Thermoluminescence dating analysis at the site of an ancient brick structure at Pengkalan Bujang, Malaysia

Bujang Valley is a well-known historical complex found in the north-west of peninsular Malaysia; more than 50 ancient monuments and hundreds of artefacts have been discovered throughout the area. The discovery of these suggests Bujang Valley to have been an important South East Asian trading centre over the period from the 10th to 14th centuries. Present work concerns thermoluminescence (TL) dating analysis of shards collected from a historic monument located at Pengkalan Bujang in Bujang Valley. All the shards were prepared using the fine grain technique and the additive dose method was applied in determining the paleodose of each shard. The annual dose rate was obtained by measuring the concentration of naturally occurring radionuclides (U, Th and K) in the samples and their surroundings. The TL ages of the shards were found to range between 330±21 years and 920±69 years, indicative of the last firing of the bricks and tiles from which the shards originated, some dating back to the period during which the historical complex remained active. - Highlights: • Thermoluminescence analysis of shards sample from Pengkalan Bujang. • Fine grain technique and additive dose method were applied to determine paleodose. • Measuring concentration of U, Th and K in the samples and their surroundings. • TL ages obtained indicative of the last firing of the shards.