GLOSSARY - Archaeological Chemistry - page 475

dating, archaeomagnetic A method of dating based on the study of the movement
of the magnetic north pole of the earth around the rotational north pole during
the past.
dating, chronometric See absolute dating .
dating, cross A dendrochronological procedure for matching variations in the width
of growth rings and other growth rings characteristics among trees that have grown
in the same region.
dating, electron spin resonance (esr dating) A radiometric method of dating , based
on the fact that energetic radiation causes electrons to separate from their atoms and
then become trapped in defects in the crystal lattice of minerals .
dating, fission track A radiometric dating method based on the fact that when the
isotope uranium-238 fissions there is a release of alpha particles that create damage
trails known as fission tracks through glassy materials such as obsidian and other
vitreous materials; the number of tracks is directly proportional to the time since
the material cooled from a molten state.
dating, numeric See dating, absolute .
dating, obsidian hydration A method of dating obsidian ; based on the fact that
newly formed surfaces of obsidian absorb water from the environment and pro-
gressively develop a chemically altered ( hydrated ) outer layer whose thickness is
time-dependent.
dating, oxidizable carbon ratio A new and as yet unexplored technique for dating

organic carbon in soil.
dating, potassium argon An absolute dating technique based on determining the
proportions between the amounts of the radioactive isotope potassium-40 and its
decay product, argon-40, in rocks; it is particularly important for dating rocks asso-
ciated with human remains.
dating, radiocarbon A radiometric method of dating based on the fact that the
amount of carbon-14 in the dead remains of organisms steadily decreases with
time.
dating, radiometric The common name for scientific techniques of dating based
on the known half-lives of particular radioactive isotopes , or on the rate of occur-
rence of other cumulative changes in matter resulting from radioactive decay
processes.
dating, relative The placement of ancient materials , objects, or past events on a
timescale related to that of other materials, objects, or events.
daughter isotope See isotope , daughter .
debitage Waste flakes or chunks resulting from the manufacture of lithic artifacts .
decay (1) The deterioration of material s because of their exposure to the environment
and particularly to oxidizing agents, erosion, and/or variations in temperature and
humidity—see diagenesis , weathering ; (2) see radioactive decay .
decay, alpha

See alpha decay .

decay, beta See beta decay .