PREHISTORIC FLINT MINES AND THEIR IDENTIFICATION AS SOURCES OF RAW MATERIAL

This paper is a statistical and geological study of the results of analysis of flint from British and West European flint mines, carried out by emission and atomic absorption spectroscopy. Groups of flint specimens were studied from each geographically separate flint mining area. Flints were analysed for a group of easily measured trace elements shown by previous work to be generally present. The ratios between the trace elements form a consistent pattern for each flint mine and statistically valid differences of pattern can be recognized between different flint mines. A geological investigation shows that the measured trace elements may be derived from clay minerals and explains geographical and statistical variation in the composition of flint in terms of its mode of origin in the chalk. An advanced statistical technique allows individual flint specimens of unknown origin to be attributed by their composition to one or other of the identified flint sources. The archaeological implications of this study are discussed.     

PROGRESS IN TL DATING AT RISÖ

This article outlines the thermoluminescent dating technique employed at Risö. The intensity of beta and gamma radiation is determined by means of the TL phosphors CaSO₄:Mn and CaSO₄:Dy, and the determination of accumulated exposure is based on quartz and feldspar inclusions with a size of 0.3–0.5 mm. Results are presented of a dating programme comprising sherds, bricks, burned stones and burned clay (from kilns) from seventeen excavation sites. The age of the sites ranged from a.d. 1600 to 4000 b.c.     

RADIOCARBON DATING BY THERMOLUMINESCENT DOSIMETRY

Work is presented that tests the possibility of performing radiocarbon dating measurements by using the thermoluminescence induced in sensitive phosphors, using existing thermoluminescence equipment. It is concluded that, for such a technique to be viable, a more specifically designed, and more elaborate, system will be necessary. Some comparative results on certain TLD phosphors are also given.     

THE USE OF NON-DESTRUCTIVE ACTIVATION ANALYSIS AND PATTERN RECOGNITION IN THE STUDY OF FLINT ARTEFACTS

A method is described for the identification of the origin of flint artefacts. The method is based on the variation in the trace element concentrations for different origins. The trace element concentrations were determined by non-destructive neutron activation analysis. The identification was obtained from a pattern recognition analysis.