The Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory (named after Athol Rafter, see history), is part of the National Isotope Centre of the Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences and has a long history in radiocarbon dating. Since 1986 it has operated an accelerator mass spectrometry facility, the first installed in the Southern Hemisphere. This facility provides a radiocarbon dating service for researchers worldwide, and over 17,000 samples have been measured from the Pacific area, United States and Europe. The Rafter Laboratory was a participant in the Third and Fourth International Radiocarbon Intercomparisons, conducted by Glasgow University.
Since the 1950s, this Laboratory has played a role in areas of radiocarbon research including:
As well as the AMS facility, the Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory operates a modern, well equipped sample processing laboratory. Our highly qualified team of scientists and technicians are engaged in research in a range of topics including textile dating, paleodietary studies, paleoenvironmental reconstruction, pollen dating, atmospheric pollutants and problems of marine shell dating. Rafter is committed to an ongoing programme of research to ensure that optimum levels of scientific accuracy are offered. We welcome collaborative research proposals.
Our clients enjoy the benefits of our research expertise. You can take advantage of the accumulated experience of our scientists and technicians through our consultancy services in research design and data interpretation.
GNSscience — 18 May 2010 — Albert Zondervan explains the XCAMS particle accelerator at the National Isotope Centre, GNS Science, New Zealand.
Link to media release about XCAMS particle accelerator.
Meet the people of Rafter
Find your way to our site
Rafter Radiocarbon Laboratory,
GNS Science,
30 Gracefield Road,
PO Box 31-312,
Lower Hutt,
New Zealand.
Fax: +64 4 570 4657
Email us here
Downloadable documents available here