Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-8ctnn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T00:03:24.106Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

The Bayesian Approach to Radiocarbon Calibration Curve Estimation: The IntCal13, Marine13, and SHCal13 Methodologies

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2016

M Niu*
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
T J Heaton
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
P G Blackwell
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
C E Buck
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics & Statistics, University of Sheffield, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author: [email protected].
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

This article outlines the Bayesian models and methods used to facilitate construction of the 2013 internationally agreed radiocarbon calibration curves known as IntCal13, Marine13, and SHCal13. The models build on those used for the 2004 and 2009 estimates of the curves and, as in 2009, arc implemented using Markov chain Monte Carlo sampling, specifically a Metropolis-within-Gibbs sampler. In addition to the data structures accounted for within the 2004 and 2009 models, the approach outlined here also allows for: the presence of additional uncertainty that the data providers have been unable to quantify; tree-ring data that derive their calendar age from wiggle-matching (in addition to ring counting); varve-counted data that exhibit zero increase in calendar age error between 2 or more consecutive layers; and any data source for which we have dependent calendar age uncertainties.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © 2013 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Bard, E, Ménot, G, Rostek, F, Licari, L, Böning, P, Edwards, RL, Cheng, H, Wang, YJ, Heaton, TJ. 2013. Radiocarbon calibration/comparison records based on marine sediments from the Pakistan and Iberian margins. Radiocarbon 55(4), this issue.Google Scholar
Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE. 2008. Estimating radiocarbon calibration curves. Bayesian Analysis 3(2):225–48.Google Scholar
Bowman, S. 1990. Radiocarbon Dating. London: British Museum Publications.Google Scholar
Brockwell, P, Davis, R. 2002. Introduction to Time Series and Forecasting. 2nd edition. New York: Springer.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2009. Dealing with outliers and offsets in radiocarbon dating. Radiocarbon 51(3):1023–45.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C, Lee, S. 2013. Recent and planned developments of the program OxCal. Radiocarbon 55(2–3):720–30.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C, Staff, RA, Bryant, CL, Brock, F, Kitagawa, H, van der Plicht, J, Schlolaut, G, Marshall, MH, Brauer, A, Lamb, HF, Payne, RL, Tarasov, PE, Haraguchi, T, Gotanda, K, Yonenobu, H, Yokoyama, Y, Tada, R, Nakagawa, T. 2012. A complete terrestrial radiocarbon record for 11.2 to 52.8 kyr B.P. Science 338(6105):370–4.Google Scholar
Buck, CE, Blackwell, PG. 2004. Formal statistical models for estimating radiocarbon calibration curves. Radiocarbon 46(3):1093–102.Google Scholar
Christen, JA. 1994. Summarizing a set of radiocarbon determinations: a robust approach. Applied Statistics 43(3)489503.Google Scholar
Christen, JA, Pérez, S. 2009. A new robust statistical model for radiocarbon data. Radiocarbon 51(3):1047–59.Google Scholar
Heaton, TJ, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE. 2009. A Bayesian approach to the estimation of radiocarbon calibration curves: the IntCal09 methodology. Radiocarbon 51(4):1151–64.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Heaton, TJ, Bard, E, Hughen, K. 2013. Elastic tie-pointing—transferring chronologies between records via a Gaussian process. Radiocarbon 55(4), this issue.Google Scholar
Hogg, A, Palmer, J, Boswijk, G, Turney, C. 2011. High-precision radiocarbon measurements of tree-ring dated wood from New Zealand: 195 BC-AD 995. Radiocarbon 53(3):529–42.Google Scholar
Hogg, AG, Hua, Q, Blackwell, PG, Niu, M, Buck, CE, Guilderson, TP, Heaton, TJ, Palmer, JG, Reimer, PJ, Reimer, RW, Turney, CSM, Zimmerman, SRH. 2013a. SHCal13 Southern Hemisphere calibration, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4), this issue.Google Scholar
