Discrepancies between archaeological and 14C-based chronologies: problems and possible solutions

Abstract

14C dating of bone collagen is believed to produce the most reliable absolute dates for the Central European Early Neolithic, as the selection of bones in anatomical context minimises ta­phonomic problems. In contrast, a comparison of three newly published local or regional chronolo­gical models as well as a comparison of several series of dates from bone collagen, charcoal and cereals highlights problems probably caused by diagenetic influences, especially on collagen. There­fore, at least the checking of bone collagen 14C dates against charcoal or cereal dates from the same contexts seems to be indispensable.

Not going anywhere? Migration as a social practice in the early Neolithic Linearbandkeramik

“…Second, year-specific climate data derived mostly from tree rings is related to settlement phases dated by relative chronology only, based on pottery seriation within a rigidly defined Hofplatz model. Although the end points of the LBK sequence are well attested in many areas, there is now considerable debate over the timing of its beginnings (Bánffy et al 2018;Jakucz et al 2016;Strien 2017b) and hence its overall duration, which strongly impacts the tempo of the proposed cycles. Dating by pottery seriation also implies a predictable and constant rate of change largely due to drift and isolation.…”

Tree rings as a proxy for seasonal precipitation variability and Early Neolithic settlement dynamics in Bavaria, Germany

“…Up to now it has been fairly impossible to create a widely accepted absolute fine-chronology and to date typological phases precisely. This unsatisfactory state of knowledge is the result of a series of fluctuations in the 14 C-calibration curve, the most notable of which is a plateau in the calibration curve covering virtually the entire Bandkeramik period (recent attempts of absolute dating: [9,41,42]. Dendrochronology also contributes some additional information.…”

Forum: Populism, Identity Politics, and the Archaeology of Europe

“…Radiocarbon dating, an obvious alternative, is sometimes explicitly mistrusted, and typological systems seen as providing greater chronological precision. In a self-perpetuating spiral, this means that few good-quality 14 C dates are available to build secure absolute chronologies (the allegedly well-studied Linearbandkeramik is a case in point, as the protracted exchange among Jakucs et al, 2016; Bánffy et al, 2018; Strien, 2017, 2019 illustrates), effectively forcing researchers to continue using ‘culture’ designations, with all attendant problems intact.…”