Objective Initial research for the dating of Ecuadorian cultures was concentrated on the Chanduy valley area, where 12 important sites from different periods and 300 other related sites are located. Potters still use the same clay sources as their ancestors and thus the Chanduy valley is a good laboratory for the project. A number of ceramic and carbon samples were taken from secure archaeolgical contexts. These samples should cover approximately the period from 4000 BC to 1200 BC and a small number should belong to the Guangala period 200 BC to 800 AD. They will be dated by the thermoluminescence (TL) method and also studied by polarising light microscopy, X-ray diffraction, spectroscopic methods, electron microprobe analysis, image processing and statistical analysis.Thermoluminescent dating analysis of samples is in progress using the fine-grain technique. The thermoluminescent properties of the samples analysed are generally good enough, the natural TL signal being always very high but not extremely regular. Saturation water has been measured and is low. Environmental gamma dose has been measured in situ with a portable Geiger-Muller counter for external dosimetry. These results will be cross-checked with those obtained in an indirect evaluation of the radioactivity of the soils. Polarising microscopy studies enabled study of the principal crystalline components and their morphology and granulometry is to be determined. X-ray diffraction analysis permitted identification of the primary phases existing in the clay and the reaction phases of the crystalline fraction. Dating analysis by the carbon 14 was started. So far, various groups of ceramics of different manufacture have been recognised and it has been possible to verify and discuss them in connection with archaeological dates.This project is continuing. Programme(s) IC-ISC C - Activity (Euratom, EEC) on cooperation in science and technology, 1984- Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator AUTONOMOUS UNIVERSITY OF BARCELONA EU contribution No data Address Campus Universitari s/n 08193 BELLATERRA Spain See on map Total cost No data Participants (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all Escuela Superior Politécnica del Litoral Ecuador EU contribution No data Address Quito See on map Total cost No data
