A comparison of the treatment of errors in radiocarbon dating calibration methods |
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Authors: | E. M. Scott M. S. Baxter T. C. Aitchison |
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Affiliation: | 1. Department of Statistics University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ UK;2. Department of Chemistry, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ UK |
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Abstract: | The application of radiocarbon dating to archaeological samples generally requires calibration of 14C dates to calendar ages and interpretation of dating errors. In this paper, four recent methods of age calibration are assessed, particularly with regard to their quality of error treatment. Recent experimental research has suggested that commonly quoted errors on “raw” 14C dates may require enlargement to more realistic levels, which, when incorporated in the calibration schemes, produce a considerable increase in the size of the typical calibrated interval. A general decrease in the sensitivity of 14C dating using single, “normal precision” dates is implied. Thus typical calibrated age intervals range from 300 to 1300 years (approximate 95% confidence level), with little improvement resulting if “high precision” calibration systems are used to correct “normal precision” dates. Of the four methods considered here, that proposed by Neftel is found to provide the most objective, flexible, comprehensive and “easy to use” scheme. This method is particularly recommended for its treatment of errors both on the dates to be calibrated and on the calibration curve itself. |
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Keywords: | radiocarbon dating calibration dating errors |
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