A New Technique for Age Assessment of Ancient Bones by Using Cr-39 Track Detector

Abstract

A new highly sensitive technique is proposed to estimate the age of ancient bones by the specific activity of 226Ra, which is determined by the registration of 222Rn α–particles using a CR-39 track detector in an isolated chamber. Comparison of specific activity of 226Ra in the bones of archanthropus, southern mammoths, and dinosaurs between standard bones showed that there is a direct correlation between age and specific activity of 226Ra in these bones. The work also shows the specific activity of 226Ra in soils taken from the sites of detection of the studied skeletons.

Keywords

• archaeological bones finds
• volume activity of radon–222
• specific activity of radium–226
• cr-39 track detector
• radiogenic dating of age
• α–activity of radionuclides