Radiocarbon dating is the most common and important absolute dating technique in archaeology. The method has proven invaluable for providing calendar dates for a range of different materials and many different time periods. Radiocarbon dating, however, is not without its limitations and uncertainties, so it is important for archaeologists to be aware of a range of issues when using the technique. For the second part of this assignment, please answer the questions below. 6. List two kinds of archaeological materials can be dated using the radiocarbon method and two that cannot be dated with radiocarbon. 7. In one or two sentences, explain why radiocarbon ages need to be calibrated into calendrical ages? 8. A radiocarbon date on wood charcoal was obtained from Layer N in the stratigraphic profile above. The date has a radiocarbon age of 5500 BP ± 50 yrs and it calibrates to 4450-4260 cal. BC. Burial W in Layer E was also dated and has a radiocarbon age of 5000 BP ± 30, which calibrates to 3940-3700 cal. BC. Using these calibrated 14C dates and the relative stratigraphic information, during what time period could the red brick wall have been built? In a few sentences, briefly explain your reasoning. 9. The images below show 3 radiocarbon dates on different materials and from different locations. One is from a wood charcoal sample from below the foundation stones of an ancient Hawaiian house site. Another is on a clam shell from the same context at the Hawaiian house site. The third is on wood charcoal from within an agricultural field wall feature on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, South Pacific Ocean). All three samples have a radiocarbon age of 700 +/- 30 BP but different calendar ages. a. The Hawai'i charcoal date calibrates to between cal. AD 1260-1390, but the Rapa Nui charcoal date calibrates to between cal. AD 1280-1395. What explains the difference between calendar ages of the Hawai'i and Rapa Nui radiocarbon dates? b. The shell date from Hawai'i calibrates to between cal. AD 1525-1675 What explains the difference between the calibrated date on marine shell versus the date on wood charcoal? c. When was the Hawaiian house site most likely constructed given the calibrations and relative positions of the charcoal and shell samples? d. The Hawaiian charcoal date is much older than the marine shell date. This may be due to the 'old wood' problem. Briefly explain what this problem means.
Radiocarbon dating is the most common and important absolute dating technique in archaeology. The method has proven invaluable for providing calendar dates for a range of different materials and many different time periods. Radiocarbon dating, however, is not without its limitations and uncertainties, so it is important for archaeologists to be aware of a range of issues when using the technique. For the second part of this assignment, please answer the questions below.
6. List two kinds of archaeological materials can be dated using the radiocarbon method and two that cannot be dated with radiocarbon.
7. In one or two sentences, explain why radiocarbon ages need to be calibrated into calendrical ages?
8. A radiocarbon date on wood charcoal was obtained from Layer N in the stratigraphic profile above. The date has a radiocarbon age of 5500 BP ± 50 yrs and it calibrates to 4450-4260 cal. BC. Burial W in Layer E was also dated and has a radiocarbon age of 5000 BP ± 30, which calibrates to 3940-3700 cal. BC. Using these calibrated 14C dates and the relative stratigraphic information, during what time period could the red brick wall have been built? In a few sentences, briefly explain your reasoning.
9. The images below show 3 radiocarbon dates on different materials and from different locations. One is from a wood charcoal sample from below the foundation stones of an ancient Hawaiian house site. Another is on a clam shell from the same context at the Hawaiian house site. The third is on wood charcoal from within an agricultural field wall feature on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, South Pacific Ocean). All three samples have a radiocarbon age of 700 +/- 30 BP but different calendar ages.
a. The Hawai'i charcoal date calibrates to between cal. AD 1260-1390, but the Rapa Nui charcoal date calibrates to between cal. AD 1280-1395. What explains the difference between calendar ages of the Hawai'i and Rapa Nui radiocarbon dates?
b. The shell date from Hawai'i calibrates to between cal. AD 1525-1675 What explains the difference between the calibrated date on marine shell versus the date on wood charcoal?
c. When was the Hawaiian house site most likely constructed given the calibrations and relative positions of the charcoal and shell samples?
d. The Hawaiian charcoal date is much older than the marine shell date. This may be due to the 'old wood' problem. Briefly explain what this problem means.
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