Critical Chronologies: Archaeological dating

Learning Outcomes

Knowledge and Understanding

Having successfully completed this module, you will be able to demonstrate knowledge and understanding of:

• When, and on which material particular dating methods are appropriate (e.g. suitable material or environments)
• The scientific principles behind the major dating methods
• The major chronological issues in archaeology and how they relate to, for example, the origins of modern humans, the human colonization of Australia, or the extinction of Neanderthals
• The circumstances in which particular dating methods are considered controversial or inaccurate

Subject Specific Intellectual and Research Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Take a critical approach to dating and chronology and appreciate where dating may be inappropriate or inaccurate.
• Interpret dating evidence in terms of archaeological chronologies.
• Design and plan practical dating projects.
• Incorporate dating evidence into archaeological arguments.

Subject Specific Practical Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Confidently approach to the scientific and archaeological dating literature.
• Collate, synthesise and present chronological information

Transferable and Generic Skills

Having successfully completed this module you will be able to:

• Engage better with scientific data
• Research and discover sources
• Improve your presentation skills
• Improve your scientific and archaeological essay writing and know how to structure an argument incorporating scientific data
• Manage your time to meet assignment deadlines

The module begins with an introduction of the key concepts. These include an outline of radioactive processes, the measurement of radioactivity, dealing with errors, accuracy and precision. Each week a number of students will present a seminar on specific chronological issues which will be followed by a discussion.

Typically, the syllabus will include the following:

• Is there an accurate date for the Tabun C1 Neanderthal?
• What is the earliest reliably dated modern human in Africa? Does this reliably support an African Origin for modern humans?
• Were modern humans and Neanderthals contemporary in the near east? How well do dates from the different methods agree?
• Was the extinction of the Australian Megafauna caused by the arrival of humans?
• Can dating demonstrate the extinction of Neanderthals in Europe was caused by the influx of modern humans?
• What are the specific advantages of archaeomagnetic dating over radiocarbon?
• What factors influence the radiocarbon content of the atmosphere and what methods have been used to calibrate radiocarbon beyond the tree-ring record?
• What non-destructive absolute dating methods are available? How reliable can they be considered.
• How reliable is uranium series dating of bone?
• What are the problems in dating the British Iron-Age, and what attempts have been made to overcome them?
• Outline, using examples how Bayesian analysis can improve radiocarbon chronologies.
• How can past diet affect the radiocarbon dating of humans? What can be done to correct for it?
• How does the ‘Radiocarbon Barrier’ affect our chronologies and what can be done to cross it?
• Discuss the dating of the Bronze Age (Minoan) eruption of Santorini.
• Review the dating evidence for the Human colonization of The Americas

Teaching and learning methods

Teaching methods include

• Lectures
• Student led seminars

Learning activities include

• Presenting a seminar
• Seminar discussion
• Back-ground reading
• Assessed Essay

Resources & Reading list

Journal Articles

Grün, R. (2006). Direct dating of human fossils. American Journal of physical Anthropology, 43, pp. 2—48.

Grun, R. (1991). Potential and problems of ESR dating. Nuclear Tracks and Radiation Measurement, 18(1), pp. 143-153.

Pike, A.W.G. & Pettitt, P.B. (2003). U-series dating and human evolution. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 52, pp. 607-630.

Schwarcz, H. P. (1980). Absolute age determination of archaeological sites by uranium series dating of travertines. Archaeometry, 22(1), pp. 3—24.

Pike, A.W.G. & Pettitt, P.B (2006). Other Laboratory Dating Methods. A Handbook of Archaeology, pp. 337-372.

Clark, A.J., Tarling, D.H. and Noël, M. (1988). Developments in archaeomagnetic dating in Britain. Journal of Archaeological Science, 15, pp. 654-667.

Bar-Yosef, O (2000). The impact of radiocarbon dating on old world archaeology: past achievements and future expectations. Radiocarbon, 42(1), pp. 23-39.

Textbooks

Aitken, M.J. (1990). Science-Based dating in Archaeology. London: Thames and Hudson.

Aitken M.J.; Stringer, C.B. and Mellars, P.A. (eds.) (1993). The Origin of Modern Humans and the Impact of Chronometric Dating. Princeton University Press.

Renfrew, C. and Bahn, P. (1991). Archaeology: Theories, Methods and Practice (Pages 129- 37). London: Thames & Hudson.

Summative

This is how we’ll formally assess what you have learned in this module.

Referral

This is how we’ll assess you if you don’t meet the criteria to pass this module.

Repeat Information

Repeat type: Internal & External