Hostname: page-component-7bb8b95d7b-l4ctd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-10-05T03:01:00.205Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Development of the Radiocarbon Calibration Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Christopher Bronk Ramsey
Christopher Bronk Ramsey*
Affiliation:
Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit, 6 Keble Road, Oxford OX2 6JB, UK. Email: christopher.ramsey@archaeology-research.oxford.ac.uk.
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This paper highlights some of the main developments to the radiocarbon calibration program, OxCal. In addition to many cosmetic changes, the latest version of OxCal uses some different algorithms for the treatment of multiple phases. The theoretical framework behind these is discussed and some model calculations demonstrated. Significant changes have also been made to the sampling algorithms used which improve the convergence of the Bayesian analysis. The convergence itself is also reported in a more comprehensive way so that problems can be traced to specific parts of the model. The use of convergence data, and other techniques for testing the implications of particular models, are described.

Type
II. Getting More from the Data
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 43 , Issue 2A: Proceedings of the 17th International Radiocarbon Conference (Part 1 of 3) , 2001 , pp. 355 - 363
Copyright
Copyright © The Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Bronk Ramsey, C, Allen, MJ 1999. Analysis of the radiocarbon dates and their archaeological significance. In: Cleal, RMJ, Walker, KE, Montague, R, editors. Stonehenge in its landscape: twentieth century excavations. London, English Heritage. p 526–35.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1994. Analysis of chronological information and radiocarbon calibration: The program OxCal. Archaeological Computing Newsletter 41:11–6.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and the analysis of stratigraphy. Radiocarbon 37(2):425–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1998. Probability and dating. Radiocarbon 40(1):461–74.Google Scholar
Buck, CE, Kenworthy, JB, Litton, CD, Smith, AFM. 1991. Combining archaeological and radiocarbon information: a Bayesian approach to calibration. Antiquity 65: 808–21.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buck, CE, Litton, CD, Smith, AFM. 1992. Calibration of radiocarbon dates pertaining to related archaeological events. Journal of Archaeological Science 19:497–512.Google Scholar
Buck, CE, Litton, CD, Scott, EM. 1994. Making the most of radiocarbon dating: some statistical considerations. Antiquity 68:252–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilks, WR, Richardson, S, Spiegelhalter, DJ. 1996. Markov Chain Monte Carlo in practice. Chapman and Hall, London.Google Scholar
Needham, S, Bronk Ramsey, C, Coombs, D, Cartwright, C, Pettitt, PB. 1998. An independent chronology for British Bronze Age metalwork: the results of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Programme. Archaeological Journal 154:55–107.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Steier, P, Rom, W, Puchegger, S. 2001. Critical aspects of Bayesian mathematics in 14C calibration. Radiocarbon. This issue.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ. 1993. Extended 14C database and revised CALIB radiocarbon calibration program. Radiocarbon 35:215–30.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ, Bard, E, Beck, JW, Burr, GS, Hughen, KA, Kromer, B, McCormac, G, van der Plicht, J, Spurk, M. 1998. INTCAL98 radiocarbon age calibration, 24000–0 cal BP. Radiocarbon 4 0(3):10 41–83.CrossRefGoogle Scholar