Our new issue of Radiocarbon contains a number of interesting papers on diverse subjects. The first two papers delve into the intricacies and problems of interpretation using Bayesian statistics, which is still controversial. This method is used to try to gain the maximum information from a series of radiocarbon dates using prior information about a distribution of results. We then have a traditional archaeological paper, even including a date list. Also, the group from Woods Hole reports on

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... empts to isolate and date individual compounds and their dating by AMS. The remainder of the papers in this issue highlight different applications of radiocarbon dating-to the Quaternary, groundwater, recent coral records, reservoir ages, mammoth bones, and AMS measurements of atmospheric particulates. Some technical comments round out this issue. The diversity of topics discussed in this issue mimics the wide range of topics presented at the recent 17th International Radiocarbon Conference in Israel. This meeting was ably organized by Israel Carmi and Elisabetta Boaretto. The meeting showed how important radiocarbon and other radionuclide measurements are to environmental, archaeological, and paleoclimate studies. Many of these fields are growing in importance. Next summer, two issues of Radiocarbon will be devoted to papers resulting from this conference. The conference allowed attendees not only to listen to many original presentations and new applications, but to see Near-Eastern archaeology up close and personal (see below). We saw the Wailing Wall and had an exciting field trip to the Dead Sea, where I got a new view of my colleagues covered in some black mud. We also visited the impressive fortress of Masada. A banquet that evening in the desert near Masada was an experience, and quite different from a similar experience in Arizona. We all look forward to visiting New Zealand in 2003 for the next Radiocarbon Conference. available at https://www.cambridge.org/core/terms. https://doi.