Description

The age of the Catharinakerk, burial mounds and storm tide deposits determined with luminescence dating

Innovative dating method contributes to the archaeological research at the Catharinakerk in Eindhoven and opens many other perspectives.

In this presentation, Jakob Wallinga, director of the Netherlands Centre for Luminescence Dating and researcher at TUDelft, talks about the technique of luminescence dating and especially its application possibilities. The research to determine the construction phases of the Catharinakerk in Einhoven will certainly be highlighted. Our region's introduction to this excavation project in 2006 focused on the history of Eindhoven. A presentation on human DNA research followed later in 2008. Now the focus will be on accurately determining time.

Luminescence dating offers earth scientists and archaeologists the opportunity to determine the age of sediment, pottery and brick. The clock in luminescence dating is the amount of trapped charge of electrons in the crystalline structure of minerals; this clock runs in the dark because natural radioactivity from the environment causes charge carriers to be trapped. If the mineral is heated (pottery) or exposed to sunlight (sediment), the clock resets to zero. Measurements take place in sparsely lit laboratories reminiscent of the old darkroom for photography. However, the method is based on highly sophisticated radiation detection. Before measurement, the crystals are shone with light, allowing the trapped charge to escape and emit a small light signal in a different wavelength. This phenomenon is called luminescence. The brightness of this signal is a measure of the age of the sample examined.

In addition to the archaeological research in Eindhoven, results of a recent investigation of a Bronze Age burial mound near Oss are also discussed. In addition, ongoing research on dating storm layers in the Western Dutch dunes is discussed. The aim of this research is to gain more insight into the recurrence times of extremely high water levels along the coast. Finally, the researcher will discuss his thoughts on the latest developments.

Speaker(s)

Dr Jakob Wallinga, Netherlands Centre for Luminescence Dating, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Delft University of Technology.

SPECIES
Maximum number of participants: 40

Location

Hall centre Prinsenhof, Hoofdstraat 43 , Best

Organiser

Region South

Name and contact details for information

Further information from Drs ing Cor van den Bosch, tel: 0499-330044 (p) / 0032- 473955987 (z).