A normally distributed radiocarbon age in Radiocarbon Years Before Present (RCYBP) is on the y-axis. The red dot and bar symbolize the mean radiocarbon age and standard error (in this example, 2450 ± 50 RCYBP). The green area is the calibration curve; its wiggles represent variations in atmospheric radiocarbon over time. The dashed line shows the intersection of the radiocarbon age range with the calibration curve. The calibrated radiocarbon date in years cal BP is drawn (black line) on the x-axis. The true date falls somewhere in this range (approximately 2340-2750 cal BP in this example). Animation by Maarten Blaauw, Department of Archaeology and Palaeoecology, School of Natural and Built Environment, Queen's University Belfast.
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