AMS RADIOCARBON DATING OF THE LARGE PEDUNCULATE OAK OF MERCHEACA, ROMANIA

The paper reports the AMS (accelerator mass spectrometry) radiocarbon dating results of the large pedunculate oak of Mercheaca, Romania, which has a circumference of 10.16 m. Two wood samples were extracted from the trunk and from the largest horizontal branch. Five segments from these samples were analysed by AMS radiocarbon. The oldest dated sample segment originates from the largest horizontal branch, very close to its geometrical centre. It had a radiocarbon date of 386 [+ or -] 45 BP, which corresponds to a calibrated age of 540 [+ or -] 35 calendar years. This value indicates an age of 560 [+ or -] 35 years for the oak of Mercheaca. Keywords: AMS radiocarbon dating, Quercus robur, dendrochronology, age determination, Romania.