Description:
<jats:p>We made a comparative study of AMS <jats:sup>14</jats:sup>C ages of organic deposits (minerotrophic peats and gyttjas) and macrofossils in order to evaluate the magnitude of a number of sources of error that may be present in bulk sediment samples. The consistency of <jats:sup>14</jats:sup>C ages found for coexisting macrofossils suggests that they are unlikely to record disturbances. Some of our gyttja samples yielded an age 0.2–0.6 ka <jats:sup>14</jats:sup>C years too old due to hardwater effect. We also found an aging effect in several bulk samples with a high admixture of siliciclastic material; this is attributed to fluvial input of reworked, older organic debris. Rejuvenation of bulk material as a result of root contamination occurs mainly in samples overlain by slowly accumulated deposits, and particularly in samples affected by (sub)recent roots.</jats:p>