Archaeometry - Archaeomagnetic And Paleomagnetic Dating, Dendrochronology, Fission-track Dating, Lithics, Luminescence Dating, Metals Analysis
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Archaeometry is the analysis of archeological materials using analytical techniques borrowed from the physical sciences and engineering. Examples include trace element analysis to determine the source of obsidian used to manufacture arrowheads, and chemical analysis of the growth rings of fossilized sea shells to determine seasonal variations in local temperature over time.
Modern archaeometry began with the discovery of radiocarbon dating in the 1950s. Today, artifact analyses use excavation techniques, remote sensing, and dating methods that all draw on archaeometry.
Archaeometricians are currently using sophisticated computer techniques to handle the masses of data this field continues to generate.
Additional Topics
Because shifts in the molten core of the planet cause Earth's magnetic field to vary, and because this causes our planet's magnetic North Pole to change position over time, magnetic alignments in archeological specimens can be used to date specimens. In paleomagnetism, rocks are dated based on the occurrence of reversal's in Earth's magnetic poles. These types of pole r…
Dendrochronology is the extraction of chronological and environmental information from the annual growth rings of trees. This technique uses well established tree ring sequences to date events. Reconstruction of environmental occurrences, droughts for example, which took place when the trees were growing, is also possible based on traits such as changes in tree ring thickness. Tree-ring dating all…
In paleobotany, the remains of plants recovered from prehistoric soil deposits are analyzed to determine the species of plants that were present, the parts of the plant used, the time of year they were collected, and genetic changes in the plant species over time. In order to use this technique, the paleobotanist must have access to a complete reference collection indicating the changes in a plant…
Radiocarbon dating allows archeologists to date materials, formed between 300 and 40-50,000 years ago, that contain organic carbon. Carbon 14 is a naturally occurring radioisotope of ordinary carbon (carbon-12) that is created in the upper atmosphere when carbon-12 is bombarded by cosmic rays. On Earth, living organisms metabolize carbon 14 in the same percentage that it exists in the atmosphere. …
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