No systematic early bias to Mediterranean (super 14) C ages; radiocarbon measurements from tree-ring and air samples provide tight limits to age offsets.

Abstract

Existing data and theory do not support a recent assertion that upwelling of old carbon has led to systematically 100-300 yr too old radiocarbon ages for the Mediterranean region. Similarly, the prehistoric tree-ring record produced over 3 decades by the Aegean Dendrochronology Project is shown to provide robust, well-replicated data, contrary to a recent unfounded assertion. (super 14) C and dendrochronology provide an accurate and precise chronometric framework for the Mediterranean region.