Absolute Dating

The main goals of our study were to compute a contextual seriation of grave goods from the Late Eneolithic in the Middle Danube (mostly in Moravia and the Carpathian Basin) on various hierarchical levels (from individual burial sites, through aggregates of several sites, to the entire region), compare the sequence of objects in seriation sets with absolute dates, and infer the possible role of Nagyrév jugs in the relative chronology of that period. In literature we recorded incidences of 95 variables (types of grave goods) on 832 cases (mainly graves) from 11 archaeological cultures. In sum, the matrix contained 2163 incidences. These data were subjected to contextual seriation on various hierarchical levels. Subsequently, we compared available calibrated 14C dates (CalPal 2007 HULU) for 86 cases with their relative orders. The relative sequences from various hierarchical levels of the same culture/ cultural sphere (e.g. BBC) correlate with each other to varying degrees. The relativ...

Invited: Radiocarbon dating in archaeology: New examples and case studies from the inner alpine area in Switzerland and Liechtenstein

The Alps in southern Central Europe act as a barrier and communication space at the same time. While the mountains prevent mobility, the valleys and passes create natural axes for material exchange and communication. The Alpenrhein valley forms the main access to the central Alps and leads directly into the south alpine area between the Lake Maggiore and the Lake Como. In prehistoric times this central axis was used as a settlement area and formed an excellent alpine transit route. Already Neolithic finds show evidence of exchange and communication between inner alpine and pre-alpine regions. From the beginning of the Neolithic to the Bronze Age clear influences from the northern and southern regions are noticeably in favour of trade routes across the alpine passes. Between 3000-2500 BC the region is subject to massive changes which cause a push effect towards marginal, less densely populated areas. The broad range of local resources in new territories and strategically well-controlled areas suggest simultaneously a pull effect towards the Alps. Therefore Bronze Age is the period for which the most intense prehistoric land expansion can be postulated in the Alps. The Neolithic and Bronze Age chronology for the inner alpine area was always based on comparisons of the material culture from dendrodated lake dwellings from Switzerland or southern Germany. Until a few years ago there existed only a couple of old radiocarbon dates to prove the chronology for the inner alpine area. The archaeology showed its significant influence in the development of the radiocarbon technology in the last decades. New radiocarbon dates from different sites such as graves and settlements give us the opportunity to get a clearer view on the absolute dating of the sites from this area.With the SNF-Project: “Chronology, mobility and cultural transfer. A landscape archaeological study of the central Alps (P0BEP1_165306) “ we were able to generate new samples for Radiocarbon dates from Neolithic and Bronze Age Sites such as Lutzengüetle, Savognin, Padnal Donath, Sursés and Laax-Salums. I am going to present an overview of the situation and a revised chronology of the Neolithic and Bronze Age sites from the inner alpine area and recommend a radiocarbon-based view on the development of the material culture.

Sagz?b?d Mound was one of the first areas excavated in the course of archeological surveys conducted by the University of Tehran in Qazvin Plain. Findings indicate its permanent establishment since the end of the third millennium up to the mid-first millennium B.C.; However, during the recent explorations made by the University of Tehran in October and November 2008, absolute dating was carried out on Sagz?b?d Mound as a result of which the area was estimated to have been established at around 1700 B.C., in addition to the southern part of the Mound which contained layers established since the mid-fourth millennium B.C. Excavations revealed that the area between the two regions of Sagz?b?d and Qabrest?n is likely to contain layers established in the second half of the fourth millennium B.C. buried under a large amount of sediment. Accordingly, it is most probable that in the New Chalcolithic (Copper-Stone) Age the establishment of Qabrest?n Mound must have been towards the east.

