High precision 14C dating of Holocene peat deposits: A comparison of Bayesian calibration and wiggle-matching approaches

(a final version of this paper has now been published by Radiocarbon, with full open access: Meadows, J., Rinne, C., Immel, A., Fuchs, K., Krause-Kyora, B., Drummer, C., 2020. High-precision Bayesian chronological modeling on a calibration plateau: the Niedertiefenbach gallery grave, Radiocarbon. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2020.76). We combine the results of a 14C dating programme with archaeogenetic, osteological and sparse stratigraphic data, to construct a Bayesian chronological model for a multi-generational sequence situated entirely on a plateau in the 14C calibration curve. Calibrated dates of individual human bones from the Late Neolithic gallery grave at Niedertiefenbach, Hesse, Germany, span the entire calibration plateau in the late 4th millennium (c.3350-3100/3000 cal BC), but our model restricts the overall period of burial to 3–6 generations centered on the later 3200s, and provides narrower absolute date ranges for specific individuals and associated events. We confirm the accuracy and robustness of this model by sensitivity tests of each of its components. Beyond providing a more dynamic narrative for the formation of the heterogenous burial population at Niedertiefenbach, our results show that calibration plateaus are suitable periods for Bayesian chronological modeling of even relatively brief sequences, provided that all the information employed is correct. Prior information constraining both the order of events, and of potential date differences between them, is essential for the model to give accurate, unimodal estimates of the dates of these events.

Download Full-text

Chronology of the Danish Bronze Age Based on 14C Dating of Cremated Bone Remains

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200056538 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 53 (2) ◽

pp. 261-275 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

Jesper Olsen ◽

Karen Margrethe Hornstrup ◽

Jan Heinemeier ◽

Pia Bennike ◽

Henrik Thrane

Keyword(s):

Bronze Age ◽

High Precision ◽

14C Dating ◽

Broad Agreement ◽

Southern Scandinavia ◽

The Absolute ◽

Bone Remains

The relative Bronze Age chronology for Scandinavia was established as early as 1885. It is traditionally divided into 6 periods (I–VI). Earlier attempts to make an absolute Bronze Age chronology for southern Scandinavia were derived from burials and settlements and were mainly based on radiocarbon-dated charcoal or carbonized cereals, often with undefined archaeological periods. Here, we present high-precision 14C dating on burials with well-defined associated archaeological periods in order to improve the absolute chronology of the Danish Bronze Age. Our results are in broad agreement with the traditional absolute chronology of the Danish Bronze Age. However, our results do indicate that the onset of period III likely occurred earlier than previously thought.

Download Full-text

A Counter System for High-Precision 14C Dating

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200011978 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 31 (03) ◽

pp. 399-406 ◽

Cited By ~ 47

Author(s):

Ede Hertelendi ◽

Éva Csongor ◽

Laszlo Zaborszky ◽

Jozsef Molnar ◽

Janos Gal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Pressure ◽

High Precision ◽

Radiocarbon Dating ◽

Data Evaluation ◽

14C Dating ◽

Counting Period ◽

Low Level ◽

Electrolytic Copper ◽

Proportional Counters ◽

Better Than

A multicounter radiocarbon dating system was developed applying the experiences of the previous one-channel low-level counting facility. The counter system consists of nine electrolytic copper proportional counters of identical diameters with sensitive volumes of 0.35–0.7dm3 and filled with either methane at high pressure (6 bar) or CO2 at 1 bar. The inner counters are surrounded by an anticoincidence shield consisting of five multiwire proportional flat counters filled with propane. The pulses of the detectors are handled by integrated amplifiers, discriminators and anticoincidence units interfaced to a microprocessor-controlled data evaluation unit. Software is written in BASIC using ASSEMBLER sub-routines. The overall precision of the system for modern carbon samples using high-pressure methane-filled counters (B ≍ 0.7 cpm, S ≍ 14 cpm) is better than 4 after a counting period of seven days.

Download Full-text

14C Dating of Peat and δ18O-δd in Ground Ice From Northwest Siberia

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200041187 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 43 (2B) ◽

pp. 527-540 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Yurij K Vasil'chuk ◽

Högne Jungner ◽

Alla C Vasil'chuk

Keyword(s):

Cross Section ◽

Isotope Composition ◽

River Valley ◽

Yamal Peninsula ◽

14C Dating ◽

Radiocarbon Dates ◽

The Holocene ◽

Peat Deposits ◽

Southern Tundra ◽

The Yamal Peninsula

We present new radiocarbon dates from a number of Holocene peat deposits along a north-south transect across the Yamal Peninsula. The samples were collected from frozen peat deposits with large ice wedges in: the northern tundra near Seyaha Settlement, in the Central Yamal Peninsula, the southern tundra in Shchuch'ya River valley at the Edem'yaha mouth, the southern part of the Yamal Peninsula, and the southern forest tundra near Labytnangi Town. 14C dates of wood remains from the tundra in the Yamal Peninsula could be used to reconstruct a northern limit of forest during the Holocene Optimum. The wood layers at the bottom of the peat give evidence for immigration of trees further north beyond the present boundary. The first forest appearance in the Seyaha River valley area is dated about 9 ka BP according to the oldest peat date in the Seyaha cross section. This suggests that summer temperatures were higher than at present. Very fast accumulation of peat (around 5 m/ka: about 9–8 ka BP at Seyaha and about 7–6 ka BP at Shchuch'ya) also supports this observation.In contrast, oxygen isotope composition of Holocene syngenetic ice wedges from the area (δ18O= −19.1 to −20.3‰ in the Seyaha cross-section and −17.3 to −20.3‰ in the Shchuch'ya River) show that winter temperatures were significantly lower than presently, i.e. the climate during the Holocene Optimum was slightly more continental. The frozen peat near Labytnangi has thawed during the last 20 years, indicating global warming.

