying vegetation seems to be an important carbon source for some meadow plants, mimicking a canopy effect in the open land.