Radiocarbon Dating of Mortar Based on Hydraulic Lime. Advantages, Disadvantages, Limitations

Hydraulic lime mortars have been an important segment of human society for thousands of years. Recipes of production, construction behavior over time and physico-chemical investigations for material characterization and reconstitution of recipe for buildings restoration are continuing challenges. Neither radiocarbon method is an exception; the dating of mortars remains one of the most difficult problems to solve, and therefore collective experience at international level can led to outlining advantages, disadvantages and limitations of its use. This experience, taken over and developed in the RoAMS laboratory of IFIN-HEI, can be highlighted by a comparative short presentation of three different case studies, namely Porolissum / Moigrad ancient Roman city and military camp in Dacia, Marienburg / Feldioara Medieval Fortress near Brasov, and chapel church and Chindia Tower areas belonging to Princely Medieval Court at Targoviste. All three cases are located in Romania and represent important objectives of the national cultural heritage.