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Trapped Charge Dating Techniques

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A Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science

Part of the book series: Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique ((MATT))

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Abstract

Thermoluminescence (TL), optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), and electron spin resonance (ESR) are all trapped charge dating techniques. These techniques use signals arising from electrons trapped in the crystalline structure of a sample to calculate the time since the traps were empty. For TL and OSL, the population of trapped charges is measured by the amount of light emitted by electrons released from their traps. Electrons are not evicted by ESR spectrometry; the strength of the signal emitted by trapped electrons provides a measure of the population size.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Anthropology, Brandon University, Brandon, Manitoba, Canada

    Mary E. Malainey

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  1. Mary E. Malainey
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Malainey, M.E. (2011). Trapped Charge Dating Techniques. In: A Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science. Manuals in Archaeological Method, Theory and Technique. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4419-5704-7_10

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