Determining the chronology of an archaeological site using radiocarbon: Minimizing uncertainty

As the analytical precision of radiocarbon dating has improved to ±30 years, it is now possible to address chronological questions in the sub-century range. The uncertainty, however, depends upon other factors in addition to the analytical uncertainty. First and foremost it depends on the archeological macro- and micro-contexts: radiocarbon dating therefore starts in the field. The accuracy and precision of a radiocarbon date also depend on the type of material and on being able to characterize the material quality of the sample before and after the chemical pre-treatment. Only by addressing all these aspects can radiocarbon dating become a powerful tool in archaeological research.