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A Bayesian Framework for Age Modeling of Radiocarbon-Dated Peat Deposits: Case Studies from the Netherlands

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Maarten Blaauw ,
Ronald Bakker ,
J Andres Christen ,
Valerie A Hall  and
Johannes van der Plicht
Maarten Blaauw*
Affiliation:
Centre for Mathematical Research (CIMAT), A.P. 402, 36000 Guanajuato, Mexico
Ronald Bakker
Affiliation:
Heesterlaan 6, 9713 NW Groningen, the Netherlands
J Andres Christen
Affiliation:
Centre for Mathematical Research (CIMAT), A.P. 402, 36000 Guanajuato, Mexico
Valerie A Hall
Affiliation:
School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University, Belfast BT71NN, Northern Ireland
Johannes van der Plicht
Affiliation:
Centre for Isotope Research, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, the Netherlands. Also: Faculty of Archaeology, Leiden University, P.O. Box 9515, 2300 RA Leiden, the Netherlands
*
Corresponding author. Email: drieteenmeeuw@hotmail.com. Presently at Department of Earth Sciences, Uppsala University, Villavägen 16, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden. Currently on leave at School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology, Queen's University, Belfast BT71NN, Northern Ireland
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Abstract

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Recently, Bayesian statistical software has been developed for age-depth modeling (“wiggle-match dating”) of sequences of densely spaced radiocarbon dates from peat cores. The method is described in non-statistical terms, and is compared with an alternative method of chronological ordering of 14C dates. Case studies include the dating of the start of agriculture in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, and of a possible Hekla-3 tephra layer in the same country. We discuss future enhancements in Bayesian age modeling.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , 2007 , pp. 357 - 367
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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