This article analyzes the question of the region where the idea of building rondels in the late Neolithic arose. The oldest one is the horizon with occurrence of archetypes of irregularly round surrounding enclosures with “V“ pointed base of ditches and numerous irregularly placed entrances (e.g. the younger enclosure Becsehely ˗ Bükkaljai-dűlő, Petrivente ˗ Újkuti-dűlő, Sormás ˗ Mántai-dűlő, Vedrovice III, Kolín-„Šťáralka“). They are dated to the end of the Middle Neolithic. Another type consists of the large enclosures from the younger Sopot culture, already with oriented entrances (Sormás – Török-földek II). In the next horizon, the enclosures meet the criteria of both circular and multiple circular “V“ pointed ditches of the rondel type dated in the Lengyel culture, formative phase (the single rondel Sé ˗ Malomi-dűlő, the double rondel with simple entrances Sormás – Török-földek I). Classic rondels with different shapes of entrances undoubtedly had their own development, both in the cultural complex with the Painted Pottery culture (Lengyel culture - LGK, Moravian - East-Austrian group - MOG) in the Middle Danube and in the area of the Stroked Pottery culture (SBK) in the north-west. Their occurrence is bound to subphases LGK Ia1, MOG Ia1-b1, SBK IVa1-2, younger Bavarian group of SBK/SOB II-III, GG and Rössen. A very interesting type of rondels is this incorporated in a large irregularly elliptical ditch enclosure. The other type might also be the palisade type (Žlkovce, ?Plotiště n/L I, ?Dolní Beřkovice, Quenstedt and Künzing-Unternberg) of the phase LGK II and MOG Ib, SBK IVb appeared. We do not exclude that surrounding enclosures of the Hluboké Mašůvky type could have been built again (Znojmo-Kasárna, Falkenstein-Schanzboden, Wetzleinsdorf). We cannot exclude the existence of multiple centres based on the so-called anthropological constants, when people in comparable economic and social conditions behave in a standard way.

Abstract In the current study we use methods in dendrochronological dating, radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching analysis to accurately date charcoal samples collected from the archaeological site of Usakli Hoyuk, Yozgat, Turkey. These data contribute to the understanding of the stratigraphical relationships in three different contexts of this multi-period mound. The examined charcoal materials were identified as cedar (Cedrus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The analysis of the cedar samples resulted in establishing a floating chronology with a length of 49 rings. Further analysis of the material revealed that secure dendrochronological dating against the existing reference chronologies cannot be achieved for any of the Usakli Hoyuk samples selected for dendrochronology. This is due to the insufficient length of the developed mean chronology (49 rings), the shortness of single tree-ring sequences (max. 34 rings for cedar and 23 for oak) and the scarcity of reference chronologies that can be used for cross-dating. Therefore, we use radiocarbon tests and wiggle-matching analysis as the main dating method. Radiocarbon testing and further analysis of absolute dating of the charcoal pieces point to three different archaeological periods: the wooden post found in Room 433 of Building III is dated to the range of 1415 – 1363 BCE (2σ), confirming the assumption that it was an architectural element of the original construction of this Late Bronze Age/Hittite building. Radiocarbon dating results of charcoal pieces from the filling of Pit 330, 1008 – 905 BCE (2σ), can only be used tentatively and require cross-checking against additional samples and other organic material from the same context. The results of radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples associated with the Iron Age stone glacis built on top of Building III (763 – 486 BCE, 2σ) confirm that they are associated with the Iron Age occupation at Usakli Hoyuk.

Abstract In the current study we use methods in dendrochronological dating, radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching analysis to accurately date charcoal samples collected from the archaeological site of Usakli Hoyuk, Yozgat, Turkey. These data contribute to the understanding of the stratigraphical relationships in three different contexts of this multi-period mound. The examined charcoal materials were identified as cedar (Cedrus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The analysis of the cedar samples resulted in establishing a floating chronology with a length of 49 rings. Further analysis of the material revealed that secure dendrochronological dating against the existing reference chronologies cannot be achieved for any of the Usakli Hoyuk samples selected for dendrochronology. This is due to the insufficient length of the developed mean chronology (49 rings), the shortness of single tree-ring sequences (max. 34 rings for cedar and 23 for oak) and the scarcity of reference chronologies that can be used for cross-dating. Therefore, we use radiocarbon tests and wiggle-matching analysis as the main dating method. Radiocarbon testing and further analysis of absolute dating of the charcoal pieces point to three different archaeological periods: the wooden post found in Room 433 of Building III is dated to the range of 1415 – 1363 BCE (2σ), confirming the assumption that it was an architectural element of the original construction of this Late Bronze Age/Hittite building. Radiocarbon dating results of charcoal pieces from the filling of Pit 330, 1008 – 905 BCE (2σ), can only be used tentatively and require cross-checking against additional samples and other organic material from the same context. The results of radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples associated with the Iron Age stone glacis built on top of Building III (763 – 486 BCE, 2σ) confirm that they are associated with the Iron Age occupation at Usakli Hoyuk.

