How Do Archaeologists Count Backward Using BP

The initials BP (or bp and rarely B.P.),  when placed after a number (as in 2500 BP), means years Before the Present. Archaeologists and geologists generally use this abbreviation to refer to dates that were obtained through the radiocarbon dating technology. While BP is also used generally as an imprecise estimate of an age of an object or event, the use of it in science was made necessary by the quirks of the radiocarbon methodology. Radiocarbons Effects Radiocarbon dating was invented in the late 1940s, and within a few decades, it was discovered that while the dates retrieved from the method have a sound, repeatable progression, they are not a one-to-one match with calendar years. Most importantly, researchers discovered that radiocarbon dates are affected by the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, which has fluctuated greatly in the past for both natural and human-caused reasons (such as the invention of iron smelting, the Industrial Revolution, and the invention of the combustion engine). Tree rings, which keep a record of the amount of carbon in the atmosphere when they are created, are used to calibrate or fine-tune radiocarbon dates to their calendar dates. Scholars use the science of dendrochronology, which matches those annular rings to known carbon fluctuations. That methodology has been refined and improved several times over the last few years. BP was first established as a way to clarify the relationship between calendar years and radiocarbon dates. Advantages and Disadvantages One advantage to using BP is it avoids the occasionally irate philosophical debate about whether, in this multicultural world of ours, it is more appropriate to use AD  and BC, with their explicit references to Christianity, or to use the same calendar but without the explicit references: CE (Common Era) and BCE (Before the Common Era). The problem is, of course, that CE and BCE still use the estimated date of the birth of Christ as the reference points for its numbering system: the two years 1 BCE and 1 CE are numerically equivalent to 1 BC and 1 AD. However, a major disadvantage of using BP is that the present year, of course, changes every twelve months. If it was a simple matter of counting backward, what was accurately measured and published as 500 BP today in fifty years would be 550 BP. We need a fixed point in time as a starting point so that all the BP dates are equivalent no matter when they are published. Since the BP designation was originally associated with radiocarbon dating, archaeologists chose the year 1950 as a reference point for the present. That date was chosen because radiocarbon dating was invented in the late 1940s. At the same time, atmospheric nuclear testing, which throws huge amounts of carbon into our atmosphere, was begun in the 1940s. Radiocarbon dates after 1950 are virtually useless  unless and until we can figure out a way to calibrate for the excessive amount of carbon still being deposited in our atmosphere. Nonetheless, 1950 is a long time ago now—should we adjust the starting point to 2000? No, the same problem would have to be addressed again in the coming years. Scholars now typically cite both raw, uncalibrated radiocarbon dates as years RCYBP (radiocarbon years before the present as 1950), alongside calibrated versions of those dates as cal BP, cal AD and cal BC (calibrated or calendar years BP, AD, and BC). That probably seems excessive, but it will always be useful to have a stable starting point in the past to hook our dates on, despite the outmoded religious underpinnings of our modern, multiculturally-shared calendar. So, when you see 2000 cal BP, think 2000 years before the calendar year 1950 or what calculates to the calendar year 50 BCE. No matter when that date is published, it will always mean that.   Thermoluminescence Dating Thermolumiscence dating, on the other hand, has a unique situation. Unlike radiocarbon dates, TL dates are calculated in straight calendar years—and the dates measured range from a few years to hundreds of thousands of years. It might not matter if a 100,000-year-old luminescence date was measured in 1990 or 2010. But scholars still need a starting point, because, for a TL date of 500 years ago, even 50 years difference would be an important distinction. So, how do you record that? Current practice is to quote the age along with the date it was measured, but other options are being considered. Among those are using 1950 as a reference point; or better still, use 2000, cited in the literature as b2k, to segregate it out from radiocarbon dating. A TL date of 2500 b2k would be 2,500 years before 2000, or 500 BCE.   Long after the Gregorian calendar was established throughout most of the world, atomic clocks have allowed us to adjust our modern calendars with leap seconds to correct for the slowing spin of our planet and other corrections. But, perhaps the most interesting outcome of all this investigation is the wide variety of modern mathematicians and programmers who have taken a crack at perfecting the matches between ancient calendars using modern technology. Other Common Calendar Designations A.D. (Anno Domini, Year of Our Lord, dating from the birth of Jesus Christ, Christian calendar)A.H. (Anno Hegira, Year of the Journey in Latin, dating from Mohammads journey to Mecca, Islamic calendar)A.M. (rarely used, but meaning Anno Mundi, Year of the World, dating from the calculated date of the worlds creation, Hebrew calendar)B.C. Before Christ, (before his birth, Christian calendar)B.C.E. (Before the Common Era, Western revised Christian calendar)C.E. (Common Era, Western revised Christian calendar)RCYBP (RadioCarbon Years Before the Present, scientific nomenclature)cal BP (Calibrated or Calendar years Before the Present, scientific nomenclature) Sources: Duller GAT. 2011. What date is it? Should there be an agreed datum for luminescence ages? Ancient TL 29(1).Peters JD. 2009. Calendar, clock, tower. MIT6 Stone and Papyrus: Storage and Transmission . Cambridge: Massachusetts Institute of Technology.Reimer PJ, Bard E, Bayliss A, Beck JW, Blackwell PG, Bronk Ramsey C, Buck CE, Cheng H, Edwards RL, Friedrich M et al. 2013. IntCal13 and Marine13 Radiocarbon Age Calibration Curves 0–50,000 Years cal BP. Radiocarbon 55(4):1869–1887.Taylor T. 2008. Prehistory vs. Archaeology: Terms of Engagement. Journal of World Prehistory 21:1–18.

