The 3 Occupational Levels: an Archeological Dating Analysis

There are 3 distinct occupation levels represented in the case profile, plus the ground surface which only contains a few rubbles and the tip of the stone wall foundation. We labeled the very top layer of stratum underneath the surface, occupation 3 is; it contains the remainder of the stone wall foundation, as well as another stone wall. The most intriguing artifact, however, is the body that is buried along with 2 artifacts that appear to have had significant meaning to that person. Occupation 2 is right under 3, and its most notable and distinctive features are the postholes that were made: one empty, and one contains a pine fragment. The final occupation under that is level 1, which is the only occupation that contains hearths.

The earliest occupation, aside from the surface, is level 3. The latest occupation is level 1. This is based on the law of superposition which states that the oldest (latest) objects are found in the lower stratums while the newer (earliest) artifacts are found in the upper ones.

The objects I chose were charcoal from hearth, radiocarbon; posthole with pine fragments, dendrochronology; and the body in the burial, cementochronology. I felt as if these would give me the most accurate dates for these specific materials. Radio carbon is most accurate when dating charcoal, dendrochronology is most accurate when dating wood, and cementochronology can give you the most precise date as to the time of death of an animal.