Thermoluminescence dating is a scientific method used to determine the age of ancient materials, particularly ceramics and sediment, by measuring the light emitted when a sample is heated. This technique relies on the accumulation of trapped electrons in crystalline structures that have been buried and exposed to heat or sunlight. By heating the sample, the trapped electrons are released as light, which can be quantified to establish when the material was last exposed to sufficient heat or light, making it an essential tool in archaeological dating and stratigraphy.
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