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Validating and Improving Archaeological Phasing at St. Mary Spital, London

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Jane Sidell ,
Christopher Thomas  and
Alex Bayliss
Jane Sidell*
Affiliation:
English Heritage, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST, United Kingdom
Christopher Thomas
Affiliation:
Museum of London Archaeology Service, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London N1 7ED, United Kingdom
Alex Bayliss
Affiliation:
English Heritage, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author. Email: jane.sidell@english-heritage.org.uk
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Abstract

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This paper outlines the radiocarbon program applied to the excavation and skeletal assemblage from the cemetery of the medieval Priory and Hospital of St. Mary Spital in London. Problems encountered in dating medieval cemeteries are outlined. The problems were addressed through the application of Bayesian modeling to validate and refine conventional approaches to constructing phases of archaeological activity. It should be noted that this project was solely funded by the developer of the land; such projects rarely undertake even modest programs of 14C dating. We aim to show how the investment of a proportionally small sum, compared to the overall project costs, may reap significant benefits.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , 2007 , pp. 593 - 610
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

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