Radiocarbon Dates
Radiocarbon dating provides a way to determine the age of
archaeological deposits and associated artifacts. Carbon
samples, most often charcoal or burnt encrustations on ceramic
vessels, are carefully collected from an excavation. The
amount of radioactive Carbon 14 isotope present in the sample
is measured to calibrate how much time has gone by since
the material was burnt.
Carbon is found in every living organism
and is absorbed from the atmosphere. When a plant or animal
dies, the amount of carbon isotopes begin to decay at a known
and constant rate. By measuring the radioactive Carbon14 (C14)
concentrations, the time of the organism’s death can be estimated.
For a more in-depth explanation of how radiocarbon dating
works, you may want to visit the web sites listed on our Links
page.
While creating this web page on Maryland’s
diagnostic artifacts, we compiled a database of radiocarbon
dates that have been produced over the last 30 years in Maryland
and surrounding states. Newer methods of processing samples
and calibrating the dates have brought many previously-run
dates into question. Some of these dates may be inaccurate
due to the length of time since they were processed and the
integrity of the data concerning associated artifacts, for
example, shell is sometimes used as a sample for radiocarbon
dating, and these dates are often less reliable than those
run on burnt wood.
For these tables, we have attempted to present
only the most reliable, emphasizing those most recently obtained,
in actual association with the ceramic wares and from Maryland
sites. We plan to continue to refine these tables and to add
new information as it becomes available.
Marcey Creek
/ Dames Quarter / Selden
Island / Accokeek / Wolfe
Neck / Popes Creek / Coulbourn
/ Watson / Mockley
/ Clemson Island / Page
/ Shepard / Townsend
/ Sullivan Cove / Moyaone
/ Potomac Creek / Keyser
/ Yeocomico
|
Marcey
Creek |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
2900 +
95
950 B.C. |
I-5091 |
Monocacy
(18FR100) |
Zone 5 |
Ayers
1972 |
2495 +
95;
545 B.C. |
I-5090 |
Monocacy
(18FR100) |
Zone 5 |
Ayers
1972 |
|
Wolfe
Neck |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
2735 +
75;
785 B.C. |
SI-2191 |
Nassawango
Creek (18WO23) |
Feature
19 |
Bastian
1975 |
2455 +
60;
505 B.C. |
UGa-1223 |
Wolfe
Neck, DE (7S-D-10) |
|
Artusy
1976: 3 |
2450 +
85;
500 B.C. |
I-6891 |
Dill Farm,
DE (7K-E-12) |
|
Artusy
1976: 3 |
2445 +
100;
495 B.C. |
SI-2188 |
Nassawango
Creek (18WO23) |
Feature
1 |
Bastian
1975 |
2330 +
85;
380 B.C. |
I-6886 |
Dill Farm,
DE (7K-E-12) |
|
Griffith
1982 |
2190 +
100;
240 B.C. |
SI-2190 |
Nassawango
Creek (18WO23) |
Feature
6 |
Bastian
1975 |
2190 +
100;
240 B.C. |
SI-2189 |
Nassawango
Creek (18WO23) |
Feature
1 |
Bastian
1975 |
|
Popes
Creek |
| Date |
Corrected
Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
| 2460
+ 100;
510 B.C. |
500 B.C. |
SI-450 |
Piscataway
(18PR7) |
Pit
32-1 |
Woodward
and Phebus 1973 |
| 2440
+ 95;
490 B.C. |
590
B.C. |
I-5247 |
Lovola
Retreat (18CH58) |
Level
2 |
Handsman
and McNett 1974:4 |
| 2270
+ 95;
