Luminescence (IRSL) dating of Yeni Rabat church in Artvin, Turkey

Abstract

Luminescence dating is a chronological method that has been used extensively in terrestrial materials: In this study, we present Infrared Stimulated Luminescence (IRSL) dating results obtained for sediment and pottery samples taken from Yeni Rabat Church, Ardanuc, Artvin, Turkey. For this purpose, equivalent dose (ED) and annual dose rate (AD) of samples were measured. For annual dose rate, concentrations of radioactive isotopes (U, Th, K) were determined by using a high-purity germanium detector. For the equivalent dose, polymineral fine grain SAR (Single Aliquot Regenerative Dose) and MAAD (Multiple Aliquot Additive Dose) procedures were used. The optimal preheat temperature was determined for sediment and pottery samples. Ages were calculated by Aitken's luminescence age calculation method, which found 710 +/- 190 years for the pottery sample and 1450 +/- 370 years, 1390 +/- 420 years, 1430 +/- 310 years, 2210 +/- 520 years and 1640 +/- 390 years for different sediment samples, respectively. These estimated age ranges support the theory that Yeni Rabat Church could have been constructed in medieval times