Evaluating measurement uncertainty in amino acid racemization analysis : towards a new chronology
Unlike other Quaternary dating methods, amino acid racemization (AAR) geochronology has the potential to provide age estimates that span the entire Quaternary period, a crucial period for understanding past climate change and human evolution. It has become a critical technique for Quaternary Science and uses the time/temperature dependent kinetics of protein decomposition to provide relative age estimates of fossil samples. The accuracy of age estimates relies heavily on the accuracy of analytical data and accurate determinations of uncertainty estimates. This thesis takes internationally established principles of measurement uncertainty determination and applies them to AAR. Analytical uncertainty is considered in the context of intra- and inter-laboratory measurement results. A retrospective evaluation of intra-laboratory precision using ANOVA is given, and results from an inter-laboratory proficiency study, evaluated as estimates of bias, are summarised (paper submitted). The final sections look at uncertainty from existing archaeological site data, including sampling effects. A model is proposed that utilises decomposition correlations between amino acids to provide a priori uncertainty estimates. These
Powell, Joanne
Evaluating measurement uncertainty in amino acid racemization analysis : towards a new chronology. Unlike other Quaternary dating methods, amino acid racemization (AAR) geochronology has the potential to provide age estimates that span the entire Quaternary period, a crucial period for understanding past climate change and human evolution. It has become a critical technique for Quaternary Science and uses the time/temperature dependent kinetics of protein decomposition to provide relative age estimates of fossil samples. The accuracy of age estimates relies heavily on the accuracy of analytical data and accurate determinations of uncertainty estimates. This thesis takes internationally established principles of measurement uncertainty determination and applies them to AAR. Analytical uncertainty is considered in the context of intra- and inter-laboratory measurement results. A retrospective evaluation of intra-laboratory precision using ANOVA is given, and results from an inter-laboratory proficiency study, evaluated as estimates of bias, are summarised (paper submitted). The final sections look at uncertainty from existing archaeological site data, including sampling effects. A model is proposed that utilises decomposition correlations between amino acids to provide a priori uncertainty estimates. These
evaluating measurement uncertainty amino_acid analysis towards new_chronology unlike quaternary date_method amino_acid potential provide age estimate span entire quaternary period crucial_period past climate_change human evolution become critical technique quaternary science use time temperature dependent protein decomposition provide relative age estimate fossil sample accuracy age estimate relies heavily accuracy analytical data accurate determination uncertainty estimate take internationally establish principle measurement uncertainty determination applies analytical uncertainty consider context intra__inter laboratory measurement result retrospective evaluation intra laboratory precision use give inter laboratory proficiency study evaluate estimate bias summarise paper submit final_section look uncertainty exist archaeological_site data include sample effect model_propose utilises decomposition correlation amino_acid provide priori uncertainty estimate