p3k14c, a synthetic global database of archaeological radiocarbon dates

Darcy Bird, Lux Miranda, Marc Vander Linden, Erick Robinson, R. Kyle Bocinsky, Chris Nicholson, José M. Capriles, Judson Byrd Finley, Eugenia M. Gayo, Adolfo Gil, Jade d’Alpoim Guedes, Julie A. Hoggarth, Andrea Kay, Emma Loftus, Umberto Lombardo, Madeline Mackie, Alessio Palmisano, Steinar Solheim, Robert L. Kelly, Jacob Freeman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

49 Scopus citations

Abstract

Archaeologists increasingly use large radiocarbon databases to model prehistoric human demography (also termed paleo-demography). Numerous independent projects, funded over the past decade, have assembled such databases from multiple regions of the world. These data provide unprecedented potential for comparative research on human population ecology and the evolution of social-ecological systems across the Earth. However, these databases have been developed using different sample selection criteria, which has resulted in interoperability issues for global-scale, comparative paleo-demographic research and integration with paleoclimate and paleoenvironmental data. We present a synthetic, global-scale archaeological radiocarbon database composed of 180,070 radiocarbon dates that have been cleaned according to a standardized sample selection criteria. This database increases the reusability of archaeological radiocarbon data and streamlines quality control assessments for various types of paleo-demographic research. As part of an assessment of data quality, we conduct two analyses of sampling bias in the global database at multiple scales. This database is ideal for paleo-demographic research focused on dates-as-data, bayesian modeling, or summed probability distribution methodologies.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number27
JournalScientific Data
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Statistics and Probability
  • Information Systems
  • Education
  • Computer Science Applications
  • Statistics, Probability and Uncertainty
  • Library and Information Sciences

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'p3k14c, a synthetic global database of archaeological radiocarbon dates'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this