Radiocarbon Dating and Bayesian Chronological Analysis

Understanding the past requires precise timing, yet raw radiocarbon dates rarely tell the whole story. This text-based course guides you through the fundamental science of radiocarbon decay and the powerful statistical methods used to build accurate historical timelines. You will transition from simply reading lab results to actively constructing and evaluating sophisticated chronological models. By understanding how calibration curves and Bayesian probability work together, you will gain the confidence to interpret archaeological, geological, and palaeobiological data with scientific rigor. What you'll learn: - Understand the core physics of carbon-14 decay and how samples are collected and processed. - Calibrate raw radiocarbon ages using modern standard calibration curves. - Apply Bayesian statistical principles to combine stratigraphy and historical phases with scientific dates. - Build chronological models to resolve archaeological and geological timelines. - Interpret calibration software outputs and assess the reliability of published chronological models. - Avoid common pitfalls in sample selection, contamination, and model over-interpretation. The course begins with foundational concepts of radioactive decay and calibration curves, then moves step-by-step into Bayesian modeling techniques, showing you how to translate stratigraphic relationships into mathematical priors. This course is designed for beginners, including students, archaeologists, geologists, and researchers who want to understand geochronology without needing a prior background in advanced statistics. Start reading today to unlock the true timeline of your data.