Radiochemical Dating Methods in Archaeology – The Shroud of Turin and More
Sponsored by AIA Ottawa and the Canadian Institute in Greece
AIA Society Event: Ottawa, ON
Tuesday, October 19, 2010 - 7:30pm - 10:30pm
Location:
Auditorium, Library and Archives Canada
395 Wellington St
Ottawa, ON
Canada
Lecturer: Don Wiles, Professor Emeritus, Carleton University
Abstract:
The speaker will describe several technical methods for dating of ancient objects and will discuss which of these may be applied to archaeological artifacts and which are not useful. A number of these methods involve radioactive atoms. Carbon14 dating is one obvious candidate, but potassium-argon is not. The question is “Why not?’ Similarly, fission-track dating is not useful, but thermoluminescence can often be used. Again the question: “Why?” The famous case of The Shroud of Turin and other relevant examples will be discussed.