Age Reporting of Very Old Samples

1 January 1980

journal article
research article
Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Radiocarbon

Vol. 22 (4) , 1021-1027
https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033822200011516

Abstract

Problems of the statistical interpretation of radiocarbon age measurements of old samples are discussed, based on the notion of fiducial probability distribution. A probability density function of age has been given. A detailed discussion of different facets of the probability distribution of age has led us to the confirmation of the use of 2σ as the best limiting value between the regions of finite and infinite dates. It has been proposed to make use of the principle of constant probability P = 0.68 in the regions of both finite and infinite ages instead of the criterion N + kσ.

Keywords

This publication has 3 references indexed in Scilit:

Logic of Statistical Inference
Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) ,2016
Discussion Reporting of ¹⁴C Data
Radiocarbon, 1977
National Physical Laboratory Radiocarbon Measurements VII
Radiocarbon, 1970