THERMOLUMINESCENCE DATING OF STALAGMITIC CALCITE

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Abstract
The thermoluminescence (TL) method of dating stalagmitic calcite has been applied to twenty‐seven samples from two paleolithic cave sites; Pontnewydd, Wales, and Caune de l'Arago, Tautavel, France. Environmental dose‐rates were evaluated mainly by means of CaF2capsule burials. The ages of the stalagmitic samples were independently determined by means of the uranium series disequilibrium method. In general, good agreement is found between the TL and uranium series dates, which cover a range from approximately 15 000 to 300 000 years B.P. It is estimated that the TL method should extend to the order of a million years in good circumstances.