6. ABSOLUTE DATING
• Gives a definite date range for an object
• It is the most precise method
• It is not reliable on all objects
• Objects can be made from materials from earlier time periods (e.g. wood
and stone)
7. ABSOLUTE DATING METHODS
• Radio-carbon dating
• Dendrochonology
• Potassium-Argon dating
• Thermoluminescence dating
• Amino-acid dating
9. DENDROCHRONOLOGY
• Traditional method for establishing absolute date
• Also calledTree Ring Dating
• Based on principle that growth rings in some species of tree reflect
seasonal and annual rainfall
• Good rainfall = large growth ring
• Low rainfall = small growth ring
• Also uses fire scars
10.
11. GROWTH RING DATA BASE
• Growth ring data collected from many trees in a specific area
• Data base of growth rings built up
• Growth rings sequences matched to data base
• Trees from the same species, growing in
the same area or environment will be exposed to
the same conditions, and hence their growth rings
will match at the point where their lifecycles
overlap.
• Absolute date determined
12. WEAKNESSESOF
DENDROCHRONOLOGY
• Some species do not have distinctive growth rings (especially in
tropical areas)
• Wood must be well preserved
• There must be an existing master strip in the data base to match
up with the wood