Download Full-text

High-precision TIMS U-series and AMS 14C dating of a coral reef lagoon sediment core from southern South China Sea

Quaternary Science Reviews ◽

10.1016/j.quascirev.2006.01.027 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 25 (17-18) ◽

pp. 2420-2430 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Ke-Fu Yu ◽

Jian-Xin Zhao ◽

Pin-Xian Wang ◽

Qi Shi ◽

Qing-Shan Meng ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Coral Reef ◽

South China Sea ◽

High Precision ◽

Sediment Core ◽

South China ◽

Southern South China Sea ◽

14C Dating ◽

Lagoon Sediment ◽

Coral Reef Lagoon ◽

Ams 14C Dating

Download Full-text

Sample Credentials Necessary for Meaningful High-Precision 14C Dating

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200020117 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 28 (3) ◽

pp. 1060-1064 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

E M Jope

Keyword(s):

Carbon Content ◽

High Precision ◽

Tree Rings ◽

Calibration Curve ◽

Total Carbon ◽

Time Range ◽

14C Dating ◽

Growth Rings ◽

Total Carbon Content

Samples presented for high-precision 14C dating must satisfy stringent requirements if the 14C determinations are to yield meaningful sharp calendric dates, such as are now possible with the bidecadal high-precision calibration curve. The total carbon content should come from a confined time range 10–20 years (10–20 tree rings in wood or charcoal) appropriate for the bidecadal calibration curve. For accurate calendric dating the relation of these rings to the outer growth rings must be known. Application of the high-precision calibration curve to some archaeologic examples is discussed. It is now up to archaeologists and geoscientists to use this refined chronometric instrument to fullest advantage.

Download Full-text

THE BUSHARINO HILLFORT ON THE SETUN RIVER AND ITS RESOURCE AREA

Краткие сообщения Института археологии (КСИА) ◽

10.25681/iaras.0130-2620.263.46-59 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 46-59

Author(s):

Н. А. Кренке ◽

М. Г. Абрамзон ◽

К. А. Ганичев ◽

Е. Г. Ершова ◽

А. А. Кудрявцев ◽

...

Keyword(s):

High Precision ◽

Moscow Region ◽

Agricultural Activities ◽

Buried Soils ◽

Slash And Burn ◽

Reliable Evidence ◽

Peat Deposits ◽

Copper Coin

В статье представлены результаты новых работ на городище Бушарино в Московской области и результаты палеоботанических исследований в его ближайших окрестностях. Удалось уточнить датировку находок на городище, скорректировать атрибуцию римской медной монеты, найденной еще в 1957 г., снять высокоточный план памятника, который относится к особому типу трехвальных городищ, не адаптированных к рельефу. Выявлены некоторые расхождения в хронологии массового материала (III в. до н. э. - III в. н. э.) и даты римской монеты (IV в.). Изучение погребенных почв под древнерусским курганом в 2 км от городища и отложений торфа в ближайшем болоте (1,5 км) позволило установить, что эти участки прошли через несколько циклов подсечного земледелия в I тыс. до н. э. - первых веках н. э., таким образом удалось достоверно зафиксировать следы земледельческой активности железного века. The paper presents results of recent studies at the Busharino hillfort in the Moscow region as well as results of paleobotanical studies in its vicinities. The chronology of finds originating from the hillfort was specified, the attribution of the Roman copper coin found back in 1957 was clarified. A high precision plan of the site was performed. The site is attributed to a special type of three-rampart hillforts not adapted to the terrain. Some discrepancies in the chronology of mass finds (3 century BC - 3 century AD) and the date of the Roman coin (4 century AD) were identified. The study of buried soils under the Medieval Russia kurgans situated two kilometers away from the hillfort as well as peat deposits in the nearest marsh (1,5 km) were undertaken. These made it possible to establish that these areas had gone through several slash-and-burn agricultural cycles in I mill. BC - first centuries AD providing, therefore, reliable evidence of agricultural activities.

Download Full-text

High-Resolution 14C Dating of Organic Deposits Using Natural Atmospheric 14C Variations

Radiocarbon ◽

10.1017/s0033822200044805 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 31 (2) ◽

pp. 151-155 ◽

Cited By ~ 88

Author(s):

Bas Van Geel ◽

Willem G Mook

Keyword(s):

Mass Spectrometry ◽

High Resolution ◽

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry ◽

Small Samples ◽

14C Dating ◽

Peat Deposits ◽

Organic Deposits

The occurrence of atmospheric 14C variations complicates calibration, ie, the translation of 14C ages into real calendar ages. The procedure of wiggle matching, however, allows very precise calibration, by matching known 14C variations with wiggles in the floating chronology. In principle, wiggle matching can also be applied to a series of 14C dates from organic (peat) deposits. Where, in general, 14C ages are required at short distances and on small samples, dating by 14C accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) is required.

Download Full-text