Constructing chronologies in Viking Age Iceland: Increasing dating resolution using Bayesian approaches

Catherine M. Batt*, Magdalena M.E. Schmid, Orri Vésteinsson

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Precise chronologies underpin all aspects of archaeological interpretation and, in addition to improvements in scientific dating methods themselves, one of the most exciting recent developments has been the use of Bayesian statistical analysis to reinterpret existing information. Such approaches allow the integration of scientific dates, stratigraphy and typological data to provide chronologies with improved precision.Settlement period sites in Iceland offer excellent opportunities to explore this approach, as many benefit from dated tephra layers and AMS radiocarbon dates. Whilst tephrochronology is widely used and can provide excellent chronological control, this method has limitations; the time span between tephra layers can be large and they are not always present. In order to investigate the improved precision available by integrating the scientific dates with the associated archaeological stratigraphy within a Bayesian framework, this research reanalyses the dating evidence from three recent large scale excavations of key Viking Age and medieval sites in Iceland; Adalstræti, Hofstadir and Sveigakot. The approach provides improved chronological precision for the dating of significant events within these sites, allowing a more nuanced understanding of occupation and abandonment. It also demonstrates the potential of incorporating dated typologies into chronological models and the use of models to propose sequences of activities where stratigraphic relationships are missing. Such outcomes have considerable potential in interpreting the archaeology of Iceland and can be applied more widely to sites with similar chronological constraints.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)161-174
Number of pages14
JournalJournal of Archaeological Science
Volume62
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Oct 2015

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Other keywords

  • Bayesian statistics
  • Chronology
  • Iceland
  • Radiocarbon dating
  • Tephra
  • Viking Age

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