Radiocarbon Dating

This volume is a major revision and expansion of Taylor's seminal book Radiocarbon Dating: An Archaeological Perspective, again providing a benchmark for the method and critically reflecting on the data that underpins the chronologies used to understand the prehistoric archaeological record.

"Although listed as the second edition of Taylor's important 1987 publication with the same name, this is a greatly expanded, much more comprehensive coverage of the subject. At the core are extensive treatments of the radiocarbon dating technique and the history of its discovery by physicist Willard Libby and coworkers. Just as important are lengthy, well-referenced chapters of the implications of radiocarbon dating for Old and New World archaeology, referencing general problems in the application of the dating technique and specific examples from the Old and New Worlds. The volume includes a comprehensive current bibliography and is abundantly illustrated with photos, charts, and maps. Clearly, this is an essential volume for colleges and universities with programs in physics, history, and anthropology, drawing the attention of both professionals and students. ... Summing Up: Essential." --R. B. Clay, emeritus, University of Kentucky

Autorentext

R.E. Taylor, Ofer Bar-Yosef

Klappentext

This volume is a major revision and expansion of Taylor's seminal book Radiocarbon Dating: An Archaeological Perspective, again providing a benchmark for the method and critically reflecting on the data that underpins the chronologies used to understand the prehistoric archaeological record.

Inhalt

Foreword by Colin RenfrewPreface1. BASIC ELEMENTS2. MAJOR ANOMALIES 3. SAMPLES AND SAMPLE PRETREATMENT4. MEASUREMENT TECHNIQUES 5. EVALUATION OF RADIOCARBON DATA6. RADIOCARBON DATING IN OLD WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY 7. RADIOCARBON DATING IN NEW WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY8. RADIOCARBON DATING: ORIGIN AND EVOLUTION9. RADIOCARBON DATING: GUIDE TO BIBLIOGRAPHIC SOURCESReferencesIndex