Module Identifier GG32510  
Module Title QUATERNARY DATING METHODS  
Academic Year 2006/2007  
Co-ordinator Professor Geoff Duller  
Semester Intended for use in future years  
Next year offered N/A  
Next semester offered N/A  
Other staff Dr Aled P Rowlands, Professor Geoff Duller  
Course delivery Lecture   20 Hours. 10 x 2 hours  
  Seminars / Tutorials   2 Hours. 1 x 2 hours  
Assessment
Assessment TypeAssessment Length/DetailsProportion
Semester Exam2 Hours Resit has same format. Unseen written exam. Answer two questions from four in two hours.100%

Learning outcomes

By the end of the module, students will have :-


Aims

The major aim is to provide the student with the knowledge to judge which dating techniques are applicable to what materials and on what timescale. They should also gain an appreciation of recent developments in the techniques which will enable their application to new problems posed in the coming decade.

Brief description

This module explores at depth the basic principles of the major dating techniques used to establish timescales during the Quaternary Period. The equipment and measurement procedures are described so that the student is able to appreciate the laboratory work that is needed to obtain a date. The assumptions underlining each technique are examined so that its limitations can be deduced. For each technique a number of examples illustrating the above points will be given.

Content

Lecture themes:

Mid-term seminar - based on video using a number of techniques to solve a particular dating problem.

Reading Lists

Books
Aitken, M.J. (1990) Science-based Dating in Archaeology Longman
Taylor, R. E. and Aitken, M. J. (eds) (1997) Chronometric dating in Archaeology Plenum
Wagner, G. A. (1998) Age determination of young rocks and artifacts Springer

Notes

This module is at CQFW Level 6