Weblinks

This chapter introduces the major methods of dating archaeological sites and materials.

4.0 Understanding dating in archaeology

Excellent overviews of dating techniques are at:

http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/archy/dating

http://anthro.palomar.edu/time/time_5.htm

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/dating/index.html

4.1 Relative dating

Relative dating involves dating something relative to something else. Ultimately it involves placing things in order. Unless artefacts actually have dates or dateable markers on them it rarely produces a definitive date but can provide a date range where other items in the sequence have been given calendar dates.

An example for south-east Europe is at:

http://www.eliznik.org.uk/EastEurope/History/history-pre.htm

USA example using clay pipes

http://www.nps.gov/archeology/afori/howfig_mar4.htm

4.2 Seriation

Seriation is explained at:

http://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/lab1-strat.htm

4.3 Obsidian hydration

Obsidian hydration is useful in areas where tools were made from volcanic glass. A simple introduction is at:

http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/dating/dat_obsid.html

The gateway site for obsidian studies is:

http://www.peak.org/obsidian/

The idea of an ‘obsidian clock’ is explored at:

http://www.ornl.gov/info/reporter/no7/clock.htm

4.4 Absolute dating or chronometric dating

This section includes methods which can be used to give a reasonably exact calendar date for a site or artefact.

A good introduction to some of these methods is at:

http://www.sciencecourseware.com/VirtualDating/

Lake Suigestsu varves project

http://www.suigetsu.org/embed.php?File

Explaining fluctuations in oxygen in the atmosphere in relation to deep sea cores:

http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Features/Paleoclimatology_OxygenBalance/oxygen_balance.php

4.5 Dendrochronology

Dendrochronology involves studying and matching tree rings to create a local sequence against which other artefacts or preserved wood can be tested.

A good explanation is at:

http://www.ltrr.arizona.edu/

Links about tree rings and trees:

http://web.utk.edu/~grissino/

4.6 Radiometric dating

Radiometric dating techniques are based on our understanding of the rates of decay of particular minerals or the rate at which materials release energy.

An excellent straightforward introduction to forms of ‘radiometric dating’ including RC and potassium argon dating:

http://anthro.palomar.edu/time/time_5.htm

4.7 Thermoluminescence dating

Thermoluminescence is best known for its application to ceramics. However, it has been used in other situations where materials (including stone) have been heated to high temperatures in the past.

http://www.rlaha.ox.ac.uk/

http://www.uic.edu/labs/ldrl/

4.8 Radiocarbon dating (RC)

Radiocarbon dating is the best known of the scientific dating methods. Good explanations are at:

http://www.rlaha.ox.ac.uk/

http://www.c14dating.com/

http://www.rlaha.ox.ac.uk/O/index.php

http://www.sciencecourseware.com/VirtualDating/files/RC0/RC_0.html

http://www.radiocarbon.org/Info/ - labs

http://www.radiocarbon.com/

http://www.radiocarbon.org/Info/#labs

http://www.radiocarbon.org/Info/#labs

The following site includes good graphics:

http://www.chrono.qub.ac.uk/Members/MBlaauw/C14decay.html

An explanation of the reservoir effect is at:

http://ethomas.web.wesleyan.edu/ees123/caiso.htm

A simple site with a test is:

http://nemo.sciencecourseware.org/VirtualDating/files/RC0/RC_0.html

4.9 Other methods

Amongst the range of other dating methods used by archaeologists are:

Uranium series dating http://www.mnsu.edu/emuseum/archaeology/dating/uranium_dating.html

Fluorine analysis http://anthro.palomar.edu/time/time_3.htm

Archaeomagnetic dating http://www.brad.ac.uk/archenvi/research/archmag/archmag.php

The end of Minoan Crete

Bronze Age collapse

Santorini Eruption

Thera Eruption

The Minoans