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Application of Bayesian statistics using the OxCal programme to carbon dating of Tell Sabi Abyad I

Boelens, J. (2009) Application of Bayesian statistics using the OxCal programme to carbon dating of Tell Sabi Abyad I. Bachelor's Thesis, Physics.

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Abstract

At Tell Sabi Abyad I in Syria around 8200 years ago, inhabitance moved from one part of the Tell (Tell A) to another (Tell B). This was accompanied by other changes in the population, such as new architecture and pottery. To determine if this move from Tell A to Tell B was caused by the 8.2 ka climate event, a cold period of around 160 years which occured around the same time, Bayesian statistics has been applied to a large set of carbon datings from Tell Sabi Abyad I. This was done using the OxCal 4.1 programme. The results showed that the end of the inhabitance of Tell A coincides with the climate event, as does the beginning of Tell B. The end of Tell A has been dated to 8173-8129 calBP (95.4% probability), and the beginning of Tell B 8191-8056 calBP (95.4% probability). Because the 8.2 ka climate event has not been dated very accurately (it is thought to have occurred in the time period 8400-8000 calBP), these data are not conclusive evidence that the changed in the Tell were or were not caused by the climate event, but simply do not exclude either option. Most important in reaching any further conclusions is more precise information on the time of the 8.2 ka climate event.

Item Type: Thesis (Bachelor's Thesis)
Degree programme: Physics
Thesis type: Bachelor's Thesis
Language: English
Date Deposited: 15 Feb 2018 07:45
Last Modified: 15 Feb 2018 07:45
URI: https://fse.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/9539

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