Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-t5tsf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-05T15:02:48.433Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Validating and Improving Archaeological Phasing at St. Mary Spital, London

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 July 2016

Jane Sidell ,
Christopher Thomas  and
Alex Bayliss
Jane Sidell*
Affiliation:
English Heritage, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST, United Kingdom
Christopher Thomas
Affiliation:
Museum of London Archaeology Service, 46 Eagle Wharf Road, London N1 7ED, United Kingdom
Alex Bayliss
Affiliation:
English Heritage, 1 Waterhouse Square, 138-142 Holborn, London EC1N 2ST, United Kingdom
*
Corresponding author. Email: [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 paper outlines the radiocarbon program applied to the excavation and skeletal assemblage from the cemetery of the medieval Priory and Hospital of St. Mary Spital in London. Problems encountered in dating medieval cemeteries are outlined. The problems were addressed through the application of Bayesian modeling to validate and refine conventional approaches to constructing phases of archaeological activity. It should be noted that this project was solely funded by the developer of the land; such projects rarely undertake even modest programs of 14C dating. We aim to show how the investment of a proportionally small sum, compared to the overall project costs, may reap significant benefits.

Type
Articles
Information
Radiocarbon , Volume 49 , Issue 2 , 2007 , pp. 593 - 610
Copyright
Copyright © 2007 by the Arizona Board of Regents on behalf of the University of Arizona 

