T285 Examining Big Questions or Paradigms with Geochronology

Wednesday, 7 November 2018
1:30 PM - 5:30 PM
Room 136-137

LUMINESCENCE DATING OF COASTAL DUNES IN GEORGIA ASSOCIATED WITH ARCHAIC ARTIFACTS: SHOULD BE EXCITING. RIGHT?

Paper number: T285-11
Program: Technical Sessions
Time: 4:15 PM – 4:30 PM

Authors

Abstract

Archaeological investigation as part of a Cultural Resource Management (CRM) project related to a bridge replacement was conducted in 2017 and 2018. Numerous artifacts (Late to Middle Archaic) were recovered, deeply buried within a late Holocene coastal dune. Radiocarbon ages support this observation, obtained from the limited amount of datable organic materials. Samples for luminescence dating (OSL) were equally retrieved, from sterile units, in an effort to further constrain the chronology of the occupation site.

OSL dating was performed on quartz mineral (150 – 250 µm), dispensed on a small to very-small aliquot size (2 to 1 mm diameter), and measured with a single aliquot regenerative protocol (SAR). The samples behaved well. However, some are showing peculiar scatter in their age distribution. We will attempt to shed some light on this perplexing issue.

This presentation will highlight our effort to devise a chronology with luminescence dating.

Geological Society of America Abstracts with Programs. Vol. 50, No. 6

doi: 10.1130/abs/2018AM-321440

© Copyright 2018 The Geological Society of America (GSA), all rights reserved. Permission is hereby granted to the author(s) of this abstract to reproduce and distribute it freely, for noncommercial purposes. Permission is hereby granted to any individual scientist to download a single copy of this electronic file and reproduce up to 20 paper copies for noncommercial purposes advancing science and education, including classroom use, providing all reproductions include the complete content shown here, including the author information. All other forms of reproduction and/or transmittal are prohibited without written permission from GSA Copyright Permissions.