#
Manual

- Introduction
- Licence
- Installation
- Input of information
- Analysis
- Calibration Curves
- Viewing output
- Command reference
- Program development history
- References and bibliography
- Acknowledgements

Web interface build number:
(c) Christopher Bronk Ramsey

### References

- Bronk Ramsey 1994 (first release notice)
- Bronk Ramsey 1995 (main introduction to program)
- Bronk Ramsey 1998 (approach and plans)
- Bronk Ramsey 2001 (developments 1995-2001)
- Bronk Ramsey et al. 2001 (D_Sequence method and tests of other methods)
- Bronk Ramsey 2008 (deposition models) [pre-print]
- Bronk Ramsey 2009a (new features of OxCal4)
- Bronk Ramsey 2009b (outlier analysis) [pre-print]

If you use this program, you should quote the reference for the calibration curve used, the version of OxCal (with any non-standard options set) and the reference Bronk Ramsey 2009a. If you are wiggle-matching tree-ring sequences you should quote Bronk Ramsey et al. 2001. For deposition models Bronk Ramsey 2008 should be referenced and for outlier analysis Bronk Ramsey 2009b.

## Introduction

OxCal is a program designed for the analysis of chronological information.

The capabilities of the program can be divided into two main categories:

- The calculation of probable age ranges for scientifically dated samples (through radiocarbon calibration, sapwood estimates etc.)
- The analysis of groups of events which are related either through generic groupings or through stratigraphic relationships

### Getting started

When you first call up the OxCal site you will be prompted for a username and password. If you do not already have one, press [New User] and fill in your initials, surname and email address. A password will be emailed to you. See the installation instructions for more details.

Once you have entered your email and password you will enter the main output page for OxCal with a dialogue at the left hand side for the calibration of single dates. This can be used for quick calibrations.

To use the more advanced features of the program you will need to call up the full OxCal project mananger (either from the [Projects...] button, or with the [File > Projects...] menu item).

### Program structure

The program is designed in a modular way for maximum flexibility. There are three main modules.

- The project manager is designed to help with the specification of chronological information. It is a web-based program and allows the generation of formal Chronological Query Language (CQL2) code for the analysis stage. The program allows four 'Views' of the input code three of which give a visual representation of the code and the fourth which allows the code to be directly edited. When running on a server the interface allows the code generated to be sent directly to the analysis program.
- The analysis module (OxCalWin/OxCalMac/OxCalLinux) is the core of the program. This program is a command line based program complied from C++ source code which takes the CQL2 input file and generates three output files: one text file summarising the results, one tab delimited file suitable for integration into databases or pasting into a spreadsheet and an ECMAScript (Javascript) file which contains all of the output data.
- The output module is a data presentation package for viewing the output of the analysis. It is again a web-based program and reads the ECMAScript file generated by the analysis module. The data can be presented as a table or plotted in a number of different ways. The mathematical details of the analysis are also presented both in the form of a tables of parameters and as a schematic model. This module also deals handles access to the website (logging in or out) and allows single calibrations to be entered. This module can be used on its own for single calibrations.

The project manager and output module are both part of the web interface and it is easy to swap between the two:

| - go to the output
| - go back to the input

### Warning

The Bayesian analysis part of this program provides the ability to perform calculation based on complex models. It is possible to create models which may bias your data in ways you do not intend (see, for example, Steier and Rom 2000 and comments (Bronk Ramsey 2000) on that paper). In particular the use of 'Boundaries' is very important where there are many poorly distinguished data-points. If you are unsure about your models please ask for advice, either from an experienced user of the program, or the author, or join the OxCal discussion group.

## Licence

This software is freeware - that is it can be downloaded, distributed as a whole, and used free of change.

While every effort has been made to ensure that the program works as it should, it is provided without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied. Should the program prove defective, you will assume the cost of any corrective action. In no event will any copyright holder be liable to you for damages, including any general, special, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the use or inability to use the program.

For further help or information join the OxCal discussion group or contact the author:

Christopher Bronk Ramsey
Oxford Radiocarbon Accelerator Unit
Research Lab for Archaeology
Dyson Perrins Building
South Parks Road
Oxford OX1 3QY
U.K.