Radiocarbon and amino acid racemization (AAR) and the time since death

Stewart J. Fallon; Colin V. Murray-Wallace

doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-815731-2.00009-1

Radiocarbon and amino acid racemization (AAR) and the time since death

Stewart J. Fallon, Colin V. Murray-Wallace

Climate and Ocean Geoscience

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Understanding time since death is a critical component in missing person identification. Along with year-of-birth determination it can provide an age of the individual in order to compare with missing person databases. To determine time since death or year of birth a chronometer is needed. There are several chronometers inherent within the human body. All rely on the organic nature of human tissues and components. Two of these methods are Amino Acid Racemization (AAR) and radiocarbon dating (14C dating). AAR uses the chemical decay of individual Amino acids derived from proteins, the blocks of life, whilst radiocarbon uses the radioactive decay of carbon-14 found in human tissue as a chronometer. In the following discussion both methods are described in detail including their usefulness and limitations in quantifying the time since death.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Estimation of the Time since Death
Subtitle of host publication	Current Research and Future Trends
Publisher	Elsevier
Pages	191-227
Number of pages	37
ISBN (Electronic)	9780128157312
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-815731-2.00009-1
Publication status	Published - 1 Jan 2020

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10.1016/B978-0-12-815731-2.00009-1

Cite this

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abstract = "Understanding time since death is a critical component in missing person identification. Along with year-of-birth determination it can provide an age of the individual in order to compare with missing person databases. To determine time since death or year of birth a chronometer is needed. There are several chronometers inherent within the human body. All rely on the organic nature of human tissues and components. Two of these methods are Amino Acid Racemization (AAR) and radiocarbon dating (14C dating). AAR uses the chemical decay of individual Amino acids derived from proteins, the blocks of life, whilst radiocarbon uses the radioactive decay of carbon-14 found in human tissue as a chronometer. In the following discussion both methods are described in detail including their usefulness and limitations in quantifying the time since death.",

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KW - Bomb curve dating

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KW - D/L

KW - Forensics

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BT - Estimation of the Time since Death

PB - Elsevier

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Radiocarbon and amino acid racemization (AAR) and the time since death

Abstract

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