Dendrochronology and Radiocarbon Dating Methods in Archaeological Studies of Scythian Sites

Abstract

We propose a new method of cross-dating the wood samples based on the classical methods of spectral estimation. This method uses the average cross-spectral density as a function of the relative position of the series. Because it is not sensitive to phase shifts in data it is appropriate for cross-dating samples originating from geographically distinct areas.The accuracy of cross dating depends on the integrity of the samples used, and in the case of well-preserved wood samples, the precision of relative age comparison may reach a single year. The method was tested on two dendrochronological series from Scythian barrows of known age in Southern Siberia: the Pazyryk barrows (the Altai Mountains) and the Dogee-Baary-2 burials (Western Sayan Mountains) separated by 450 km. The analysis has shown that the Pazyryk barrow is younger by 80 ± 4 yr than the Dogee-Baary −2 burials. This result is in agreement with the new chronology of Scythian-related sites suggested for Southern Siberia and Central Asia.

A Chronology of the Scythian Antiquities of Eurasia Based on New Archaeological and 14C Data

“…A number of 14 C dates were produced for the Arzhan barrow whose dating began with its discovery and continues until the present day. They are widely reported in the literature (Zaitseva et al 1998a(Zaitseva et al , 1998bDergachev et al 2001). Currently, there are about 30 14 C dates for this monument, confirming its existence at about the 9th-8th century BC.…”

“…Such dates have been accepted by some Russian archaeologists (Raev 1989;Chugunov 1993). Further research on the chronology of the Pazyryk barrows is presented in this issue (Bonani et al 2001;McCormac et al 2001;Vasiliev et al 2001). There are over 30 14 C determinations for these barrows, most of which have been published (Marsadolov 1984(Marsadolov , 1987.…”

“…Some of the dates for the ordinary monuments in Southern Siberia produced earlier but not previously published are presented here. Both earlier and new 14 C dates for the Pazyryk group (in Sayan-Altai), the Dogee-Barry-2 and the Kopto barrows (in Central Asia, Tuva Republic) based on tree rings were published earlier Sementsov et al 1998), the newer dates will be used for the more precise determination of the calendar position of these barrows and will be presented and discussed in separate reports in this issue (Bonani et al 2001;McCormac et al 2001;Vasiliev et al 2001). …”

The Comparison of 14C Wiggle-Matching Results for the ‘Floating’ Tree-Ring Chronology of the Ulandryk-4 Burial Ground (Altai Mountains, Siberia)

“…al., forthcoming). Vasiliev et al 2001). This is based on a χ 2 fit of the 14 C ages previously published by Zaitseva et al (1998).…”

Climate change and the expansion of the Scythian culture after 850 BC: a hypothesis

“…The origin, evolution, and spread of this nomadic culture is an important issue in archaeology. Absolute radiocarbon dating is increasingly important [1,7,15], but in many cases radiocarbon dates are still lacking, and indirect chronologies based on similarities of artefact styles, seriation and dateable imported artefacts still play an important role. The Scythian history can be subdivided into three phases: a pre-Scythian and initial Scythian phase from the 9th to the middle of the 7th century BC, a second, Early Scythian phase from the 7th to the 6th century BC, and a third phasedthe classical Scythian phasedfrom the 5th to the 3rd century BC.…”