NCL - Netherlands Centre for Luminescence dating

Luminescence dating determines the last exposure to light or heat of natural minerals, mainly quartz and feldspar. The method is used to establish the time of deposition and burial of sediments, or the time of baking of ceramic artefacts (e.g. pottery and brick). Luminescence dating has a wide age range, covering the period from a few years to half a million years. The precision is up to 3% of the age obtained. Luminescence dating is ideally suited for aeolian and coastal deposits, but is increasingly and successfully used for a wide range of other depositional environments (e.g. fluvial, colluvial and anthropogenic).  

The NCL has the expertise and facilities to date samples for NCL partners and external users. In these dating projects we like to team up throughout the process. We invite users to contact us to discuss possibilities and limitations of luminescence dating. 

Collaboration 

Prior to starting a joint dating project, we are keen discuss the suitability of luminescence dating and sampling strategy.  For larger projects, we like to join fieldwork to collect the samples. We prepare samples for analysis, perform the measurements using state-of-the-art equipment and approaches, and provide a report detailing methods used and results obtained. This report can be issued in Dutch or English language. We also contribute to scientific or broad-audience publications that are based on the luminescence ages. 

Prices 

Luminescence dating is laborious and uses advanced equipment. To cover some of the costs we have to charge for the analyses performed. Rates depend on the number of samples, and the type of collaboration. 

Sample guidelines 

Sampling of sediments is usually performed by hammering sampling tubes into an exposure. Alternatively, samples can also be obtained from drilled cores. Most importantly, light exposure during sampling should be avoided, as it would reset the luminescence signal used for dating. We suggest always contacting us prior to sampling to discuss the ideal sampling strategy. 

Authentication and dating of art objects 

We focus on dating sediments and archaeological artefacts. In addition, we occasionally we work with museums to date art objects. However, we do not provide a service for dating or authenticating ceramic art objects for individuals or art dealers. 

The Netherlands Centre for Luminescence dating has one of the best-equipped luminescence dating facilities of Europe. 

Our sample preparation 

A generous laboratory equipped with amber safelights and three fume-cupboards is available for sample preparation. Here samples are prepared using a combination of chemical and physical methods density and magnetic separation to obtain purified quartz or K-feldspar extracts. 

Luminescence measurements 

For luminescence measurements we possess five Risoe TL/OSL readers, each fitted with a Sr/Y beta source. One of the readers has a single-grain attachment, while another has a EMCCD camera. Both approaches allow the read-out of single-grain luminescence signals. Another reader can be used for pulsed stimulation and is equipped with a unique violet stimulation unit to measure quartz violet stimulated luminescence (VSL) signals.   

Dose rate determination 

Dose rates are determined using gamma-ray spectroscopy or combined alpha-beta counting. Our Canberra broad range gamma-spectrometer and µdose counter are housed at the WFSR institute on the WUR campus. Occasionally we use neutron activation analysis in collaboration with Delft University of Technology for very small samples from pottery. 

Artist impression 

Young artist Annabel Quick produced a video artwork ‘Standfast, landfast, lightfast’ which gives an impression of the work in the lab, and includes beautiful coverages of luminescing sand grains.

We are dedicated to develop new and improved methods for luminescence dating, and to make new applications possible.  Our research is performed in close collaboration with the WUR Soil Geography and Landscape group and other NCL partners.

In our research, we concentrate on the following themes:

• Dating anthropogenic deposits (EARTHWORK and HESTIA projects)
• Developing new luminescence dating and mixing applications in soil science
• Developing luminescence methods to infer sediment transport processes (TRAILS & PERU projects)

The NCL facility is used by students in the WUR course SGL33806 ‘The 4th dimension in earth sciences’. In addition there are possibilities to do a master thesis or internship related to luminescence dating both for WUR students and students from NCL partners. 

Before starting a thesis, we expect WUR students to have followed the course SGL33806 The 4th Dimension in Earth Sciences.

Contact Liz Chamberlain, SGL thesis coordinator, for more information.

All analyses performed at the NCL are stored in an online searchable database: www.lumid.nl.

LumiD - the luminescence datingbase 

LumiD is a database with information about all samples processed by the NCL and of published information on samples from the Netherlands dated in other luminescence dating laboratories. Guests can use LumiD to search for samples using a range of search criteria. NCL customers can download an order form to submit new samples and track progress of their projects. LumiD is linked to OpenStreetMap for visualisation and to aid searching samples in a specific location. www.lumid.nl

Scripts 

Matlab scripts for bootstrapped age models (Cunningham and Wallinga, 2012) are available on https://git.wur.nl/ncl/bootstrap_cunningham_wallinga_2012 .  

• Re-evaluating luminescence burial doses and bleaching of fluvial deposits using Bayesian computational statistics.
  Cunningham, A.C. , Wallinga, J. , Versendaal, Alice , Makaske, A. , Middelkoop, H. , Hobo, N. (2015)
• Sedimentary architecture and chronostratigraphy of a late Quaternary incised-valley fill : A case study of the late Middle and Late Pleistocene Rhine system in the Netherlands
  Peeters, J. , Busschers, F.S. , Stouthamer, E. , Bosch, J.H.A. , Van den Berg, M.W. , Wallinga, J. , Versendaal, A.J. , Bunnik, F.P.M. , Middelkoop, H. (2016)
• Archeologisch onderzoek in de omgeving van het prehistorische vuursteenmijnveld te Rijckholt - St. Geertruid : De resultaten van 2011, 2012 en 2013
  Brinkkemper, O. , Bruinink, A.C. , Deeben, J. , Guralnik, B. , Hoebe, P. , Huisman, H. , de Kort, J.W. , Laarman, F. , van Meirvenne, M. , Orbons, J. , van Os, B. , van Parys, V. , Schreurs, J. , Theunissen, L. , Verhegge, J. , Versendaal, Alice , Wallinga, J. (2018)
• Improving the understanding of the lower Guadalhorce fluvial landscape development: first dates on the river terrace staircase and alluvial fans
  Schoorl, J.M. , Reimann, T. , Versendaal, Alice , Veldkamp, A. (2019)
• The development of badlands in a Mediterranean setting: first results of geological mapping and OSL dating
  Aksay, S. , Schoorl, J.M. , Reimann, T. , Veldkamp, A. , Versendaal, Alice (2019)