Dating implications from solar bleaching of thermoluminescence of ancient marble

We present measurements of Thermoluminescence (TL) from Greek marble quarri ed at Paros, Naxos, Pendeli, Hymitos, Thassos, which have been known since ancient times. The results concern i) the solar bleaching of TL, ii) the so lar transmission through marble thicknesses up to 16 mm, and iii) the impli cations for potential dating of ancient carved marble monuments/objects. Th e bleaching rate for marbles is very fast during the first hour of exposure . The solar penetration is at least 35 mm for long exposures. Beyond the 2 mm marble slab for exposure times 90-120 hours of sunshine, the residual bl eached TL level is not reached. The bleached TL reaches a plateau which ser ves as the "zero time" upon which the archaeological TL dose subsequently b uilds up and gives the age of a marble monument.