Bayesian Analysis and Chronological Revisions in Southern Mesoamerica

Summary

The application of Bayesian analysis on radiocarbon dates from key sites in southern Mesoamerica has contributed to chronological revisions, which are leading to a re-evaluation of social processes among major political centers. Main challenges in this analysis include long occupation and mixing of old carbon in construction fills; poor preservation in the tropical environment; and the paucity of short-lived plant remains. Key steps in our application of Bayesian analysis on Mesoamerican archaeology are: first, to identify and eliminate problematic dates in new and existing datasets; and, second, to test different scenarios regarding stratigraphy, radiocarbon dates, and ceramic phases in order to reach the most appropriate interpretation.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for American Archaeology 82nd Annual Meeting, Vancouver, BC (2017)   •
• Moments in Time: Re-creating History with the Bayesian Approach

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Record Identifiers

Abstract Id(s): 14844