Abstract

Recent developments make radiocarbon dating increasingly useful for urban archaeology. Bayesian modelling can combine the detailed urban stratigraphies with radiocarbon dates and other archaeological and historical information to produce fine-grained absolute chronologies. Furthermore, we are currently working on a new calibration curve, which is based on annual samples, in contrast to the existing curves based on decadal samples. I will present preliminary results from our tree-ring measurements for the new calibration curve and illustrate how it can increase the precision of calibrated dates. Using some of UrbNet’s excavation projects, I will show how age models can be constructed to build precise chronologies. Finally, I will give some advice on dating strategies, sampling, and how to use typological and historical dates to improve the age models.