BCal help system: The Tutorial
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Step A12: Pooled means elicitation
A pooled mean is commonly calculated for a collection of determinations
which are known to date exactly the same archaeological event. The
radiocarbon means and associated errors are mathematically combined as
part of the calibration process to create a single estimate for the date
of that event. This is why the concept of a determination parameter
is important. A determination parameter represents a single calendar
event, regardless of the number of determinations that relate to it.
At this fishpond, all the samples give rise to only one determination
each. Consequently, we do not need to create a pooled mean, and so
"no" should remain selected for the question "Do you want to create a pooled
mean?"