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Thermoluminescence screening of non‐diagnostic sherds from stream sediments to obtain a preliminary alluvial chronology: An example from Cyprus
Author(s) -
Deckers Katleen,
Sanderson David C.W.,
Spencer Joel Q.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
geoarchaeology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.696
H-Index - 44
eISSN - 1520-6548
pISSN - 0883-6353
DOI - 10.1002/gea.20033
Subject(s) - thermoluminescence dating , alluvium , fluvial , chronology , geology , thermoluminescence , deposition (geology) , sediment , archaeology , paleontology , geography , luminescence , materials science , optoelectronics , structural basin
In this paper, simple thermoluminescence (TL) dating procedures utilizing non‐diagnostic sherds from fluvial deposits are described. This approach may provide preliminary insights into the chronology of fluvial sequences in areas where transported ceramics are common, but alluvial chronologies are not well developed. Our method deviates from conventional TL‐ dating methods in that simple screening measurements are made from small, heavily abraded sherds, and dose rates are estimated rather than being measured from each sample. This results in rapid and inexpensive laboratory measurements, which can be used to support field surveys. The limitations in precision and accuracy relative to quantitative luminescence procedures are discussed. It is argued that the results can be used to estimate an approximate maximum age of alluvial deposition events. The approach is illustrated with results from a geoarchaeological survey in Cyprus. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.