Fluorine diffusion: A new dating method for chipped lithic materials

Abstract

A proton‐induced nuclear resonant reaction has been used to measure ¹⁹F diffusion profiles in a series of geologically‐ and archaeologically‐derived chipped lithic materials. Three types of diffusion profiles have been identified in samples measured to date. Measurements performed on a suite of samples associated with dated lithic complexes from the south coastal region of California indicate a positive relationship between the estimated age and fluorine diffusion values for non‐saturated type profiles. A sample suggested as being of Pleistocene age (Bucannon Canyon) exhibits ¹⁹F diffusion values similar to that measured on samples dating in the 3000–4000 b.c. range from that area.