TEST OF THE PARTIAL BLEACH METHODOLOGY AS APPLIED TO THE INFRARED STIMULATED LUMINESCENCE OF AN ALLUVIAL SEDIMENT FROM THE DANUBE

A sample of fine-grained distal sediment deposited by the River Danube in Romania was selected for luminescence measurements using infra-red diodes for stimulation. To obtain the equivalent dose (ED) a partial bleach approach was applied using a restricted spectrum in an attempt to replicate bleaching conditions underwater. The results, and those o f the thermoluminescence measurements, gave an age in agreement with t he archaeological evidence, suggesting that this sample was well bleac hed at deposition. A more rigorous test was devised using a simulation experiment and the results suggested that the partial bleach method m ay not be able to date correctly sediments that have had only part of their infra-red stimulated luminescence (IRSL) signal removed at depos ition. Additional types of measurement are required to detect incomple te resetting of the IRSL signal at deposition.