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1. RESOLVING TIME AMONG NON-STRATIFIED SHORT-DURATION CONTEXTS ON A RADIOCARBON PLATEAU: POSSIBILITIES AND CHALLENGES FROM THE AD 1480–1630 EXAMPLE AND NORTHEASTERN NORTH AMERICA

   https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2020.51  

   Manning, Sturt W; Birch, Jennifer; Conger, Megan Anne; Sanft, Samantha (December 2020, Radiocarbon)

   ABSTRACT Reversals and plateaus in the radiocarbon ( 14 C) calibration curve lead to similar 14 C ages applying to a wide range of calendar dates, creating imprecision, ambiguity, and challenges for archaeological dating. Even with Bayesian chronological modeling, such periods remain a problem when no known order—e.g., a stratigraphic sequence—exists, and especially if site durations are relatively short. Using the reversal/plateau AD 1480–1630 and the archaeology of northeastern North America as our example, we consider possible strategies to improve chronological resolution across such reversal/plateau periods in the absence of stratigraphic sequences, including uses of wood-charcoal TPQs from even very short wiggle-matches, and site phase duration constraints based on ethnohistoric and archaeological evidence. 

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2. A CENTENNIAL AMBIGUITY: THE CHALLENGE OF RESOLVING THE DATE OF THE JEAN-BAPTISTE LAINÉ (MANTLE), ONTARIO, SITE—AROUND AD 1500 OR AD 1600?—AND THE CASE FOR WOOD-CHARCOAL AS A TERMINUS POST QUEM

   https://doi.org/10.1017/RDC.2022.23  

   Manning, Sturt W; Birch, Jennifer (April 2022, Radiocarbon)

   ABSTRACT Considered in isolation, the radiocarbon ( 14 C) dates on short-lived plant remains from the Jean-Baptiste Lainé (formerly Mantle) site, Ontario, yield an ambiguous result: more or less similar probability around AD 1500 or alternatively around AD 1600. This village site, likely of no more than ca. 20–30 years total duration, illustrates the challenges of high-resolution dating across periods with a reversal/plateau in the 14 C calibration curve. Another problem we identify is the tendency for dating probability for short-duration sites to sometimes be overly compressed as dating intensity increases under analysis with OxCal, and for probability to shift away from the real age range especially during reversal/plateau episodes. To address both issues additional constraints are necessary. While a tree-ring sequenced 14 C “wiggle-match” is the best option where available, we investigate how, in the absence of such an option, use of the in-built age in wood-charcoal samples can be used to distinguish the likely correct date range. This approach can resolve ambiguities in dating, e.g., for shorter-duration Late Woodland village sites in northeastern North America, but also other short-duration cases corresponding with reversal/plateau episodes on the 14 C calibration curve. We place the Jean-Baptiste Lainé site most likely in a range between ca. AD 1595–1626 (95.4% probability). 

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3. Thirty Years in the Making: A Review of Kura-Araxes Periodization from a Radiocarbon Perspective.

   Passerini, A. (January 2022, Aramazd)

   Abstract: The chronology of the Kura-Araxes culture has long been a matter of debate, particularly as regards its internal periodization. To date, two main periodization systems have been proposed, which argue, respectively, for a three-part and two-part scheme. Despite the acquisition of new 14C and archaeological datasets, universal consent on this issue still hasn’t been reached. This paper reviews the state of the art in chronological studies on the Kura-Araxes culture and provides a critical assessment of the two periodization systems since the introduction of radiocarbon dating in the South Caucasus. The discussion demonstrates that the understanding of the Kura-Araxes chronology exceeds mere questions of ‘objective’ chronometric agreement, as seen in the way that different archaeological agendas have influenced the interpretation of ambiguous calibrated data, and vice versa. Finally, the paper highlights the potential of Bayesian chronological modeling to disambiguate chronometric evidence and exploit archaeological knowledge to the benefit of regionalized periodization frameworks. 

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4. Geoarchaeology and Coastal Morphodynamics of Harbor Key (8MA15): Indigenous Persistence at a Partially Inundated Native Shell Mound Complex in Tampa Bay, Florida

   https://doi.org/10.1017/aaq.2023.45  

   Jackson, Kendal; Pluckhahn, Thomas J.; Rogers, Jaime A.; Wang, Ping; Thompson, Victor D. (September 2023, American Antiquity)

   Applying a coastal-geoarchaeological approach, we synthesize stratigraphic, sedimentological, mollusk-zooarchaeological, and radiometric datasets from recent excavations and sediment coring at Harbor Key (8MA15)—a shell-terraformed Native mound complex within Tampa Bay, on the central peninsular Gulf Coast of Florida. We significantly revise the chronological understanding of the site and place it among the relatively few early civic-ceremonial centers in the region. Analyses of submound contexts revealed that the early first millennium mound center was constructed atop a platform of sand and ex situ cultural shell deposits that were reworked during ancient storm landfalls around 2000 BP. We situate Harbor Key within a seascape-scale stratigraphic and paleoenvironmental framework and show that the shellworks comprise an artificial barrier protecting the leeward estuary basin (and productive inshore wetlands) from high-energy conditions of the open bay and swells from the Gulf of Mexico. The sedimentary and archaeological records attest to the long-term history of morphodynamic interaction between coastal processes and Indigenous shell terraforming in the region and suggest that early first millennium mound building in Tampa Bay was tied to the recognition and reuse of antecedent shellworks and the persistent management of encompassing cultural seascapes. 

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5. Data report: age-depth model of the Corinth synrift sequence, Site M0079, IODP Expedition 381

   https://doi.org/10.14379/iodp.proc.381.201.2025  

   Pechlivanidou, S; Muravchik, M; Gawthorpe, RL; De_Gelder, G; Oflaz, SA; Collier, RELI; Gillespie, J; Machlus, ML; Maffione, M; Herrero-Bervera, E; et al (April 2025, Proceedings of the International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition reports)

   We present a high-resolution age-depth model for Site M0079, drilled in the Corinth rift, central Greece, during International Ocean Discovery Program Expedition 381. To establish the model, we use available age constrains derived from postcruise research, including ages from 14C analysis and visible tephra layers, together with published ages from U/Th analysis, magnetostratigraphy, and relative paleointensity data. The age-depth model is built for the entire length of the Site M0079 drill hole using a probabilistic modeling approach in OxCal software. The resulting age-depth model provides a robust chronological framework for sediment accumulation within the Gulf of Corinth, constraining the most recent phase of synrift deposition over the past 800,000 y. 

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