Annette Kadereit

Luminescence dating in archaeology, anthropology and geoarchaeology: an overview

Introduction.- Luminescence Dating Protocols and Dating Range.- Dose Rate.- Luminescence Dating of Archaeological Materials.- Luminescence-Based Authenticity Testing.- Luminescence Dating in Geomorphological and Geoarchaeological Research in Europe: Application Examples.- Meteoritic Impacts, Tsunamis.- Conclusions.

Cold Light from the Sediments of a Hot Desert: How Luminescence Dating Sheds Light on the Landscape Development of the Northeastern Atacama

Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating is essential to establish a chronometry for the reconstruction of the history of the landscape development in the Palpa-Nasca region. To achieve this, we apply both traditional techniques based on the preparation of disturbed samples and a novel, spatially resolved HR-OSL technique used for samples with their original mineral-grain structure (Greilich and Wagner, this volume). The new technique offers a great potential to access new types of sediment archives relevant to geomorphological and geoarchaeological studies.

Constraining the time of construction of the irrigation system of Tell Hujayrat al-Ghuzlan near Aqaba, Jordan, using high-resolution optically stimulated luminescence (HR-OSL) dating

Tell Hujayrat al-Ghuzlan, situated at the northern periphery of modern Aqaba in southern Jordan, is one of the most important sites in Levantine archeology spanning the transitional period from late Chalcolithic to Early Bronze Age times. Numerous stone structures spread out in the surrounding area of the prehistoric settlement were interpreted as the remains of a complex hydro-technical system constructed for water supply of the settlement, agriculture, and craft production. Although construction of the water management system in prehistoric times seems likely, this hypothesis could not be proofed, as archeological evidence is missing and direct dating of the structures is not possible with established dating techniques. But the chronological placement of the irrigation system is essential to evaluate the settlement site appropriately within a wider socioeconomic context. Therefore, here, a feasibility study was carried out to test whether it is possible to date the last exposure of the stone surfaces of the irrigation system to daylight, as expected to occur during construction or repair works. For age determination, the high-resolution optically stimulated luminescence (HR-OSL) dating technique was applied. Five samples were dated, three of them from different hydro-technical components. The HR-OSL ages represent likely man-made as well as non-intentional or natural events. In summary, the results indicate that the water management system was in use in Early Bronze Age times, thus providing a minimum age for the time of construction.

Luminescence Dating Protocols and Dating Range

Half a century after the publication of the first Thermoluminescence (TL) ages, the field of Luminescence Dating has reached a level of maturity. Both research and applications from all fields of archaeological science, from archaeological materials to anthropology and geoarchaeology, now routinely employ luminescence dating. The advent of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques and the potential for exploring a spectrum from mono-minerallic single grains to polymineral multi-aliquots enhanced the applicability, accuracy and the precision of luminescence dating. The present contribution reviews the physical basis, mechanisms and methodological aspects of luminescence dating; discusses advances in instrumentations and facilities, improvements in analytical procedures, and statistical treatment of data along with some examples of applications across continents. The case studies review the dating of heated and solar bleached archaeological material (artefacts, sediments, rocks, rock art and buildings) that cover all periods from Middle Palaeolithic to Medieval Eras and both Old and New World archaeology. They also include interdisciplinary applications that contribute to palaeo-landscape reconstruction.

Luminescence Dating of Archaeological Materials

Half a century after the publication of the first Thermoluminescence (TL) ages, the field of Luminescence Dating has reached a level of maturity. Both research and applications from all fields of archaeological science, from archaeological materials to anthropology and geoarchaeology, now routinely employ luminescence dating. The advent of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques and the potential for exploring a spectrum from mono-minerallic single grains to polymineral multi-aliquots enhanced the applicability, accuracy and the precision of luminescence dating. The present contribution reviews the physical basis, mechanisms and methodological aspects of luminescence dating; discusses advances in instrumentations and facilities, improvements in analytical procedures, and statistical treatment of data along with some examples of applications across continents. The case studies review the dating of heated and solar bleached archaeological material (artefacts, sediments, rocks, rock art and buildings) that cover all periods from Middle Palaeolithic to Medieval Eras and both Old and New World archaeology. They also include interdisciplinary applications that contribute to palaeo-landscape reconstruction.

Luminescence-Based Authenticity Testing

Half a century after the publication of the first Thermoluminescence (TL) ages, the field of Luminescence Dating has reached a level of maturity. Both research and applications from all fields of archaeological science, from archaeological materials to anthropology and geoarchaeology, now routinely employ luminescence dating. The advent of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques and the potential for exploring a spectrum from mono-minerallic single grains to polymineral multi-aliquots enhanced the applicability, accuracy and the precision of luminescence dating. The present contribution reviews the physical basis, mechanisms and methodological aspects of luminescence dating; discusses advances in instrumentations and facilities, improvements in analytical procedures, and statistical treatment of data along with some examples of applications across continents. The case studies review the dating of heated and solar bleached archaeological material (artefacts, sediments, rocks, rock art and buildings) that cover all periods from Middle Palaeolithic to Medieval Eras and both Old and New World archaeology. They also include interdisciplinary applications that contribute to palaeo-landscape reconstruction.

Meteoritic Impacts, Tsunamis

Half a century after the publication of the first Thermoluminescence (TL) ages, the field of Luminescence Dating has reached a level of maturity. Both research and applications from all fields of archaeological science, from archaeological materials to anthropology and geoarchaeology, now routinely employ luminescence dating. The advent of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques and the potential for exploring a spectrum from mono-minerallic single grains to polymineral multi-aliquots enhanced the applicability, accuracy and the precision of luminescence dating. The present contribution reviews the physical basis, mechanisms and methodological aspects of luminescence dating; discusses advances in instrumentations and facilities, improvements in analytical procedures, and statistical treatment of data along with some examples of applications across continents. The case studies review the dating of heated and solar bleached archaeological material (artefacts, sediments, rocks, rock art and buildings) that cover all periods from Middle Palaeolithic to Medieval Eras and both Old and New World archaeology. They also include interdisciplinary applications that contribute to palaeo-landscape reconstruction.

Luminescence Dating in Geomorphological and Geoarchaeological Research in Europe: Application Examples

Half a century after the publication of the first Thermoluminescence (TL) ages, the field of Luminescence Dating has reached a level of maturity. Both research and applications from all fields of archaeological science, from archaeological materials to anthropology and geoarchaeology, now routinely employ luminescence dating. The advent of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) techniques and the potential for exploring a spectrum from mono-minerallic single grains to polymineral multi-aliquots enhanced the applicability, accuracy and the precision of luminescence dating. The present contribution reviews the physical basis, mechanisms and methodological aspects of luminescence dating; discusses advances in instrumentations and facilities, improvements in analytical procedures, and statistical treatment of data along with some examples of applications across continents. The case studies review the dating of heated and solar bleached archaeological material (artefacts, sediments, rocks, rock art and buildings) that cover all periods from Middle Palaeolithic to Medieval Eras and both Old and New World archaeology. They also include interdisciplinary applications that contribute to palaeo-landscape reconstruction.