ESR SIGNAL BEHAVIOR STUDY AT G-SIMILAR-TO-2.002 OF MODERN AND FOSSIL BONES FOR HEATING PALEOTEMPERATURE ASSESSMENT

A modern red deer bone was heated in a muffle furnace at increasing te mperatures in the range 200 to 940 degrees C. Samples were analyzed by infrared and X-ray diffraction spectrometry before measurement of the ESR signals around g = 2.002 by ESR spectrometry. Each sample was irr adiated by a gamma source (cobalt-60) at increasing doses in the range 100 to 10 000 Gy. gamma-irradiated samples were then analyzed by ESR spectrometry in order to obtain the growth curve and to show ESR signa l behavior. ESR signals of fossil bones from archaeological deposits o f the Lazaret cave (Middle Pleistocene, France) were studied and color s were compared with modern samples in order to assess at which temper ature these fossil bones were heated in prehistoric fireplaces. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.