Our services

The Czech Radiocarbon Laboratory, designated with the international code CRL, was established in 2004 as a collaborative initiative between the Nuclear Physics Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences and the Institute of Archeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague.

Services

Radiocarbon dating and carbon-14 analyses using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS)

Organic residue analysis and compound-specific radiocarbon analysis using gas chromatography (GC) - such as lipids in ceramic or sediments

Stable isotope analysis of δ¹³C and δ¹⁵N

Consultation services and result interpretation

Equipment

Since 2013, we have conducted radiocarbon dating and carbon-14 analysis using AMS method. From 2022 onwards, we have employed our MILEA (Multi-Isotope Low-Energy AMS) instrument from the Swiss company IonPlus. MILEA is a medium-sized device, operates at a working voltage of up to 300 kV.

Our laboratory is equipped with other essential instruments, including preparative gas chromatograph Agilent 8890 with FID detector and Gerstel fraction collector for molecular-specific radiocarbon analysis; time-of-flight (TOF) mass spectrometer from Leco for screening and quantification of target compounds in complex matrices; sector spectrometer (ThermoFisher Scientific) for measuring stable isotope ratios connected via ConFlow IV gas interface with SmartFlash elemental analyzer, FTIR spectrometer Nicolet IS50 from Thermo Scientific, Olympus SZX10 stereomiscroscope, and more.

Head of the laboratory Ivo Světlík (svetlik@ujf.cas.cz)

Deputy head Kateřina Pachnerová Brabcová (brabcova@ujf.cas.cz)

The laboratory has received support from the OP RDE, Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport of the Czech Republic, under the project "„Ultra-trace isotope research in social and environmental studies using accelerator mass spectrometry“, Reg. No.CZ.02.1.01/0.0/0.0/16_019/0000728.

Policy

For artifacts of art and cultural heritage, the CRL laboratory adheres to the UNESCO convention and follows procedures proposed by the radiocarbon community for dating such objects. Prior to the submitting such samples, please contact us and provide a declaration of origin, declaration of ownership, and picture of the object.