Recent Applications of Luminescence Dating in Archaeology

Luminescence dating is a well-established dating technique applicable to materials exposed to either heat or light in the past, including ceramics, fired lithics, and sediments. One advantages of luminescence dating, especially for ceramics, is that it directly dates the manufacture or last use of the pottery, rather than inferring a date from association of pottery with 14C-dated organic materials. In the past two decades, the application of luminescence dating has gradually increased in archaeological studies in the U.S. Several studies using luminescence dating for ceramics and sediments have been published recently. Recognizing that luminescence dating may now be "coming of age" in archaeology, we present in this session several recent applications of luminescence dating in archaeology. The papers include studies from the American Southwest, Central and South America, Mexico and Eastern and mid-continental United States. The goal of the session is to illustrate some of the potential of luminescence dating to answer research questions in archaeology.