Fluvial deposits and landforms are important archives of river response to climate, tectonics and base level change and are commonly associated with archaeological sites. Unlike radiocarbon dating, the target material for optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) dating (sands and silts) is nearly ubiquitous in fluvial deposits and the age range for OSL spans the last glacial–interglacial cycle, a time period of interest to many Quaternary scientists. Recent advances in OSL techniques and the development of single-grain dating capabilities have now allowed fluvial deposits, and other deposits commonly afflicted with incomplete zeroing of the luminescence signal, to be dated. The application of OSL dating to fluvial deposits is discussed with respect to its potential to provide important contributions to research in the fields of geomorphology, palaeoseismology and archaeology. Examples are given from each research field.
Article
Luminescence dating of fluvial deposits: applications to geomorphic, palaeoseismic and archaeological research
Boreas
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2008
Disciplines
Abstract
Citation Information
Rittenour, T.M., 2008, Luminescence dating of fluvial deposits: applications to geomorphic, palaeoseismic and archaeological research. Boreas, v. 37, p. 613-635. (IF= 2.989)
Invited review paper for a special issue of Boreas that dealt with latest advances in luminescence dating. Invitation to publish this paper represents my stature as a specialist in luminescence dating of fluvial deposits within the community and was a great honor as a young researcher.