Radiometric dates are a robust proxy for long-term demographic change: a comment on Attenbrow and Hiscock (2015)

Williams, Alan N., and Ulm, Sean (2016) Radiometric dates are a robust proxy for long-term demographic change: a comment on Attenbrow and Hiscock (2015). Archaeology in Oceania, 51 (3). pp. 216-217.

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DOI: 10.1002/arco.5095

View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/arco.5095

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Abstract

Attenbrow and Hiscock (2015) raise a series of concerns about the use of radiocarbon dates as data (sum probability distributions), including sample selection, taphonomic bias, and the relationship of charcoal and radiocarbon data to human activity. We show that these concerns have been widely acknowledged and addressed in the literature. We advocate the considered use of dates as data approaches as a heuristic tool for broad regional- and continental-scale questions, used in conjunction with other archaeological proxies, and within the constraints of documented and well-known methodological limitations.


Item ID:	43516
Item Type:	Article (Commentary)
ISSN:	1834-4453
Keywords:	radio carbon; dates as data; sum probability; Australian prehistory; demography
Date Deposited:	05 Apr 2016 05:14
FoR Codes:	21 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 2101 Archaeology > 210101 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Archaeology @ 50% 21 HISTORY AND ARCHAEOLOGY > 2101 Archaeology > 210102 Archaeological Science @ 50%
SEO Codes:	95 CULTURAL UNDERSTANDING > 9505 Understanding Past Societies > 950503 Understanding Australias Past @ 100%
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