Radiocarbon Dating and the Prehistory of the Balearic Islands

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to establish an absolute chronology for the prehistoric entities and sites of the Balearic islands. We begin with the human settlement of each island and continue with the temporalities of the most important entities and materials of the Pretalayotic period: the Beaker phenomenon, megalithic tombs, artificial burial caves, naviforms, and navetas. Then we define the chronological limits of the Talayotic period, giving special attention to its internal sequence and to the chronology of its distinctive monuments -the talayots, sanctuaries, and taulas. Finally we suggest the chronological limits of the material and sites ascribed to the Post-talayotic period. The approach adopted here is based on a detailed analysis of the radiocarbon dates corresponding to the main archaeological periods mentioned above. The information potential of each date has been evaluated critically in terms of the archaeological contexts from which samples were obtained.

Prehistoric palaeodemographics and regional land cover change in eastern Iberia

“…Prehistoric demographic data is inferred from a summed probability distribution approach utilising radiocarbon dates as surrogates for population (Shennan et al, 2013). Radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites were compiled from existing online databases and electronic and print publications (Martínez et al, 1997;Manen and Sabatier, 2003;Weninger et al, 2009;Van Strydonck and de Roock, 2011;Hinz et al, 2012;Aranda Jiménez et al, 2015;Balsera et al, 2015aBalsera et al, , 2015bManning et al, 2015;Lillios et al, 2016;Oms et al, 2016;Paulsson, 2017;Vermeersch, 2017). Dates are stored in a georeferenced database following Palmisano et al (2017).…”

“…Prehistoric demographic data is inferred from an SPD approach utilising radiocarbon dates as surrogates for population (Shennan et al, 2013;Timpson et al, 2014; as specifically implemented in Bevan and Crema, 2018: modelTest, 'uncalsample'). Radiocarbon dates from archaeological sites were compiled from existing online databases and electronic and print publications (Aranda Jiménez et al, 2015;Balsera et al, 2015aBalsera et al, , 2015bHinz et al, 2012;Lillios et al, 2016;Manen and Sabatier, 2003;Manning et al, 2015;Martínez et al, 1997;Oms et al, 2016;Paulsson, 2017;Van Strydonck and De Roock, 2011;Vermeersch, 2017;Weninger et al, 2009). Dates are stored in a georeferenced database following Palmisano et al (2017).…”

The changing face of the Mediterranean – Land cover, demography and environmental change: Introduction and overview

“…Mediterranean results (particularly Aranda Jiménez et al, 2015;Balsera et al, 2015aBalsera et al, , 2015bBenz, 2017;Brami and Zanotti, 2015;CDRC, 2016;Hinz et al, 2012;Lillios et al, 2016;Manen and Sabatier, 2003;Manning et al, 2015;Martínez et al, 1997;Oms et al, 2016;ORAU, 2016;Paulsson, 2017;Reingruber & Thissen, 2005Van Strydonck and De Roock, 2011;Vermeersch, 2017;Weninger et al, 2009).…”