320 B.C. |
410
B.C. |
SI-2900 |
Abells
Wharf (18ST53) |
>1m
below Plow zone |
Maryland
Historical Trust Site Files |
| 2235
+ 100;
285 B.C. |
285
B.C. |
AA-3867 |
Chapel
Point (18CH79) |
|
Curry
and Kavanagh 1993: 35 |
|
Watson |
|
Date
|
Sample
#
|
Site
|
Feature
|
Reference
|
|
1620 + 170; A.D. 500 – 710, intercept
@ A.D. 420
|
Beta-42753
|
Mexico Farms (18AG167)
|
Feature 1a
|
Wall
1993a,
1993b
|
|
1270 + 60; A.D. 625-980; intercepts @
A.D. 720,745,760
|
Beta-51491
|
Adell, WV (46GT67)
|
|
Wall
1993a |
|
Mockley |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Sample
type |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
| 1750 +
90; A.D. 200 |
SI-449 |
Charcoal |
Piscataway
(18PR7) |
Pit 32-1 |
Woodward
and Phebus 1973 |
| 1565 +
90; A.D. 385 |
SI-2899 |
Wood |
Abells
Wharf (18ST53) |
Feature
40 |
Maryland
Historical Trust Site Files |
| 1450 +
80; A.D. 500 |
Beta-48311 |
|
Patuxent
Point (18CV271) |
|
Notes
on file MAC Lab |
| 1370 +
120; A.D. 580 |
M-1608 |
Deciduous
wood charcoal |
Luce Creek
(18AN143) |
Square
1 |
Crane
and Griffin 1966 |
| 1250 +
90; A.D. 700 |
SI-3670 |
Wood |
Rose Haven
(18AN279) |
Feature
4 |
Maryland
Historical Trust Site Files |
| 1135 +
95; A.D. 815 |
I-5247 |
|
Loyola
Retreat (18CH58) |
Zone II/III |
Maryland
Historical Trust Site Files |
| 1050 +
140; A.D. 900 |
Beta-27174 |
|
Patuxent
Point (18CV271) |
|
Notes
on file MAC Lab |
|
Clemson
Island |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Associated
Material |
Reference |
|
|
|
940 + 65; AD 1010
|
SI-6447
|
Paw Paw (18AG144)
|
Feature 3
|
Crushed Rock/Chert/ mixed temper pottery
|
Kavanagh
1984
|
|
Page |
|
Date
|
Sample #
|
Site
|
Feature
|
Reference
|
|
920 + 60; calibrated A.D. 1005 – 1250;
multiple intercepts at A.D. 1055, 1085, 1150
|
Beta-143409
|
Barton (18AG3)
|
Feature 63
|
Wall
2001
|
|
830 + 70 B.P.; calibrated A.D. 1170 -1225;
intercept at A.D. 1225
|
Beta-87251
|
Barton (18AG3)
|
Feature 16
|
Wall
2001 |
900
+ 50 B.P.; calibrated A.D. 1020 – 1250;
intercept at A.D. 1160 |
Beta-143406
|
Barton (18AG3)
|
Feature 53
|
Wall
2001 |
830
+ 60 B.P.; calibrated A.D. 1040 –1290;
intercept at A.D. 1215 |
Beta-24721
|
Sang Run (18GA22)
|
Feature 11
|
Wall 1989
|
770
+ 60; calibrated A.D. 1170 – 1300;
intercept at A.D. 1270 |
Beta- 24720
|
Sang Run (18GA22)
|
Feature 10
|
Wall
1989 |
|
950 + 45 B.P.; uncalibrated
|
SI-7024
|
Cresaptown (18AG119)
|
Feature 180
|
Wall
2001 |
|
915 + 70; uncalibrated
|
SI-7025
|
Cresaptown (18AG119)
|
Feature 259
|
Wall
2001 |
|
Shepard |
|
Date
|
Sample #
|
Site
|
Feature
|
Reference
|
|
935 + 60; A.D. 1015
|
SI-4582
|
Rosenstock (18FR18)
|
Feature 6
|
Griffith
1982
|
|
915 + 60; A.D. 1035
|
SI-3661
|
Biggs Ford (18FR14)
|
Feature 4
|
Curry
and Kavanagh 1991
|
|
615 + 60; A.D. 1335
|
SI-4579
|
Rosenstock (18FR18)
|
Feature 4
|
Griffith
1982
|
|
530 + 60; A.D. 1420
|
SI-4578
|
Rosenstock (18FR18)
|
Feature 4
|
Griffith
1982
|
|
500 + 30; A.D. 1450
|
SI-4581
|
Rosenstock (18FR18)
|
Feature 5
|
Griffith
1982
|
|
Townsend |
|
Type
|
Date
|
Sample
#
|
Site
|
Feature
|
Reference
|
|
Townsend
|
920 + 110; A.D. 1030
|
Beta-11638
