Chronology of the neolithization in South East Italy. New data from thermoluminescence (TL) at the Matera-Trasano site

In order to determine the chronology of the first neolithic cultures in sou thern Italy by a dating method different from radiocarbon, a thermoluminesc ence (TL) study of ceramics extracted from the oldest known levels at Mater a-Trasano site (layers 2.4 and 2.3) has been carried out; according to thei r type, those ceramics were attributed to the so-called Trasano I phase: th ey are characterized by a rough "a impressa" and sometimes "a sequenza" pat tern. On the methodological side, the equivalent dose was determined using the fine grain technique (grain size ranging from 3 to 12 mu m); quartz is the major component in the present case. The internal annual dose rate of c eramics was determined using radiochemical data obtained by non-destructive low background gamma spectroscopy. The external annual dose rate was measu red by on-site direct gammametry. Three age determinations were achieved at layer 2.4 (BDX 4174, 4275 et 4177): the weigh ted average of these date is 6129 +/- 362 B.C.; six dates were obtained at layer 2.3 (BDX 4199, 4201, 4 202, 4203, 4240 and 4244) the weighted average of which is 6191 +/- 296 B.C . These results tend to be slightly older than those obtained by radiocarbo n: (Ly-5297) [6175-5587] B.C. for layer 2.4 and (Ly-5296) [6104-5526] B.C. for layer 2.3. The overlaying of both TL and C14 uncertainty intervals show s the good agreement between the results of these two methods; the first ne olithic settlements, in this area, happened then around [6200-5800] B.C.