Description
This collection contains sample records and supporting documentation, chromatographs, lab notebooks, master lists, equipment
operating manuals, procedural documents, correspondence, financial documents, floppy disks, computer print outs and other
material documenting the daily operations of the UCR Radiocarbon Lab. In addition, the collection contains records of the
scholarly activities of lab Director and Professor of Anthropology, Erv Taylor. This includes teaching and research materials,
publications, a Ph.D. dissertation and curriculum vitae. The collection also contains records of the Archaeometry Laboratory
and Preservation Science and Technology Unit, which were intermingled with a later accural of the Radiocarbon Lab records.
Background
The UCR Radiocarbon Laboratory was founded in 1973 by Professor R. Ervin (Erv) Taylor (b. 1938). It operated in the Department
of Anthropology and Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics. Under Taylor's supervision, laboratory staff were responsible
for dating thousands of specimens sent by various universities and cultural heritage organizations from all over the world.
The lab was built between 1970 and 1973. Lab staff began processing samples in November of 1972. The CO2 counting system used
to date samples was modeled on concepts developed at the UCLA and New Zealand's Institute of Nuclear Science Laboratories.
The UCR Radiocarbon Lab closed in 2006 after more than thirty years of operation.
Extent
57.8 linear feet
(39 boxes)
Restrictions
Copyright Unknown: Some materials in these collections may be protected by the U.S. Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.C.). In addition,
the reproduction, and/or commercial use, of some materials may be restricted by gift or purchase agreements, donor restrictions,
privacy and publicity rights, licensing agreement(s), and/or trademark rights. Distribution or reproduction of materials protected
by copyright beyond that allowed by fair use requires the written permission of the copyright owners. To the extent other
restrictions apply, permission for distribution or reproduction from the applicable rights holder is also required. Responsibility
for obtaining permissions, and for any use rests exclusively with the user.
Availability
This collection is open for research.