Bayesian Modelling cremated bones

[Jill Allen]

Dear all,

I am seeking advice on how to approach the analysis of a set of radiocarbon dates from a cemetery that contains both inhumations and cremations. Specifically, I am struggling with dealing the biases affecting radiocarbon estimates on cremated bones.

In a simple single-bounded phase model, the dates for both inhumations and cremations appear to belong to the same phase and, in some cases, even seem to be contemporaneous. I have come across some literature on the topic, but I still find myself somewhat lost regarding how to properly address this issue in the contexts of Bayesian Modelling of the dates.

Any guidance or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thank you in advance for your help.

Best regards,

Jill

[Helene Agerskov Rose]

Dear Jill,

In the literature you will find various approaches for handling the wood-age offset in cremated bone, as you also mention yourself. Not too different from how you might handle intrinsic age of the sample material itself and dietary reservoir offsets in inhumations. Step 1: assign each 14C age an offset/outlier model according to the sampled material, and step 2: model all the 14C ages according to your prior information. In most instances the offsets will probably be relatively small, be suspicious if they are very large. 

We recently published a study on mostly cremated bone, but there are also a few inhumations in there. 

Best of luck!

Helene