M. Mussi, F. Altamura, R. Bonnefille, D. De Rita, R.T. Melis, 2016. The environment of the Ethiopian highlands at the Mid Pleistocene Transition: Fauna, flora and hominins in the 850-700 ka sequence of Gombore II (Melka Kunture). Quaternary Science Reviews, 149, pp. 259-268.


Abstract: Environment, climatic change and human evolution have been debated over the last 50 years giving special attention to the Plio-Pleistocene sites of the Rift Valley. In this paper we discuss the environment and the limits of hominin adaptability based on evidence from Melka Kunture, at 2000 m asl on the Ethiopian highlands, and specifically on the ∼850 ka to ∼700 ka sequence at sub-site Gombore II. Human fossils and multiple Acheulean occurrences, as well as hippo remains and footprints, combined with palynological analysis, provide a highly detailed chronological resolution of the changing local environmental conditions during the last ∼150 ka of the MPT (Mid Pleistocene Transition), including the sequence of events after a volcanic eruption. Layers containing footprints and fossils are evidence of near-continuous occupation by hippos and their recolonization of the area after a disruptive volcanic eruption. Conversely, Acheulean implements and human fossils suggest that peopling by hominins occurred at a different and discontinuous pace even when the flora and fauna were re-established and the environment was rather stable. Most notably, the assembled evidence points to the limits of Homo erectus s.l. adaptability. Apparently, this hominin could no longer live at 2000 m asl when the climate deteriorated during glacial isotopic stage 20, becoming markedly colder than it is today, but re-colonized the area when the climate turned warmer again during isotopic stage 19

Abstract In the current study we use methods in dendrochronological dating, radiocarbon dating and wiggle-matching analysis to accurately date charcoal samples collected from the archaeological site of Usakli Hoyuk, Yozgat, Turkey. These data contribute to the understanding of the stratigraphical relationships in three different contexts of this multi-period mound. The examined charcoal materials were identified as cedar (Cedrus sp.) and oak (Quercus sp.). The analysis of the cedar samples resulted in establishing a floating chronology with a length of 49 rings. Further analysis of the material revealed that secure dendrochronological dating against the existing reference chronologies cannot be achieved for any of the Usakli Hoyuk samples selected for dendrochronology. This is due to the insufficient length of the developed mean chronology (49 rings), the shortness of single tree-ring sequences (max. 34 rings for cedar and 23 for oak) and the scarcity of reference chronologies that can be used for cross-dating. Therefore, we use radiocarbon tests and wiggle-matching analysis as the main dating method. Radiocarbon testing and further analysis of absolute dating of the charcoal pieces point to three different archaeological periods: the wooden post found in Room 433 of Building III is dated to the range of 1415 – 1363 BCE (2σ), confirming the assumption that it was an architectural element of the original construction of this Late Bronze Age/Hittite building. Radiocarbon dating results of charcoal pieces from the filling of Pit 330, 1008 – 905 BCE (2σ), can only be used tentatively and require cross-checking against additional samples and other organic material from the same context. The results of radiocarbon dating of charcoal samples associated with the Iron Age stone glacis built on top of Building III (763 – 486 BCE, 2σ) confirm that they are associated with the Iron Age occupation at Usakli Hoyuk.

The authors identify natural bitumen on stone implements dating to 70 000 BP. It is proposed that this represents residue from hafting, taking the practice back a further 30 000 years from the date previously noted and published in Nature. The bitumen was tracked to a source 40km away, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and carbon isotopes.

The Schmidt Hammer (SH) method is used to quantify the rock weathering degree and has been proposed as a relative dating tool. Terrestrial Cosmogenic Nuclide (TCN) methods provide absolute exposure ages for erosive surfaces. Few works combine both methods for surfaces older than the Holocene. We compare data obtained by both methods for c. 150 ka bp glacial and fluvial erosive granite surfaces from northwest Spain. Rebound values (R) have been firstly compared with the rock density to assess the correlation with the rock strength, independently from influence of factors such as wetness and roughness in the R-values. For erosive glacial surfaces older than 100 ka R-values are confined in a narrow range, with no differences within errors. Stepped fluvial surfaces of 700 m to 70 m above present sea level show an inverse correspondence between TCN ages and R-values, although no age predictions can be done on the basis of the R-values. Thus, age inferences exclusively based on R-values may not be realistic, but SH studies could be a useful tool for selecting surfaces for TCN dating. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.