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How can thermoluminescent dating be used to investigate ceramic artworks?

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Thermoluminescent dating is a valuable technical tool used to investigate the authenticity of ceramic artworks by determining their age.12

The process relies on the fact that all matter, including the clays used in pottery, accumulates slight damage from the faint nuclear radiation naturally present in the Earth. This radiation causes electron displacements within the material's crystal lattice. When a ceramic object is heated to high temperatures—typically 450° C (842° F) or higher—these trapped electrons are released, returning to their normal positions and emitting light energy in the process.31

Because the intensity of this light emission correlates to the length of time the material has been exposed to radiation, scientists can measure the energy released to estimate when the object was last fired. In the context of art forgery, this method helps experts determine if a ceramic piece is truly ancient or a modern reproduction, as a genuine ancient artifact will show a significantly different level of accumulated electron displacement compared to a recently manufactured object.123