Thermoluminescence Dating

In archaeology, thermoluminescence is used to estimate the number of years since an artifact or feature made of geological sediment was last exposed to heat. Many types of archaeological samples are datable by thermoluminescence. By dividing the amount of ionizing radiation accumulated over time in a sample, called the equivalent dose, by the total environmental dose rate from alpha, beta, gamma, and cosmic particles, a luminescence specialist calculates its thermoluminescence age.