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On Dating Archaeological Sites Evidencing Ferrous Metallurgy in the Southeastern Altai, based on Radiocarbon and Dendrochronological Analyses of Charcoal
https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.2.089-098
Abstract
This study examines the use of charcoal for dating iron-smelting furnaces in the southeastern Altai. Problems with using radiocarbon analysis in this case are connected with the accuracy of assessing the calendar age. Another important reason why the age of furnaces is overestimated is the “old wood” effect. This effect cannot be avoided by making radiocarbon dating of thin tree trunks (branches) from slag or by using the youngest radiocarbon dates of samples from a single archaeological context. In the case of dendrochronological analysis, considering the age trend in individual series is also not a reliable criterion for determining closeness to the bark due to the long lifespan of trees in the southeastern Altai. Currently, the only way to avoid the “old wood” effect is to date samples with preserved bark, which are quite rare. Results of dendrochronological analysis demonstrate that conclusions drawn from the earliest dates for the same furnace are unreliable. Long tree-ring chronologies based on archaeological charcoal are more prospective for dating ferrous metallurgy sites in the region. The use of dendrochronological analysis minimizes the difficulties with interpreting radiocarbon dates.
Keywords
Iron-smelting furnaces,
archaeological charcoal,
radiocarbon analysis,
Bayesian modeling,
dendrochronology,
southeastern Altai
Supporting agencies: This study was carried out under the state assignment of the Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy SB RAS No. 122041400214-9.
About the Authors
R. K. Nepop
Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Yeltsin Ural Federal University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Nepop R.K., Senior Researcher
Pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090; Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620062
A. R. Agatova
Sobolev Institute of Geology and Mineralogy, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Yeltsin Ural Federal University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Agatova A.R., Senior Researcher
Pr. Akademika Koptyuga 3, Novosibirsk, 630090; Mira 19, Yekaterinburg, 620062
V. S. Myglan
Siberian Federal University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Myglan V.S., Leading Researcher
Pr. Svobodny 79, Krasnoyarsk, 660041
V. V. Barinov
Siberian Federal University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Barinov V.V., Senior Researcher
Pr. Svobodny 79, Krasnoyarsk, 660041
M. O. Filatova
Institute of Archaeology and Ethnography, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Filatova M.O., Senior Researcher
Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 17, Novosibirsk, 630090
A. V. Petrozhitskiy
Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics, Siberian Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences; Novosibirsk State University
Russian Federation
Russian Federation
Petrozhitskiy A.V., Researcher; Engineer
Pr. Akademika Lavrentieva 11, Novosibirsk, 630090; Pirogova 2, Novosibirsk, 630090
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Review
For citations:
Nepop R.K., Agatova A.R., Myglan V.S., Barinov V.V., Filatova M.O., Petrozhitskiy A.V. On Dating Archaeological Sites Evidencing Ferrous Metallurgy in the Southeastern Altai, based on Radiocarbon and Dendrochronological Analyses of Charcoal. Archaeology, Ethnology & Anthropology of Eurasia. 2025;53(2):89-98. https://doi.org/10.17746/1563-0110.2025.53.2.089-098
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