High-Precision Bidecadal Calibration of the Radiocarbon Time Scale, 500–2500 BC

Abstract

The sole purpose of this paper is to present a previously published14C data set to which minor corrections have been applied. All basic information previously given is still applicable (Pearson & Stuiver 1986). The corrections are needed because14C count-rate influences (radon decay in Seattle, a re-evaluation of the corrections applied for efficiency variation with time previously unrecognized in Belfast) had to be accounted for in more detail. Information on the radon correction is given in Stuiver and Becker (1993). The Belfast corrections were necessary because the original correction for efficiency variations with time was calculated using two suspect standards (these were shown to be suspect by recent observations) that overweighted the correction. A re-evaluation (Pearson & Qua 1993) now shows it to be almost insignificant, and the corrected dates (using the new correction) became older by about 16 years.