The Monongahela tradition in “real time”: Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates

John P Hart and Bernard K Means

PLOS ONE, 2022, vol. 17, issue 10, 1-23

Abstract: Despite advances in techniques, methods, and theory, northeastern North American archaeologists continue to use early to mid-twentieth century culture historical taxa as units of analysis and narrative. There is a distinct need to move away from this archaeological practice to enable fuller understandings of past human lives. One tool that enables such a move is Bayesian analysis of radiocarbon dates, which provides a means of constructing continuous chronologies. A large dataset of radiocarbon dates for late prehistoric (ca AD 900/1000–1650) sites in the lower upper Ohio River basin in southwestern Pennsylvania and adjacent portions of Maryland, Ohio, and West Virginia is used here as an example. The results allow a preliminary assessment of how the settlement plans of contemporaneous villages varied considerably, reflecting decisions of the village occupants how to structure built environments to meet their needs.

Date: 2022
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:plo:pone00:0276014

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276014

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