Developments in radiocarbon calibration for archaeology
Abstract
This update on radiocarbon calibration results from the 19th International Radiocarbon Conference at Oxford in April 2006, and is essential reading for all archaeologists. The way radiocarbon dates and absolute dates relate to each other differs in three periods: back to 12400 cal BP, radiocarbon dates can be calibrated with tree rings, and the calibration curve in this form should soon extend back to 18000 cal BP. Between 12400 and 26000 cal BP, the calibration curves are based on marine records, and thus are only a best estimate of atmospheric concentrations. Beyond 26000 cal BP, dates have to be based on comparison (rather than calibration) with a variety of records. Radical variations are thus possible in this period, a highly significant caveat for the dating of middle and lower Paleolithic art, artefacts and animal and human remains.
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In order for 14C measurements to be converted to calendrical dates, they need to be compared with a calibration curve.
“in order for 14 C measurements to be converted to calendrical dates, they need to be compared with a reference dataset known as a calibration curve (see Bronk Ramsey 2006; Reimer et al. 2009).”
From Radiocarbon dating and the Naqada relative chronology (2014) · cites this paper as Bronk Ramsey 2006
Cites
<sup>14</sup> C Activity and Global Carbon Cycle Changes over the Past 50,000 Years
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Evolution of prehistoric cave art
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Anthropogenic and solar components of hemispheric <sup>14</sup>C
Stuiver, M., & Braziunas, T. F. (1998) · Geophysical Research Letters · doi:10.1029/97gl03694 · Cited by 110 · see citing works
Kromer, B., Manning, S. W., Kuniholm, P. I., Newton, M. W., Spurk, M., & Levin, I. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1066114 · Cited by 77 · see citing works
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IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP
Reimer, P. J., Baillie, M. G. L., Bard, E., Bayliss, A., Beck, J. W., Blackwell, P. G., Bronk Ramsey, C., Buck, C. E., Burr, G. S., Edwards, R. L., et al. (2009) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200034202 · Cited by 4,290 · see citing works
Self-citationRamsey, C. B., Scott, E. M., & van der Plicht, J. (2013) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.2458/azu_js_rc.55.16935 · Cited by 129 · see citing works
Self-citationRadiocarbon dating and the Naqada relative chronology
Dee, M. W., Wengrow, D., Shortland, A. J., Stevenson, A., Brock, F., & Bronk Ramsey, C. (2014) · Journal of Archaeological Science · doi:10.1016/j.jas.2014.03.016 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
The Minoan eruption of Santorini radiocarbon dated by an olive tree buried by the eruption
Heinemeier, J., Friedrich, W. L., Kromer, B., & Ramsey, C. B. (2009) · Time's Up! Dating the Minoan eruption of Santorini · doi:10.2307/jj.35529235.28 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citation
- Authors
- Ramsey, C. B., Buck, C. E., Manning, S. W., Reimer, P., & Plicht, H. V. D.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- University of Sheffield (GB)
- Cornell University (US)
- Queen's University Belfast (GB)
- Leiden University (NL)
- Venue
- Antiquity
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2006-12-01
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- 310
- Pages
- 783-798
- ISSN
- 0003-598X (ISSN-L)
- 1745-1744
- OpenAlex
- W1595512608
- Cited by
- 58
- References
- 4
- Citations by year
- 2026: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 1 · 2018: 3 · 2017: 3 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 2 · 2014: 1 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 3
- FWCI
- 5.89
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Antiquity (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Tree-ring climate responses
- Keywords
- radiocarbon calibration, calibration curve, tree-ring chronology, marine sediment records, absolute dating, Middle Palaeolithic, Lower Palaeolithic
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