Database Management Systems, Radiocarbon and Archaeology

Abstract

An annotated card index of 14C dates directly relating to Old World cultural material of Palaeolithic and Mesolithic age (> 50,000 − ∼7000 BP) and New World material older than 7000 BP was compiled in 1972 to include all previously published dates. It is updated annually and currently correct to the end of 1981. The need for such an index to reduce duplication of research time spent in primary data acquisition has long been implicity recognized. Indeed, many such data files may already exist. We wish to discover the nature, scope, and intercompatibility of other lists both to improve our own system and to allow for an exchange of information without unnecessary duplication. Our sources include SCIENCE and NATURE but RADIOCARBON is the major source of information. The general scientific and archaeologic literature has not been systematically searched. Where possible, other published lists have been consulted and additional dates incorporated in our list.