OSL dating and lithological characteristics of loess deposits from Biały Kościół

Absolute dating using luminescence methods is widely applicable in geology, geomorphology, palaeogeography and in archaeology in establishing ages of sediments and archaeological artefacts. By creating absolute time scales for different events in the history of Earth scientists are able to reconstruct changes in climate and environment in the past, and the history of colonization and development of culture.     

Quantification of slag heap volumes and masses through the use of induced polarization: application to the Castel-Minier site

When used for archaeological purposes, geophysical methods are often useful for the exploration, detection and mapping of archaeological remains. In the case of ancient metallurgical activities, slag accumulations form precious mineral records of these activities. Evaluating the volume of slag produced in such locations is an important issue, since it enables an estimate of the amount of metal produced in the smeltery. Unfortunately, slags themselves cannot be easily detected by DC electrical methods. Although they can be easily detected using magnetic techniques, these methods do not allow for an estimate of the quantity of slag, because magnetic fields do not conserve magnetic flux. In the present study we show that the Induced Polarization method (IP) is suited to the quantification of buried slags, provided the slag response has been suitably calibrated prior to the field measurements. The ability to quantify the quantity of slag is based on the quasi-linear relationship between the main IP parameter, i.e., the chargeability, and the slag concentration. This approach provides a new, non-invasive tool for the estimation of the volume of buried slag in palaeometallurgical sites.In this paper, an application of this technique for the site of Castel-Minier, Ariège, France, is presented.