Thermoluminescence screening of non‐diagnostic sherds from stream sediments to obtain a preliminary alluvial chronology: An example from Cyprus

Abstract

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.

Distribution and chronological framework for Iberian variscite mining and consumption at Pico Centeno, Encinasola, Spain

“…Thus, many profiling samples that are out of stratigraphic sequence appear to contain redeposited material from the earlier phases of activity at the site, in which the OSL signal has not been reset. Such records are still useful in the interpretation of the history of the site, even though they have been removed from their original context, in the same manner as a survey or recovery of redeposited potsherds (e.g., Deckers et al, 2005;Burbidge et al, 2014).…”

Geoarchaeological approaches to the environmental history of Cyprus: explication and critical evaluation

“…Deckers (2006) and Deckers et al (2005) have investigated several major floodplains that emanate from the western and southwestern Troodos, namely those of the Dhiarizos, Ezousas, and Stavros-tis-Psokas rivers. A range of informative sediment profiles is described, but except for two OSL dates, chronological precision is limited to the use of terminus postquem archaeological dating.…”

The Holocene fluvial history of the Tremithos river (south central Cyprus) and its linkage to archaeological records

“…15 km east of Paphos, Fig. 1) have been intensively studied (Deckers 2002(Deckers , 2003(Deckers , 2005Deckers et al 2005) particularly for the post Roman period. These studies suggested that a braided river system may have been active from ca.…”