Hostname: page-component-7f64f4797f-7vqc4 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2025-11-04T06:51:47.798Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Improvement of the Procedure for Probabilistic Calibration of Radiocarbon Dates

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Mieczysław F Pazdur  and
Danuta J Michczyńska
Mieczysław F Pazdur
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Silesian Technical University, Krzywoustego 2, PL-44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Danuta J Michczyńska
Affiliation:
Radiocarbon Laboratory, Institute of Physics, Silesian Technical University, Krzywoustego 2, PL-44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

A set of computer procedures for probabilistic calibration of 14C dates was developed at the Gliwice Radiocarbon Laboratory for the IBM PC compatible microcomputer. The program comprises three main options: 1) calibration of a single 14C date, 2) calibration of a set of arbitrary dates, 3) calibration of a set of related dates. Results of calibration are presented in the form of graphs and numeric data, including tables of selected quantiles and inter-quantile ranges of resulting probability distribution of cal age. In this paper, we present the aims of the program, with a short description of its structure, show examples of working with output data in terms of expected archaeological application, and consider the possibility of standardization of calibration procedures.

Information

Type
III. Global 14C Variations
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 31 , Issue 3: June 20-25, 1988 Dubrovnik, Yugoslavia , 1989 , pp. 824 - 832
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

References

Aitchison, T C, Leese, M, Michczyńska, D J, Mook, W G, Otlet, R L, Ottaway, B S, Pazdur, M F, van der Plicht, J, Reimer, P R, Robinson, S W, Scott, E M, Stuiver, M and Weninger, B, 1989, A comparison of methods used for the calibration of radiocarbon dates, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 13th, Proc: Radiocarbon, this issue.Google Scholar
Lanting, J N and Mook, W G, 1977, The pre- and protohistory of the Netherlands in terms of radiocarbon dates: Groningen, 247 pGoogle Scholar
Michczyńska, D J, Pazdur, M F and Walanus, A, in press, Bayesian approach to probabilistic calibration of radiocarbon dates, in Archaeology and 14C symposium, 2nd, Proc: PACT.Google Scholar
Pearson, G W, Pilcher, J R, Baillie, M G L, Corbet, D M and Qua, F, 1986, High-precision 14C measurements of Irish oaks to show the natural 14C variations from AD 1840–5210 BC, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 12th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 28, no. 2B, p 911–934.Google Scholar
Pearson, G W and Stuiver, M, 1986, High-precision calibration of the radiocarbon time scale, 500–2500 BC, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 12th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 28, no. 2B, p 839–862.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M and Pearson, G W, 1986, High-precision calibration of the radiocarbon time-scale, AD 1950–500 BC, in Stuiver, M and Kra, R S, eds, Internatl 14C conf, 12th, Proc: Radiocarbon, v 28, no. 2B, p 805–838.Google Scholar