Month: March 2025

Potassium-Argon (K-Ar) Dating – An absolute dating method that measures the decay of potassium-40 to argon-40 in volcanic rocks, useful for dating sites over 100,000 years old.

Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) Dating – Similar to TL dating, but measures when sediment grains were last exposed to sunlight.

Thermoluminescence (TL) Dating – A technique used to date ceramics, burned flint, and sediments by measuring trapped electrons released when heated.

Dendrochronology (Tree-Ring Dating) – Dating method based on analyzing the pattern of tree rings to determine the age of wooden artifacts or structures.

Radiocarbon Dating (C-14 Dating) – An absolute dating method that measures the decay of carbon-14 in organic materials to determine age (up to ~50,000 years).

Fluorine Dating – A relative dating method that measures the amount of fluorine absorbed by bones from surrounding soil.

Typology – The classification of artifacts into types based on similarities in form, function, and style.

Seriation – A relative dating method based on changes in artifact styles over time.

Stratigraphy (Dating Method) – Dating based on the principle that deeper layers in an archaeological site are older than those above them.

Absolute Dating – Methods that provide a specific date or range of years for an artifact or site.