Dating and determination of firing temperature of ancient potteries from São Paulo II archaeological site, Brazil by TL and EPR techniques

Abstract

Pottery fragments from São Paulo II (SPII) archaeological site were dated by means of thermoluminescence (TL) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR). EPR was used to study the firing temperature using the iron signal (Fe 3+ ) as a firing temperature reference. The ages of the samples were found to be between 793 ± 102 and 1184 ± 142 a.C. The firing temperature of ceramics was found to be around 600–650 °C. Our study, based on the combination of EPR and TL techniques to study SPII archaeological site pottery, will be helpful for archaeologists in Brazil. With the results of this research, we can understand the chronology and determine areas of dispersion and density of archaeological occupation.