A thermoluminescence dating study of ceramic from Ana-Zaga in Gobustan

Ana-zaga is a site located on the upper terrace of Boyukhdash Mountain, situated about 60-70 meters west of the museum building of Gobustan Reserve, between stones No 29-32. The site contains a hearth, and a soil sample was taken from this hearth to determine its age using the thermoluminescence (TL) dating method. TL dating is based on the fact that minerals such as quartz and feldspar accumulate a radiation dose (palaeodose) in their crystal lattice from omnipresent ionizing radiation, including cosmic radiation, radiation from surrounding sediment, and radiation from the sample itself. This palaeodose gets erased when the minerals are exposed to light, but it accumulates again when they are buried by sediment and protected from light.To determine the age of the soil sample from Ana-zaga, TL dating was carried out using the Harshaw TLD 3500 Manual Reader to measure the TL characteristics of the sample. The radiation dose was measured in the laboratory, while the dose rates were determined directly at the site or by geochemical or physical methods. Annual dose calculated as 2.34 micro Gy/year. The palaeodose for the sample was calculated as 35.20±1.36 micro Gy. Using the additive dose method, the age of the soil sample was calculated to be ∼ 15000±1300 years. This study highlights the importance of considering all necessary parameters in a dating project, as the lack of context for a sample, such as when a site has been destroyed, can make it impossible to determine the external dose rate and calculate an accurate age. In conclusion, the TL dating method was successfully used to determine the age of a soil sample taken from the hearth site in Ana-Zaga. The study demonstrates the importance of careful consideration of all parameters when carrying out dating projects and highlights the potential of TL dating for the accurate determination of the ages of archaeological and geological materials.