Thermoluminescence dating of Scottish vitrified forts : development, evaluation and demonstration of the potential of thermoluminescence dating techniques to resolve outstanding chronological problems associated with Scottish vitrified forts
The Scottish vitrified forts form a unique assemblage of archaeological monuments exhibiting the common feature of partly melted masonry generally found in the vicinity of a ruined wall. Although they have received considerable attention from scholars since their discovery in the late eighteenth century many questions relating to origins, purpose and chronology remain unanswered. This work represents the first coherent attempt to develop and apply direct dating to vitrified rocks _ using thermoluminescence (TL) techniques to establish the time elapsed since the last heating of the sample. The technique is based on equating the thermoluminescence acquired by minerals within vitrified rocks, during the period following vitrification, to the levels of natural ionising radiation within and around the samples. Study sites were selected on the basis of a mineralogical, analytical and dosimetric survey of material from museum collections, and sampled from secure contexts using a portable diamond coring tool. Radiation dose rates to the samples were determined using a combination of thermoluminescence and low level counting methods coupled to standard microdosimetric models for specific mineral phases. A promising
Sanderson, D. C. W.
Archaeological dating methods
Thermoluminescence dating of Scottish vitrified forts : development, evaluation and demonstration of the potential of thermoluminescence dating techniques to resolve outstanding chronological problems associated with Scottish vitrified forts. The Scottish vitrified forts form a unique assemblage of archaeological monuments exhibiting the common feature of partly melted masonry generally found in the vicinity of a ruined wall. Although they have received considerable attention from scholars since their discovery in the late eighteenth century many questions relating to origins, purpose and chronology remain unanswered. This work represents the first coherent attempt to develop and apply direct dating to vitrified rocks _ using thermoluminescence (TL) techniques to establish the time elapsed since the last heating of the sample. The technique is based on equating the thermoluminescence acquired by minerals within vitrified rocks, during the period following vitrification, to the levels of natural ionising radiation within and around the samples. Study sites were selected on the basis of a mineralogical, analytical and dosimetric survey of material from museum collections, and sampled from secure contexts using a portable diamond coring tool. Radiation dose rates to the samples were determined using a combination of thermoluminescence and low level counting methods coupled to standard microdosimetric models for specific mineral phases. A promising
thermoluminescence date scottish fort development evaluation demonstration potential thermoluminescence date technique resolve outstanding chronological problem_associate scottish fort scottish fort form unique assemblage archaeological_monument exhibit common_feature partly melt masonry generally find vicinity ruin wall although receive_considerable attention_scholar since discovery many question_relate origin purpose chronology remain unanswered work represent_first coherent attempt_develop apply direct date rock use thermoluminescence techniques establish time since last sample technique base equate thermoluminescence acquire mineral within rock period follow level natural radiation within around sample study sit select basis mineralogical analytical survey material museum_collection sample secure context use portable diamond core tool radiation rate sample determine use_combination thermoluminescence low_level count method couple standard model specific mineral phase promising