A Bayesian Framework for Age Modeling of Radiocarbon-Dated Peat Deposits: Case Studies from the Netherlands

Recently, Bayesian statistical software has been developed for age-depth modeling (“wiggle-match dating”) of sequences of densely spaced radiocarbon dates from peat cores. The method is described in non-statistical terms, and is compared with an alternative method of chronological ordering of 14 C dates. Case studies include the dating of the start of agriculture in the northeastern part of the Netherlands, and of a possible Hekla-3 tephra layer in the same country. We discuss future enhancements in Bayesian age modeling.