Bea
Now you've put me on the spot...
Err... Well, usually radiocarbon determinations give a range of possible dates. The most probable date is arrived at by statistical processes that allow for previous knowledge (expectations?). One of the techniques employed is called Bayes's theorem, after the mathematician Thomas Bayes (1702-61).
Much more authoritative explanations are available from Websites such as BCal (an on-line Bayesian radiocarbon calibration tool), at http://bcal.cf.ac.uk/home.html
For more on Bayesian theory and the man himself look up the International Society for Bayesian Analysis, at http://www.bayesian.org/
I wonder: are there any dating specialists at this conference? May I have a show of hands please?
Jeremy
At 17:31 12/01/2000 -0500, Bea Hopkinson wrote:
>Jeremy,
> Could you please elaborate on your comment below. Thanks. Bea
>
>
>On 1/12/2000 6:45 AM Jeremy Oetgen writes:
>
>>even with C14 dates there's this Bayesian thing they do with the data
>>where they make it fit the digger's expectations!
>>
>>Jeremy
>
>
>Beatrice Hopkinson 73071,327@compuserve
>
>
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Jeremy Oetgen
British and Irish Archaeological Bibliography
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