Thermoluminescence dating is a scientific method used to date materials, such as ceramics and sediments, by measuring the accumulated radiation dose in crystalline minerals since they were last heated or exposed to sunlight. This technique relies on the principle that certain minerals store energy from radioactive decay, and when heated, they release this energy in the form of light, which can be quantified to determine the last time the material was heated. This dating method is particularly valuable in archaeology for understanding the chronology of human activity and site formation processes.
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