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Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) in Archaeological Context

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Encyclopedia of Geoarchaeology

Part of the book series: Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series ((EESS))

Synonyms

Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) dating

Introduction

Electron spin resonance (ESR) dating is a chronometric dating method, but depending on the author, it may also be classified as a radiation exposure, a trapped charge, a paleodosimetric, or a radiometric method. Like other methods that use luminescence phenomena, ESR is based on an evaluation of the exposure of some materials to natural radioactivity. This expsoure is expressed as an absorbed radiation dose, which corresponds to the energy deposited in the matter by ionizing radiation. Such materials can acquire or develop a paramagnetic behavior under the effect of natural radioactivity, which can be later detected and quantified by means of ESR spectroscopy.

Use of this technique for dating purposes was first suggested by Ikeya (1975) based on the study of stalactites from caves in Japan. Since then, numerous applications to a wide range of materials have been to varying degrees successfully attempted (see the...

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. ESR Dating Laboratory, Geochronology, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana (CENIEH), Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca, 3, 09002, Burgos, Spain

    Mathieu Duval

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  1. Mathieu Duval
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Correspondence to Mathieu Duval .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Fordham University, Bronx, NY, USA

    Allan S. Gilbert

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Duval, M. (2017). Electron Spin Resonance (ESR) in Archaeological Context. In: Gilbert, A.S. (eds) Encyclopedia of Geoarchaeology. Encyclopedia of Earth Sciences Series. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-4409-0_42

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