Luminescence dating of stone wall, tomb and ceramics of Kastrouli (Phokis, Greece) Late Helladic settlement: Case study

Abstract

Abstract The Kastrouli Late Helladic (LH) III fortified inland site is located in central Greece between the gulfs of Kirrha and Antikyra, not far from Delphi, controlling the communication between these sites. Characteristic ceramic typology from a tomb and the fortified wall indicate a Late Helladic period (∼ 1300–1100 BC) with apparent elements of reuse of the site in the Geometric, Archaic, Classical and Hellenistic times. The present research refers to the dating by luminescence of the stone wall that circumvents the site, a tomb construction and two ceramics. This approach to applying luminescence dating provides an excellent opportunity to search for the Late Bronze Age (LBA) collapse consequences at the site. The thermoluminescence (TL) measurements of two ceramics were carried out following multiple aliquots made of the polymineral material. For the equivalent dose (ED) estimation of pottery samples, the multiple aliquot, additive dose procedure (MAAD) in TL was applied. Prior to age assessment, the firing temperature was estimated also using TL and it is safe to conclude that the firing temperature of the original ceramic was ca. 400 ± 50 °C. For the case of the rock samples collected from the wall and the tomb, the ED was estimated by applying the Single Aliquot Regenerative OSL (SAR OSL) protocol, after later modifications for polymineralic/mixed quartz-feldspathic samples (‘double SAR’ protocol). The ‘double SAR’ protocol procedure includes an infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) measurement at 50 °C before the main OSL. Individual ED values ranged between 3.2 to 16 Grays and were accepted based on the following acceptance criteria: recycling ratio between 0.90 and 1.05, recuperation