Amino acid racemization analysis (AAR)

Amino acid dating, which depends on the predictable breakdown of proteins within fossil biominerals, spans the whole of the Quaternary time period. As the integrity of the original organic fraction is of vital importance, in recent years significant advances have been made in analysing closed-system protein by isolating protein trapped within the biomineral crystals, circumventing problems due to contamination, leaching and environmental effects. The chiral amino acid analysis possible in our facility allows age estimation in fossil samples through amino acid racemization (AAR) alongside other measures of protein breakdown, giving a measure of intra-crystalline protein degradation (IcPD). NEaar provides world-leading expertise in sample preparation and analysis of protein within the complex matrices encountered in earth and archaeological science