Dating the Paleolithic: Trapped charge methods and amino acid geochronology

TY - JOUR

T1 - Dating the Paleolithic

T2 - Trapped charge methods and amino acid geochronology

AU - Penkman, Kirsty E.H.

AU - Duller, Geoff A.T.

AU - Roberts, Helen M.

AU - Colarossi, Debra

AU - Dickinson, Marc R.

AU - White, Dustin

N1 - © 2022 the Author(s)

PY - 2022/10/25

Y1 - 2022/10/25

N2 - Despite the vast array of different geochronological tools available, dating the Paleolithic remains one of the discipline's greatest challenges. This review focuses on two different dating approaches: trapped charge and amino acid geochronology. While differing in their fundamental principles, both exploit time-dependent changes in signals found within crystals to generate a chronology for the material dated and hence, the associated deposits. Within each method, there is a diverse range of signals that can be analyzed, each covering different time ranges, applicable to different materials and suitable for different paleoenvironmental and archaeological contexts. This multiplicity of signals can at first sight appear confusing, but it is a fundamental strength of the techniques, allowing internal checks for consistency and providing more information than simply a chronology. For each technique, we present an overview of the basis for the time-dependent signals and the types of material that can be analyzed, with examples of their archaeological application, as well as their future potential.

AB - Despite the vast array of different geochronological tools available, dating the Paleolithic remains one of the discipline's greatest challenges. This review focuses on two different dating approaches: trapped charge and amino acid geochronology. While differing in their fundamental principles, both exploit time-dependent changes in signals found within crystals to generate a chronology for the material dated and hence, the associated deposits. Within each method, there is a diverse range of signals that can be analyzed, each covering different time ranges, applicable to different materials and suitable for different paleoenvironmental and archaeological contexts. This multiplicity of signals can at first sight appear confusing, but it is a fundamental strength of the techniques, allowing internal checks for consistency and providing more information than simply a chronology. For each technique, we present an overview of the basis for the time-dependent signals and the types of material that can be analyzed, with examples of their archaeological application, as well as their future potential.

KW - electron spin resonance

KW - luminescence

KW - Quaternary

KW - racemization

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85140271822&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1073/pnas.2109324119

DO - 10.1073/pnas.2109324119

M3 - Review article

C2 - 36252044

AN - SCOPUS:85140271822

SN - 0027-8424

VL - 119

JO - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

JF - Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

IS - 43

M1 - e2109324119

ER -