Using radiocarbon: an update

Abstract

A note in the 1990 ANTIQUITY volume dealt with four issues crucial to the successful use of radiocarbon in archaeology (Bowman & Balaam 1990): selection and characterization of material and context; determination of the radiocarbon result and error term; interpretation and publication; and strategic resourcing. Since then much has been published, particularly on quality control of radiocarbon measurements (‘determination’), and on the calibration of radiocarbon results (‘interpretation’). Here is an update.