ARCHAEOLOGICAL RADIOCARBON DATES FOR STUDYING THE POPULATION HISTORY IN EASTERN FENNOSCANDIA

In this work, archaeological radiocarbon data gathered from eastern Fennoscandia have been scrutinized to discuss their suitability for studies of population history. The temporal distribution of the archaeological (14)C dates has been analyzed against possible research priorities and sample material deterioration. An outstanding Stone Age maximum has been observed in practically all the displayed temporal date distributions. The pattern remains the same throughout the history of (14)C dating in Finland. Due to sample material differences, equal taphonomic corrections based on (14)C-dated volcanic deposits cannot account for all the sample degradation effects; therefore, material-dependent correction procedures are suggested.