Bickler, Simon H., Petchey, Fiona, Bickler, Gideon, Mulrooney, Mara A., Rieth, Timothy M., Jennings, Richard, and Bunbury, Magdalena M.E. (2025) The Pacific Archaeology Radiocarbon Database. Archaeology in Oceania, 60 (3). pp. 270-279.

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Abstract

This paper describes the Pacific Archaeology Radiocarbon Database (PARD), which includes radiocarbon data from archaeological sites excavated in an area commonly described as Near and Remote Oceania. The collated 14C database is available using ArcGIS Online, an online geospatial system with searchable fields and locational navigation. The online PARD currently has over 17,000 radiocarbon measurements from archaeological sites from over 300 islands in the Pacific. The database contains many inconsistencies reflecting the long history of radiocarbon dating in the Pacific and issues relating to date calculation, precision, contamination removal, in-built age, and contextual uncertainty. While ‘chronometric hygiene’ protocols have demonstrated the reasons for treating such radiocarbon ages with caution, the presence of these data can still provide important information. The location of early excavations, distribution of site types at certain broad time periods, and other such information are useful in providing frameworks for future research. The PARD is a valuable starting point for researchers and communities in the Pacific. It has the potential to assist researchers in coordinating site location data for excavations and promises to aid a more extensive investigation of key research themes. The accessibility of the data online allows stakeholders, particularly indigenous groups across the Pacific, to improve their access to and understanding of the value of archaeological research.

Item ID:	90202
Item Type:	Article (Research - C1)
ISSN:	1834-4453
Keywords:	archaeological chronologies; Pacific Islands; radiocarbon database; settlement of Oceania
Copyright Information:	© 2025 TheAuthor(s). This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
Date Deposited:	05 Jan 2026 00:40
FoR Codes:	45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4501 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander culture, language and history > 450101 Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander archaeology @ 10% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4507 Te ahurea, reo me te hītori o te Māori (Māori culture, language and history) > 450704 Te mātai whaipara Māori (Māori archaeology) @ 40% 45 INDIGENOUS STUDIES > 4513 Pacific Peoples culture, language and history > 451301 Archaeology of New Guinea and Pacific Islands (excl. New Zealand) @ 50%
SEO Codes:	21 INDIGENOUS > 2112 Pacific Peoples heritage and culture > 211201 Conserving Pacific Peoples heritage and culture @ 50% 13 CULTURE AND SOCIETY > 1307 Understanding past societies > 130705 Understanding New Zealand’s past @ 50%
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