Problems in the Measurement, Calibration, Analysis, and Communication of Radiocarbon Dates (With Special Reference to the Prehistory of the Aegean World)
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Radiocarbon dating encounters (1) problems of reservoir effects and regional/seasonal variation affecting the chronological reliability of measurements, (2) problems of calibration of measurements via comparison with tree segments of known dendrochronological dates, (3) problems of statistical inference with respect to the data pre- and post-calibration, and (4) problems of the analysis and communication of information to archaeologists, historians, and other interested parties. This paper considers the special characteristics of each of the problem areas indicated in order to improve communication between 14 C scientists and the disciplines of archaeology, anthropology, and ancient history.
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The reliability of the radiocarbon-based date range for Thera has been debated because it places the event earlier in time than certain archaeological synchronizations between sites in the Aegean, Egypt, and Levant would suggest possible.
“The reliability of this radiocarbon-based date range has been debated ( 4 , 5 , 14 ) because it places the event earlier in time than certain archaeological synchronizations between sites in the Aegean, Egypt, and Levant would suggest possible.”
From Annual radiocarbon record indicates 16th century BCE date for the Thera eruption (2018) · cites this paper as [5]
Dating the Thera eruption has proved problematic because of observed discrepancies between timelines derived from archaeological evidence and those based on radiocarbon dating.
“Dating has, however, proved problematic because of observed discrepancies between timelines derived from archaeological evidence and those based on radiocarbon dating ( 2 -7 ).”
From Annual radiocarbon record indicates 16th century BCE date for the Thera eruption (2018) · cites this paper as [5]
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Cites
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
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
Separate Lives: The Ahmose Tempest Stela and the Theran Eruption
Wiener, M. H., & Allen, J. P. (1998) · Journal of Near Eastern Studies · doi:10.1086/468596 · Cited by 19 · cited 1× · see citing works
“Pumice has 14 known uses in antiquity, and was especially useful in metallurgy (Wiener and Allen 1998).”
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Cited by
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Annual radiocarbon record indicates 16th century BCE date for the Thera eruption
Pearson, C. L., Brewer, P. W., Brown, D., Heaton, T. J., Hodgins, G. W. L., Jull, A. J. T., Lange, T., & Salzer, M. W. (2018) · Science Advances · doi:10.1126/sciadv.aar8241 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Manning, S. W., Höflmayer, F., Moeller, N., Dee, M. W., Ramsey, C. B., Fleitmann, D., Higham, T., Kutschera, W., & Wild, E. M. (2014) · Antiquity · doi:10.1017/s0003598x00115388 · Cited by 73 · see citing works
Second Intermediate Period date for the Thera (Santorini) eruption and historical implications
Manning, S. W. (2022) · PLOS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0274835 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Manning, S. W. (2024) · Radiocarbon · doi:10.1017/rdc.2024.44 · Cited by 9 · see citing works
“The main sites/locations mentioned in the paper are indicated in the map in Figure S1 In the past it has been suggested that perhaps the organic materials from Thera were contaminated by volcanic carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), and thus yield radiocarbon ages that are too old (e.g. Wiener 2012).”
Background
- Authors
- Wiener, M. H.
- Affiliations
- Institute for Aegean Prehistory (US)
- Corresponding author
- Wiener, Malcolm H
- Venue
- Radiocarbon
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- Published
- 2012
- Volume
- 54
- Issue
- 3-4
- Pages
- 423-434
- ISSN
- 0033-8222 (ISSN-L)
- 1945-5755
- OpenAlex
- W1951232829
- Cited by
- 20
- References
- 3
- Citations by year
- 2024: 2 · 2023: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 1 · 2016: 2 · 2015: 1 · 2014: 6
- FWCI
- 1.67
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- bronze
- doi.org
- Locations
- Radiocarbon (publishedVersion)
- UA Campus Repository (The University of Arizona) (acceptedVersion)
- 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
- radiocarbon dating, reservoir impacts, calibration, dendrochronology, statistical inference
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