|
Duck's Run (18AN546)
|
Test Pit 2, Level 3
|
Koski-Karell
and Ortiz 1986
|
|
Townsend
|
810 + 80; A.D. 1140
|
Beta-11639
|
Duck's Run (18AN546)
|
Test Pit 1A, Level 3
|
Koski-Karell
and Ortiz 1986 |
|
Townsend
|
420
+ 100; A.D. 1530 |
SI-6404
|
Locust Neck (18DO117)
|
Feature 3
|
McNamara
1985
|
|
Rappahanock Fabric Impressed
|
710
+ 80; A.D. 1180-1410;
intercept A.D. 1290 |
Beta-151237
|
Maddox Island Site (18SO240)
|
Feature 2
|
Lowery 1996; Wall 2001
|
|
Rappahannock Fabric Impressed
|
660 + 70; A.D. 1290
|
SI-6731
|
Locust Neck (18DO117)
|
Feature 16b
|
McNamara
1985 |
|
Moyaone |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
640
+ 50;
A.D. 1310 |
DIC-1768 |
White
Oak Point (44WM119) |
|
Waselkov
1982 |
640 +
50;
A.D. 1310 |
DIC-1764 |
White
Oak Point (44WM119) |
|
Waselkov
1982 |
490 +
45;
A.D. 1460 |
DIC-1766 |
White
Oak Point (44WM119) |
|
Waselkov
1982 |
|
Potomac
Creek |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Associated
Material |
Reference |
| 350 + 30;
A.D. 1520/1570/1630 |
Beta-104595 |
Potomac
Creek (44ST2) |
|
Potomac
Creek |
Blanton
et al. 1999 |
| 410 +
50; A.D. 1460 (intercept date) |
Beta-102324 |
Potomac
Creek (44ST2) |
|
Potomac
Creek |
Blanton
et al. 1999 |
| 540 +
60; A.D. 1415 (intercept date) |
Beta-102323 |
Potomac
Creek (44ST2) |
|
Potomac
Creek |
Blanton
et al. 1999 |
| 670 +
60; A.D. 1300 (intercept date) |
Beta-102325 |
Potomac
Creek (44ST2) |
|
Potomac
Creek |
Blanton
et al. 1999 |
| 375 +
90; A.D. 1575 |
Data-13560 |
IH-35 (18CH281) |
|
|
Dent
1995: 246 |
|
Keyser |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
380
+ 70; calibrated A.D. 1420 – 1660, intercept A.D.
1485 |
Beta-87249 |
Barton
(18AG3) |
17A |
Wall2001 |
| 380
+ 70; calibrated A.D. 1420 – 1660, intercept AD.
1485 |
Beta-8729 |
Barton
(18AG3) |
17A |
Wal
201 |
470
+ 60; calibrated A.D. 1400 – 1515, intercept
AD 1485 |
Beta-87248 |
Barton
(18AG3) |
34 |
Wall
2001 |
| 420
+ 60; A.D. 1530 |
Beta-49132 |
Hughes
Site (18MO1) |
Feature
45 |
Dent
and Jirikowic 1990 |
450
+ 50; .D. 1500 |
Beta-6784 |
Moore
Village (18AG43) |
Trench
B |
Posson
1983 |
| 530
+ 50; .D. 1420 |
Beta-6783 |
Moore
Village (18G43) |
Trench
A |
Pousson
1983 |
550
+ 70; A.D. 1400 |
DIC-2639 |
Moore
Village (18AG43) |
Trench
B |
Pousson
1983 |
| 580
+ 60;
A.D. 1370 |
Beta
49133 |
Hughes
Site (18MO1) |
Feature
45 |
Dent
and Jirikowic 1990 |
|
Yeocomico |
| Date |
Sample
# |
Site |
Feature |
Reference |
|
440 + 75;
A.D. 1510
|
DIC-1765
|
White Oak Point (44WM119)
|
|
Waselkov
1982
|
|
410 + 55;
A.D. 1540
|
DIC-1770
|
White Oak Point (44WM119)
|
|
Waselkov
1982 |
|
375 + 65;
A.D. 1575
|
UGa-4571
|
Cumberland (18CV171)
|
Test Pit 12, Feature 1
|
Notes on file MAC Lab
|
|
345 + 70;
A.D. 1605
|
SI-4231
|
Blue Fish Beach (44NB147)
|
|
Potter
1983
|
|
344 + 70;
A.D. 1606
|
UGa- 5580
|
Cumberland (18CV171)
|
|
Notes on file MAC Lab
|
|
320 + 55;
A.D. 1630
|
DIC-1767
|
White Oak Point (44WM119)
|
|
Waselkov
1982 |
|
305 + 70;
A.D. 1645
|
SI-4372
|
Blue Fish Beach (44NB147)
|
|
Waselkov
1982 |
|
260 + 55;
A.D. 1690
|
DIC-1762
|
White Oak Point (44WM119)
|
|
Waselkov
1982 |
|
