Archaeological Dating

ANT 207

Wednesday, April 24, 2010

Please complete this exercise to turn in to Dr. Reber on Monday, April 19. To help with this exercise, use your notes, readings and http://www.c14dating.com/.

1) You are digging at a waterlogged site in the Pacific Northwest, with excellent wood preservation. Can you use dendrochronology? Can you use the bristlecone pine sequence of dendrochronology? What dating techniques should you use? 2 points.

2) You are digging a historical sharecroppers’ cabin in the middle of rural Arkansas, dating to the late 19^th century. How would you date the site? Would you use radiocarbon? Why or why not? 3 points.

3) Digging at a site in Missouri, you find a pit feature. How would you excavate and recover from this feature to be sure of getting the most information? After excavation, the feature proves to be bell-shaped and empty, except for a few potsherds and animal bones scattered among the fill. What dating techniques could you use? Which would you prefer to use? What types of analysis could be performed to determine the diet of the people at the site, and/or the function of the pit feature? What does all this tell you about the people at the site? (5 points)