Chronometric Dating

The results of chronometric analysis on special specimen samples collected for dating can be found in this dataset. Samples are linked to basic provenience data such as site and field specimen number. The temporal range for each sample will be indicated by variables for earliest and latest dates. These variables give the innermost and outermost dates of wood submitted for dendrochronological dating and their corresponding Tree-Ring Lab symbols indicating how close the date provided is to the actual cutting date for the tree will be denoted by a factor variable. For early and late archaeomagnetic dates that are not clearly defined, factor variables will contain “pre” and “post” prefixes. Context and sample integrity were considered when assigning confidence intervals. These values range from low to high, but a recode of this variable also contains a description of their relative utility. Archaeomagnetic entries also include an indication as to whether the sample had yielded an interpretable date, was discarded, recalibrated, or was related to dendrochronological samples. Length, diameter, and the species of sampled timber for tree-ring data are provided, as well as an approximation of the structural element from which they were taken. Since the majority of dateable material has been derived from botanical resources, treatment of the methodological procedures used in their recovery can be found in the environmental studies mid-level research design (Petersen, Clay et al. 1986). Discussion of research design as it relates to archaeomagnetic dating can be found in Hathaway (1988) and Hathaway and Eighmy (1984). Variables for the chronometric dating dataset have been described by Wilshusen et al. (1999). In most cases, their descriptions are suitable for use as metadata and have been repeated almost verbatim here. Selected resources from the collection of published and unpublished DAP reports may have been used for clarification in some cases and will be appropriately referenced.