Application of different protocols and age-models in OSL dating of earthen mortars

Abstract

In this study, OSL dating was applied to earthen mortars, consisting in a quartz-rich aggregate dispersed in silty-clayey matrix. The samples were taken from two independently dated structures in Cremona, Northern Italy (Palazzo Raimondi, 1495-1499 AD and Palazzo Soldi, 1770-1790 AD). The evaluation of the equivalent dose (De) was attempted with both the multigrain and the single grain protocols using the 150-250 μm quartz fraction. The reliability and effectiveness of the various statistical methods in identifying the well-bleached samples were tested. The use of the multi-grain technique gave unreliable results, due to the high amount of poorly bleached grains. With the single-grain technique, more promising results were obtained: in particular, the un-log MAM3 and IEU models allowed an accurate evaluation of the mortar expected age in most cases, even if the precision is still relatively low.