ABSTRACT
In the 20th century, nuclear physics has given scientists new and unique methods for dating materials on the basis of their isotope content. Nuclear physics has provided archeology with what is essentially an absolute and world-wide chronological framework—dating on the basis of the radiocarbon method. The basic assumption on which radiocarbon dating depends is that the ratio of 14C/12C in the atmosphere, and hence in living organic matter, has remained constant throughout the period under consideration. A series of test programs, using pottery whose age is known from either radiocarbon dating or historical records, have established that the principles on which thermoluminescent dating is based are essentially valid. In spite of rather limited accuracy, the thermoluminescent method should be extremely valuable both in supplementing radiocarbon dating and in providing further data on the differences between radiocarbon and true calendar ages.
