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
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
SN - 0027-8424
IS - 43
M1 - e2109324119
ER -