The Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit (ORAU) is a radiocarbon laboratory engaged in collaborative research across many disciplines where the measurement of the radiocarbon isotope is useful including:
The laboratory provides a radiocarbon dating service for people undertaking research in all these areas. This dating service operates on a commercial basis and in conjunction with NERC/ARHC which funds the NRCF programme for British archaeologists. This dating service provides support for all stages of radiocarbon dating from project design and sample choice right through to data analysis.
Memorandum of Understanding signed between Oxford and Ritsumeikan universities
An historic Memorandum of Universtanding (MOU) was signed on 25 July 2019 between officials from Oxford’s School of Archaeology and representatives from Ritsumeikan University of Japan. The MOU was signed by Prof. Takeshi Nakagawa, Ritsumeikan University and Prof. Julia Lee-Thorp of the School of Archaeology. The MOU covers aspects of the dating and analysis of pollen grains using a novel sorting technology developed by the joint team under the direction of Prof. Takeshi Nakagawa and Prof. Christopher Bronk Ramsey. The team will offer a commercial service in due course for dating fossil pollen grains obtained using the sorting method. The official signing was held at Keble College in Oxford, chaired by Junko Sakamoto, Director of Ritsumeikan UK Office.