Problematizing Bayesian approaches to prehistoric chronologies
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 3918969 |
|---|---|
| Authors | P Pettitt (0000-0002-6195-9376, Durham University), João Zilhão (0000-0001-5937-3061, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats) |
| Year | 2015 |
| Volume | 47 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 525-542 |
| Publication date | 2015-08-08 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | No |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | World Archaeology (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0043-8243 • E-ISSN: 1470-1375 |
| Publisher | Informa UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1080/00438243.2015.1070082 |
| OpenAlex | W1889858997 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 25 |
| References cited | 65 |
In recent years Bayesian exploration of radiocarbon datasets has been employed widely in prehistoric archaeology. Pertinent especially to major biogeographic and behavioural changes such as human dispersals and extinctions, the spread of agriculture and culture change, the method can offer a powerful means to improve considerably the precision of prehistorians’ investigation of some of the most major questions in human prehistory. As such its potential is profound – it has even been regarded as the third radiocarbon revolution – but its appropriateness is dependent on the assumptions that must be made of the samples selected for dating. How sound are these assumptions, and therefore how reliable are Bayesian analyses? Here, we introduce some aspects and assumptions that underline Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon measurements, and we problematize their application in Palaeolithic archaeology. We conclude that many existing models are faulty, and suggest some criteria for quality control in this field
Archaeological science · Archaeology · Bayesian probability · Field (mathematics · Prehistory · Radiocarbon dating · Archaeology and ancient environmental studies · Artificial Intelligence · Computer Science · History · Image Processing and 3D Reconstruction · Mathematics · Pleistocene-Era Hominins and Archaeology
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Late Neandertals in Southeastern Iberia
Chronology of the Grotte du Renne (France) and implications for the context of ornaments and human remains within the Châtelperronian
Comment on ‘The Use of Bayesian Statistics for 14 C Dates of Chronologically Ordered Samples
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Revisiting the chronology of the Proto-Aurignacian and the Early Aurignacian in Europe
Chronology of the site of Grotte du Renne, Arcy-sur-Cure, France
Chronology of the Grotte du Renne, Arcy-sur-Cure, France
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An Approximate Bayesian Computation approach for inferring patterns of cultural evolutionary change
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Radiocarbon dates for the late Middle Palaeolithic at Pech de l'Azé IV, France
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| Unique citing works | 25 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 2,27 |
| Citation span | 2015 - 2026 (12) |
| Citation velocity | current |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 24 |