Short Course in Radiocarbon Dating and Bayesian Chronological Analysis



Overview

This course is aimed at researchers using radiocarbon and other techniques, including Quaternary geologists, palaeobiologists, archaeologists and marine geoscientists. The first two days of the course will cover key aspects of radiocarbon dating including sample selection, laboratory processes and Bayesian analyses of radiocarbon dates. Various aspects relating to the production and interpretation of radiocarbon dating will be taught by members of the NERC Radiocarbon Facility, based at both Oxford and East Kilbride. This course aims to become a core component of practical radiocarbon training in the UK.

Workshops on calibration, reservoir effects and chronological modelling will be run throughout the course. The course will focus on the OxCal software package. By the end of day 2, participants will be able to build, query and interpret the range of chronological models typically produced in archaeological contexts. The third day of the course will expand on this to look at the construction of Bayesian chronologies more generally, including those that rely primarily on other dating techniques, and there will be a focus on the construction and use of chronological models for environmental records.

The programme has been formulated to introduce radiocarbon dating and other chronometric techniques to participants by exploring – through lectures, workshops tours and tutorials – the key issues essential to the construction of reliable chronologies. This course has been developed by the NERC Radiocarbon Facility, which is NERC and AHRC funded and consists of the science-based archaeology node at Oxford (Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit: ORAU) and the environment node at East Kilbride (Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre: SUERC), and as part of the University of Oxford NERC Doctoral Training Partnership.

For those attending in person, bed and breakfast accommodation, sandwich lunches and dinners are available to book as optional extras and are provided by Oxford University Department for Continuing Education, Rewley House, 1 Wellington Square, Oxford, OX1 2JA. Rewley House is approximately 15 minutes walk from the course location.

Programme details

Monday

8.30am- Registration

9.00am- Fundamentals of radiocarbon dating

10.00am- Morning break

10.45am- Introduction to calibration*

12.00pm- Lunch

1.15pm Radiocarbon reservoir effects*

3.00pm- Afternoon break

3.30pm- Radiocarbon and the carbon cycle

5.00pm- End of Day 1

7.00pm- Dinner at Rewley House (optional)

Tuesday

9.00am- Sampling and pretreatment

10.15am- Morning break

11.00am- AMS for radiocarbon

12.00pm- Lunch

1.00pm- Introduction to Bayesian Age Modelling*

2.30pm- Afternoon break

3.00pm- Bayesian Age Modelling for archaeological questions*

5.00pm- End of Day 2

7.00pm- Dinner at Rewley House (optional)

Wednesday

9.00am- Introduction to age-depth modelling*

10.15am- Morning break

11.00am- Age-depth modelling continued*

12.00pm- Lunch

1.00pm- Lab tour

2.30pm- Afternoon break

3.00pm- Further age modelling approaches; working with your own data*

5.00pm- End of course

All sessions involve a mixture of lectures, discussions and hands-on workshops. Sessions involving use of the program OxCal are marked *

Digital Certification

Digital badge

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be issued with an official digital badge from the Department for Continuing Education, University of Oxford. After the course, you will receive an email with a link and instructions on how to download your digital badge. You will be able to add your badge to your email signature and share it on social media if you choose to do so. 

Fees

Description Costs
Tuition: in-person attendance (3 days) £565.00
Tuition: virtual attendance (3 days) £565.00
Accommodation: Single B&B (2 nights) £226.00
Dinner Monday night at Rewley House £28.50
Dinner Tuesday night at Rewley House £28.50
Packed Lunch for Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday £30.00

Payment

Payment of fees must be made in full at the time of booking.

Please note that businesses and organisations can be invoiced on provision of a Purchase Order and completed application form. These can be emailed to the CWHE Programme Administrator, email: cwhe@conted.ox.ac.uk.

If you would like to attend part of the course, but not all, please email:  cwhe@conted.ox.ac.uk and we can arrange the booking for you (subject to availability).

 

Tutors

Dr Rachel Wood

Course Director

Rachel is director of the Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. Her research has focused on the production of precise chronologies to answer archaeological questions, and the development of novel pretreatment methods to increase the accuracy of chronologies in tropical environments.

Professor Christopher Ramsey

Tutor

As the author of OxCal and chair of the IntCal working group, Christopher’s research focuses on the application of Bayesian statistical methods to study chronology and the improvement of the calibration curves. As a physicist he developed the first gas injection system for AMS, and has been involved in a wide range of archaeological and paleoenvironmental projects through his previous role as the director of ORAU.

Dr David Chivall

Tutor

David is the laboratory manager at the ORAU. With a background in GC-MS and isotopic analysis, he has a particular interest in developing methods for compound specific radiocarbon dating.

Dr Richard Staff

Tutor

Richard is a geoscientist, with interest in palaeoenvironmental reconstruction. He has undertaken extensive radiocarbon and tephrochronological work on the Lake Suigetsu record. He is currently a post-doc on the ERC-funded HorsePower project.

Dr Peter Ditchfield

Tutor

Peter is the stable isotope manager at ORAU. He is a geologist interested in palaeoenvironmental and palaeoecological reconstructions of archaeological sites based on sedimentology and stable isotopic indicators. His research has focused environmental change and its effects on hominid physical and cultural evolution.

Application

Please use the 'Book' or 'Apply' button on this page. Alternatively, please contact cwhe@conted.ox.ac.uk to obtain an application form. Enrolments will close 2 weeks before course start date.

Accommodation

Accommodation for this three-day course is at Rewley House for Monday and Tuesday nights only. If you would like to book a double or twin room, please contact us via email (cwhe@conted.ox.ac.uk).

Depending on availability it may also be possible to extend your stay; please enquire at the time of booking for availability and prices.

All bedrooms are modern, comfortably furnished and each room has tea and coffee making facilities, Freeview television, and Free WiFi and private bath or shower rooms.

IT requirements

You can opt to attend this hybrid teaching event either online (via a livestream) or in person at the Department of Earth Sciences. You will be given the option of how you wish to attend during the enrolment process. You can only pick one option. If your preferred attendance format is fully booked, you can email us to be put on the waiting list.

For those joining us online

If you wish to join the course online for the hybrid sessions only you will be offered the option to select this when you book. The hybrid sessions will be live streamed using Zoom and you will be sent a link to join the course. The course will be accessible online 15 minutes before the start time and we encourage all participants to join in good time.

Please note that this course will not be recorded.

Terms & conditions for applicants and students

Information on financial support