Entity · Concept
Calibrated years before present (cal BP)
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A calendar dating convention anchored to 1950, distinct from an uncalibrated radiocarbon age.
Text
BP means before present, with 1950 as the reference year. The prefix cal identifies an age converted to the calendar by calibration. Raw radiocarbon ages need reference curves and may produce probability ranges rather than a single date.[1]
Rounded examples: 15,000 cal BP is approximately 13,000 BCE and 11,500 cal BP approximately 9500 BCE. This arithmetic applies to calibrated ages; it does not replace calibration. Retain each source’s units and ranges.[1]
References and notes
- Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit. Radiocarbon Calibration. Calibration explanation and date conventions: present = 1950; cal BP means calibrated calendar years. Raw radiocarbon ages require calibration curves. BCE examples in this article are approximate and rounded. Return to the text ↑
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IL Archive, «Calibrated years before present (cal BP)», Edition 2, https://ilarchive.com/en/entities/cal-bp