Quantum theory of radiocarbon calibration - Kölner UniversitätsPublikationsServer

Weninger, Bernhard ORCID: 0000-0003-2390-6529, Clare, Lee, Joeris, Olaf, Jung, Reinhard and Edinborough, Kevan ORCID: 0000-0002-7668-0749 (2015). Quantum theory of radiocarbon calibration. World Archaeol., 47 (4). S. 543 - 567. ABINGDON: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD. ISSN 1470-1375

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DOI:10.1080/00438243.2015.1064022

Abstract

The calibration of radiocarbon measurements is based on a number of mathematical assumptions that are rarely considered by users of the various available calibration programs. As C-14 ages take on mathematical properties best known from quantum physics, a quantum theoretical approach provides a useful basis to evaluate the reliability of processes of calibration and Bayesian modelling of radiocarbon datasets. We undertake such an evaluation here through a consideration of the mathematics of calibration, the normalization process, and through an archaeological case study. We demonstrate that the normalization function deemed necessary for C-14 histogram shape-correction is identical to the default prior widely used in Bayesian calibration. We highlight flaws in default Bayesian calibration algorithms which may affect archaeological studies that are overly reliant on high calibration precision, especially when based on relatively small (N<100) sample sizes. The observed differences between algorithms have consequences for radiocarbon models that claim sub-generational (similar to 25-30 calendar years) precision.

Item Type:

Journal Article

Creators:

Creators	Email	ORCID	ORCID Put Code
Weninger, Bernhard	UNSPECIFIED	orcid.org/0000-0003-2390-6529	UNSPECIFIED
Clare, Lee	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Joeris, Olaf	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Jung, Reinhard	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED	UNSPECIFIED
Edinborough, Kevan	UNSPECIFIED	orcid.org/0000-0002-7668-0749	UNSPECIFIED