References

Bayliss, A, Bronk Ramsey, C. 2004. Pragmatic Bayesians: a decade integrating radiocarbon dates into chronological models. In: Buck, CE, Millard, AR, editors. Tools for Constructing Chronologies: Tools for Crossing Disciplinary Boundaries. Lecture Notes in Statistics, Volume 177. London: Springer. p 25–41.Google Scholar
Bayliss, A, Sheperd Popescu, E, Beavan-Athfield, N, Bronk Ramsey, C, Cook, GT, Locker, A. 2004. The potential significance of dietary offsets for the interpretation of radiocarbon dates; an archaeologically significant example from medieval Norwich. Journal of Archaeological Science 31(5):563–75.Google Scholar
Bayliss, A, Bronk Ramsey, C, van der Plicht, J, Whittle, A. 2007. Bradshaw and Bayes: towards a timetable for the Neolithic. Cambridge Journal of Archaeology 17(supplement S1):1–28.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1995. Radiocarbon calibration and analysis of stratigraphy: the OxCal program. Radiocarbon 37(2):425–30.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 1998. Probability and dating. Radiocarbon 40(1):461–74.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2000. Comment on ‘The use of Bayesian statistics for 14C dates of chronologically ordered samples: a critical analysis.’ Radiocarbon 42(2):199–202.Google Scholar
Bronk Ramsey, C. 2001. Development of the radiocarbon program. Radiocarbon 43(2A):355–63.Google Scholar
Buck, CE, Litton, CD, Smith, AFM. 1992. Calibration of radiocarbon results pertaining to related archaeological events. Journal of Archaeological Science 19(5): 497–512.Google Scholar
Buck, CE, Cavanagh, WG, Litton, CD. 1996. Bayesian Approach to Interpreting Archaeological Data. Chichester: John Wiley & Sons. 402 p.Google Scholar
Caley, J, Hunter, J, editors. 1810. Valor Ecclesiasticus, Tempore Henrici VIII, Auctoriate Regia Institus. Volume 1. London: Record Commission. In Latin.Google Scholar
Cook, GT, Bonsall, C, Hedges, REM, McSweeney, K, Boroneant, V, Pettitt, PB. 2001 A freshwater diet-derived 14C reservoir effect at the Stone Age sites in the Iron Gates Gorge. Radiocarbon 43(2A):453–60.Google Scholar
Donahue, DJ, Beck, JW, Biddulph, D, Burr, GS, Courtney, C, Damon, PE, Hatheway, AL, Hewitt, L, Jull, AJT, Lange, T, Lifton, N, Maddock, R, McHargue, LR, O'Malley, JM, Toolin, LJ. 1997. Status of the NSF-Arizona AMS laboratory. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 123(1–4):51–6.Google Scholar
Dugdale, W. 1830. Monasticon Anglicanum , 6, London.Google Scholar
Gilchrist, R, Sloane, B. 2005. Requiem: The Medieval Monastic Cemetery in Britain. London: Museum of London Archaeology Service. 273 p.Google Scholar
Grootes, PM, Nadeau, M-J, Rieck, A. 2004. 14C-AMS at the Leibniz-labor: radiometric dating and isotope research. Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research B 223–4:55–61.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Harris, EC. 1979. The Principles of Archaeological Stratigraphy. New York: Academic Press. 149 p.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. 2004. Marine04 marine radiocarbon age calibration, 0–26 kyr BP. Radiocarbon 46(3):1059–86.Google Scholar
Longin, R. 1971. New method of collagen extraction for radiocarbon dating. Nature 230(5291):241–2.Google Scholar
Lowe, JJ, Walker, MJC. 1990. Reconstructing Quaternary Environments. New York: John Wiley & Sons. 352 p.Google Scholar
Mays, S. 1998. The Archaeology of Human Bones. London: Routledge. 242 p.Google Scholar
Mays, S, Crane-Kramer, G, Bayliss, A. 2003. Two probable cases of treponemal disease of Medieval date from England. American Journal of Physical Anthropology 120(2):133–48.Google Scholar
Mook, WG. 1986. Business meeting: recommendations/resolutions adopted by the Twelfth International Radiocarbon Conference. Radiocarbon 28(2A):799.Google Scholar
Nadeau, M-J, Schleicher, M, Grootes, PM, Erlenkeuser, H, Gottdang, A, Mous, DJW, Sarnthein, JM, Willkomm, H. 1997. The Leibniz-Labor AMS facility at the Christian-Albrechts University, Kiel, Germany. Nuclear Instruments and Physics Research B 123(1–4):22–30.Google Scholar
Nadeau, M-J, Grootes, PM, Schleicher, M, Hasselberg, P, Rieck, A, Bitterling, M. 1998. Sample throughput and data quality at the Leibniz-Labor AMS facility. Radiocarbon 40(1):239–45.Google Scholar
Pearson, GW. 1984. The development of high-precision 14C measurements and its application to archaeological timescale problems [unpublished PhD thesis]. Belfast: Queen's University Belfast.Google Scholar
Reimer, PJ, Baillie, MGL, Bard, E, Bayliss, A, Beck, JW, Bertrand, CJH, Blackwell, PG, Buck, CE, Burr, GS, Cutler, KB, Damon, PE, Edwards, RL, Fairbanks, RG, Friedrich, M, Guilderson, TP, Hogg, AG, Hughen, KA, Kromer, B, McCormac, G, 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
Slota, PJ Jr, Jull, AJT, Linick, TW, Toolin, LJ. 1987. Preparation of small samples for 14C accelerator targets by catalytic reduction of CO. Radiocarbon 29(2):303–6.Google Scholar
Steier, P, Rom, W. 2000. The use of Bayesian statistics for 14C dates of chronologically ordered samples: a critical analysis. Radiocarbon 42(2):183–98.Google Scholar
Stenhouse, M, Baxter, MS. 1983. 14C dating reproducibility: evidence from routine dating of archaeological samples. In: Waterbolk, HT, Mook, WG, editors International Symposium 14C and Archaeology. PACT 8: 147–61.Google Scholar
Stow, J. 1908. The Survey of London. Kingsford, CL, editor. Oxford: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Braziunas, TF. 1993. Modeling atmospheric 14C influences and 14C ages of marine samples to 10,000 BC. Radiocarbon 35(1):137–89.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Kra, RS. 1986. Editorial comment. Radiocarbon 28(2B): ii.Google Scholar
Stuiver, M, Polach, HA. 1977. Discussion: reporting of 14C data. Radiocarbon 19(3):355–63.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stuiver, M, Reimer, PJ. 1993. Extended 14C data base and revised CALIB 3.0 14C age calibration program. Radiocarbon 35(1):215–30.Google Scholar
Thomas, C, Sloane, B, Phillpotts, C. 1997. Excavations at the Priory and Hospital of St. Mary Spital, London. London: Museum of London Archaeology Service. 267 p.Google Scholar
Unger, RW. 1980. Dutch herring, technology, and international trade in the seventeenth century. The Journal of Economic History 40(2):253–80.Google Scholar