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Dating Methods in Archaeology Cheat Sheet (DRAFT) by

Comparison and evaluation of different dating methods in archaeology using case studies.

This is a draft cheat sheet. It is a work in progress and is not finished yet.

Absolute v. Relative Dating

Absolute
Provides a numerical, calendar date for a sample, artifact or site.
Relative
Compar­ative methods which don't provide a numerical date.
 

Dendro­chr­onology

Dating wood specimens in comparison to a known master series for the species. Can provide a date accurate to the nearest year.
Absolute and relative
If a master series is available, then the dating will be absolute. A comparison of locally available wood will provide relative dating.
Case study - Pueblo Arroyo
Southwest American Pueblo
 
Dendro­chr­onology used to establish different periods of constr­uction (1070s and 1100s).
 
Also provided inform­ation about demogr­aphics - population growth estimated through spatial studies analysing how many people were living per room.
Accuracy
- Tree rings can be skipped during tree growth.
 
e.g. junipers have been used for dendro­chr­ono­logical dating in the past, but are now considered a partic­ularly inaccurate species.