This paper examines how ancient DNA data can enhance radiocarbon dating. Because there is a limit to the number of years that can separate the dates of death of related individuals, the ability to identify relatives through ancient DNA analysis can serve as a constraint on radiocarbon date range estimates. To determine the number of years that can separate related individuals, we modeled maximums derived from biological extremes of human reproduction and death ages and compiled data from historic and genealogical death records. We used these data to jointly study the date ranges of a global dataset of individuals that have been radiocarbon dated and for which ancient DNA analysis identified at least one relative. We found that many of these individuals could have their date uncertainties reduced by building in date of death separation constraints. We examined possible reasons for date discrepancies of related individuals, such as dating of different skeletal elements or wiggles in the radiocarbon curve. We also developed a program, refinedate, which researchers can download and use to help refine the radiocarbon date distributions of related individuals. Our research demonstrates that when combined, radiocarbon dating and ancient DNA analysis can provide a refined and richer view of the past.

本文研究了古代 DNA 数据如何增强放射性碳测年。由于可以将相关个体的死亡日期分开的年数是有限的，因此通过古代 DNA 分析识别亲属的能力可以作为对放射性碳日期范围估计的限制。为了确定可以将相关个体分开的年数，我们对源自人类生殖和死亡年龄的生物学极端值的最大值进行了建模，并从历史和家谱死亡记录中汇编了数据。我们使用这些数据共同研究了一个全球数据集的日期范围，这些数据集已经过放射性碳年代测定，并且古代 DNA 分析至少确定了一个亲属。我们发现，这些人中的许多人可以通过建立死亡分离日期限制来减少他们的日期不确定性。我们检查了相关个体日期差异的可能原因，例如不同骨骼元素的日期或放射性碳曲线中的摆动。我们还开发了一个程序，精炼，研究人员可以下载并使用它来帮助精炼相关个体的放射性碳日期分布。我们的研究表明，当结合使用放射性碳测年和古代 DNA 分析时，可以提供对过去的精致和更丰富的看法。