Wiggle-Match Dating of Tree-Ring Sequences
Open accessAbstract
Given the non-monotonic form of the radiocarbon calibration curve, the precision of single 14 C dates on the calendar timescale will always be limited. One way around this limitation is through comparison of time-series, which should exhibit the same irregular patterning as the calibration curve. This approach can be employed most directly in the case of wood samples with many years growth present (but not able to be dated by dendrochronology), where the tree-ring series of unknown date can be compared against the similarly constructed 14 C calibration curve built from known-age wood. This process of curve-fitting has come to be called “wiggle-matching.” In this paper, we look at the requirements for getting good precision by this method: sequence length, sampling frequency, and measurement precision. We also look at 3 case studies: one a piece of wood which has been independently dendrochronologically dated, and two others of unknown age relating to archaeological activity at Silchester, UK (Roman) and Miletos, Anatolia (relating to the volcanic eruption at Thera).
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The first series comprises 14C dates on a defined tree-ring (oak, Quercus sp.) sequence of 72 tree-rings ending in waney edge from Miletos from a sample found buried beneath Theran tephra fall.
“The first series comprises 14 C dates on a defined tree-ring (oak, Quercus sp.) sequence of 72 tree-rings ending in waney edge (ring immediately below bark) from Miletos from a sample that was found buried beneath Theran tephra fall [74,140,144].”
From Second Intermediate Period date for the Thera (Santorini) eruption and historical implications (2022) · cites this paper as [140]
The Miletos case-study passage (indexed under “Dating a Well in Late Roman Silchester”; page unavailable) describes radiocarbon dating of an oak chair sample and Theran tephra particles in a destruction deposit covering it. It does not specify a 72-ring sequence, a waney edge, or that the sample was buried beneath a Theran tephra fall. (LLM, conf=0.88)
Experimental — accuracy not yet measuredDates within an R_Combine or Combine function, or dates forming part of a tree-ring defined wiggle-match, were assessed and down-weighted as outliers using the OxCal SSimple Outlier model.
“Dates within an R_Combine (or Combine) function, or dates forming part of a tree-ring defined wiggle-match [139, 140], were assessed and down-weighted as outliers using the OxCal SSimple Outlier model [138].”
From Second Intermediate Period date for the Thera (Santorini) eruption and historical implications (2022) · cites this paper as [140]
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Cites
‘Wiggle Matching’ Radiocarbon Dates
Bronk Ramsey, C., van der Plicht, J., & Weninger, B. (2001) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/s0033822200038248 · Cited by 432 · see citing works
Anatolian Tree Rings and a New Chronology for the East Mediterranean Bronze-Iron Ages
Manning, S. W., Kromer, B., Kuniholm, P. I., & Newton, M. W. (2001) · Science · doi:10.1126/science.1066112 · Cited by 147 · see citing works
Self-citationKromer, 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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Research works printed but not linked: 15
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Self-citation
- Authors
- Galimberti, M., Bronk Ramsey, C., & Manning, S. W.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- University of Toronto (CA)
- ORCID
- Manning, Sturt W
- Venue
- Radiocarbon
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2004
- Volume
- 46
- Issue
- 2
- Pages
- 917-924
- ISSN
- 0033-8222 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-5755
- OpenAlex
- W1742544402
- Cited by
- 127
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2026: 7 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 10 · 2022: 11 · 2021: 18 · 2020: 6 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 4 · 2014: 5 · 2013: 2 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 2.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Radiocarbon (publishedVersion)
- UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion)
- CentAUR (University of Reading) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Oak Ridge Associated Universities
- Natural Environment Research Council
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Paleontology › Archaeology and ancient environmental studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Tree-ring climate responses
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Atmospheric Science › Geology and Paleoclimatology Research
- Keywords
- wiggle matching, radiocarbon calibration, sequence length, sampling frequency, measurement precision, dendrochronology, archaeological wood dating, Thera eruption, Miletos, Silchester
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