A Test of Mean Ceramic Dating using Well-Dated Kayenta Anasazi Sites

Abstract

Mean ceramic dating is a technique developed in historical archaeology to date Euroamerican ceramic assemblages. Previous uses of the method on prehistoric sites in the Southwest have not been conclusive because of the lack of independent dates to assess the results. Tree-ring-dated ceramic assemblages from the Kayenta Anasazi area are used to test the technique. Confidence intervals calculated from these results indicate that the mean ceramic dating is usually as accurate as, or more accurate than, radiocarbon or archaeomagnetic dating and can approach tree-ring dating in accuracy in the A.D. 1100–1300 period.