LUMINESCENCE DATING OF COASTAL DUNES IN GEORGIA ASSOCIATED WITH ARCHAIC ARTIFACTS: SHOULD BE EXCITING. RIGHT?

Archaeological investigation as part of a Cultural Resource Management (CRM) project related to a bridge replacement was conducted in 2017 and 2018. Numerous artifacts (Late to Middle Archaic) were recovered, deeply buried within a late Holocene coastal dune. Radiocarbon ages support this observation, obtained from the limited amount of datable organic materials. Samples for luminescence dating (OSL) were equally retrieved, from sterile units, in an effort to further constrain the chronology of the occupation site.

OSL dating was performed on quartz mineral (150 – 250 µm), dispensed on a small to very-small aliquot size (2 to 1 mm diameter), and measured with a single aliquot regenerative protocol (SAR). The samples behaved well. However, some are showing peculiar scatter in their age distribution. We will attempt to shed some light on this perplexing issue.

This presentation will highlight our effort to devise a chronology with luminescence dating.