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Radiocarbon Calibration Curve Variations and Their Implications for the Interpretation of New Zealand Prehistory

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

B.G. McFadgen ,
F. B. Knox  and
T. R. L. Cole
B.G. McFadgen
Affiliation:
Conservation Sciences Centre, Department of Conservation, P.O. Box 10420, Wellington, New Zealand
F. B. Knox
Affiliation:
900 Ohariu Valley Road, R.D., Johnsonville, New Zealand
T. R. L. Cole
Affiliation:
Department of Labour, P. O. Box 3705, Wellington, New Zealand
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Abstract

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The shape of a distribution of calibrated 14C dates displays spurious peaks and troughs, brought about by changes in the slope of the calibration curve interacting with the spreading effect of the stochastic distribution of counting errors. The distortion results in a positive correlation between the numbers of dates per calendar year and the slopes of the calibration curves, for assemblages of archaeological dates from such widely separated areas as British Columbia, South Australia and New Zealand. The distortion also increases the possibility of date reversals, and increases the overall spread of calibrated 14C dates. After taking into account this systematic distortion and inbuilt age of charcoal and wood samples, we estimate dates for the initial settlement and first appearance of fortifications, and infer a likely trend of population growth for prehistoric New Zealand.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 36 , Issue 2 , 1994 , pp. 221 - 236
Copyright
Copyright © The American Journal of Science 

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