The Protection and Welfare of Children - 1271 Words

Preface One of the greatest responsibilities of society in general and government officials particularly is the protection of children. All too often, various factors in families create a lack of safety and well-being for children. For this reason, entities such as the Mission of the Massachusetts Department of Children and Families exist to create safety, permanency, and well being for children, especially after they have suffered from trauma incidents within the family. New child welfare practices included in the Department are child-driven, family centered, community focused, strengths-based, committed to diversity and committed to continuous learning and innovation. By focusing on these ideals, each individual within the Department is focused on creating the best possible for all children making use of its services. Hence, the Department works to promote its vision, which is the safety of children in a way that can provide the best possible hope of creating a sustained and resilient network of relationships, which would support growth and development for the child and create a good platform for an effective adulthood. Specific services include foster care, residential placement, child care services, adoption services, and services focusing on help for households where domestic violence, abuse or neglect are present. Adolescent services and home based services for the education and support of families are also present. My role within the Department is asShow MoreRelatedAn Analytical Comparison Between England And Florida s Child Protection1619 Words   |  7 Pagespart of the world. This assignment will begin by defining child protection. This will lead to an analytical comparison between England and Florida’s child protection approaches, structure of the system and possible practice issues. 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A Day of Many Events Free Essays

The day I was born, April 28, 1982 was a day of love, business and learning. While the (insert surname) family is happily waiting for the love child of (name of your parents), series of events was also happening. It was a day filled with many activities and a day of expectations. We will write a custom essay sample on A Day of Many Events or any similar topic only for you Order Now In Federal Agencies, reports were made from the Education Week about the public hearings on bilingual education. This happened on the day I was born, April 28, 1982, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., in the El Fauno Room of the Condado Beach Hotel, San Juan, Puerto Rico (Education Week). Meanwhile, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration released reports involving the astronauts Robert L. Gibson and Rhea Seddon about the good news of expecting the birth of their first child. It was indeed a much anticipated moment for the couple to have a baby of their own (Lawrence). World Bank History also made one historical event on the day I was born. The IFC (International Finance Corp.) and IDA (International Development Association) Articles of Agreement were signed by Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island nation. The small country became IFC’s 122nd member and IDA’s 130th member. It was a huge leap towards developing funds for the world (World Bank). Clearly, on the day when my mother gave birth to me, there were many events that occurred in history. It was a day of hope for the education system when public hearings were conducted for the proposed Bilingual Education System. It was also a day of happiness and expectation for an astronaut couple. It was also an important day in the history of World Bank, when Saint Lucia joined IFC and IDA. Meanwhile, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, my parents were happily expecting a special gift—they were excited to see one bouncing baby who will add happiness to our family. Indeed, April 28, 1982 was a day of hope, excitement, and fulfillment for my family and for the world. Works Cited Name of your mother, Personal Interview. 2 April 2008. â€Å"This Week in World Bank History: April 28 – May 4† 2008.† The World Bank Archives. Worldbank. April 2008   http://web.worldbank.org/WBSITE/EXTERNAL/EXTABOUTUS/EXTARCHIVES/ 0,,contentMDK:21672251~pagePK:36726~piPK:437378~theSitePK:29506,00.html â€Å"In Federal Agencies.† Education Week. Edweek. 28 April 1982. 5 April 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/1982/04/28/02230095.h01.html Lawrence, John. â€Å"Expectant Astronauts.† 1981-1983 NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration) News. NASA. 28 April 1982. 5 April 2008   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚   http://www.nasa.gov/centers/johnson/pdf/83134main_1982.pdf How to cite A Day of Many Events, Essay examples