Hogg, A, Turney, C, Palmer, J, Southon, J, Kromer, B, Bronk Ramsey, C, Boswijk, G, Fenwick, P, Noronha, A, Staff, R, Friedrich, M, Reynard, L, Guetter, D, Wacker, L, Jones, R. 2013b. The New Zealand kauri (Agathis australis) research project: a radiocarbon dating intercomparison of Younger Dryas wood and implications for IntCal13. Radiocarbon 55(4), this issue.Google Scholar
Hua, Q, Barbetti, M, Fink, D, Kaiser, K, Friedrich, M, Kromer, B, Levchenko, V, Zoppi, U, Smith, A, Bertuch, F. 2009. Atmospheric 14C variations derived from tree rings during the early Younger Dryas. Quaternary Science Reviews 28(25–26):2982–990.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughen, KA, Southon, JR, Lehman, SJ, Overpeck, JT. 2000. Synchronous radiocarbon and climate shifts during the last deglaciation. Science 290(5498):1951–4.Google Scholar
Hughen, KA, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Beck, JW, Bertrand, CJH, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Cutler, KB, Damon, PE, Edwards, RL, Fairbanks, RG, Friedrich, M, Guilderson, TP, Kromer, B, McCormac, G, Manning, S, Bronk Ramsey, C, Reimer, PJ, Reimer, RW, Remmele, S, Southon, JR, Stuiver, M, Talamo, S, Taylor, FW, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2004a. Marine04 marine radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3):1059–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hughen, KA, Lehman, SJ, Southon, JR, Overpeck, J, Marchal, O, Herring, C, Turnbull, J. 2004b. 14C activity and global carbon cycle changes over the past 50,000 years. Science 303(5655):202–7.Google Scholar
Hughen, KA, Southon, JR, Bertrand, CJH, Frantz, B, Zermeño, P. 2004c. Cariaco Basin calibration update: revisions to calendar and 14C chronologies for core PL07-58PC. Radiocarbon 46(3):1161–87.Google Scholar
Hughen, K, Southon, J, Lehman, S, Bertrand, C, Turnbull, J. 2006. Marine-derived 14C calibration and activity record for the past 50,000 years updated from the Cariaco Basin. Quaternary Science Reviews 25(23–24):3216–27.Google Scholar
McCormac, FG, Hogg, AG, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Higham, TFG, Reimer, PJ. 2004. SHCal04 Southern Hemisphere calibration, 0–11.0 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3):1087–92.Google Scholar
Millard, AR. 2008. Comment on article by Blackwell and Buck, “Estimating radiocarbon calibration curves.” Bayesian Analysis 3(2):255–61.Google Scholar
R Core Team. 2013. R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing. Vienna: R Foundation for Statistical Computing. URL: http://www.R-project.org.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, WJ, Bertrand, C, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Cutler, KB, Damon, PE, Edwards, RL, Fairbanks, RQ Friedrich, M, Guilderson, TP, Hughen, KA, Kromer, B, McCormac, FQ Manning, S, Bronk Ramsey, C, Reimer, RW, Remmele, S, Southon, JR, Stuiver, M, Talamo, S, Taylor, FW, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2004. IntCal04 terrestrial radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 cal kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3):1029–58.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, PG, Bronk Ramsey, C, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Edwards, RL, Friedrich, M, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Hajdas, I, Heaton, TJ, Hogg, AQ Hughen, KA, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, McCormac, FQ Manning, SW, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Southon, JR, Talamo, S, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J, Weyhenmeyer, CE. 2009. IntCal09 and Marine09 radiocarbon age calibration curves, 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 51(4):1111–50.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Blackwell, PG, Bronk Ramsey, C, Buck, CE, Cheng, H, Edwards, RL, Friedrich, M, Grootes, PM, Guilderson, TP, Haflidason, H, Hajdas, I, Hatté, C, Heaton, TJ, Hoffman, DL, Hogg, AQ Hughen, KA, Kaiser, KF, Kromer, B, Manning, SW, Niu, M, Reimer, RW, Richards, DA, Scott, EM, Southon, JR, Staff, RA, Turney, CSM, van der Plicht, J. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine 13 radiocarbon age calibration curves 0–50,000 years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4), this issue.Google Scholar
Taylor, H, Karlin, S. 1998. An Introduction to Stochastic Modeling. 3rd edition. Oxford: Academic Press.Google Scholar
van der Plicht, J, Imamura, M, Sakamoto, M. 2012. Dating of Late Pleistocene tree-ring series from Japan. Radiocarbon 54(3–1):625–33.Google Scholar