Objectives:
The course aims to give an introduction to the principles and methods for age determination of events during the Quaternary period. This includes a critical evaluation of context and geological archives commonly used for reconstruction. The course shall convey understanding of the theoretical basis for radioactivity, radioisotopic methods and effects, as well as other chemical and biological methods.

Content:
The course addresses dating methods and techniques, such as radiocarbon and uranium-series dating, cosmogenic nuclides, luminescence, amino acid chronology, tephrochronology and dendrochronology. The course emphasises practical applications of the different dating methods and critical evaluation of dating results.

On completion of the course the student should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills and general competence:

Knowledge
The student can

• explain principal terms, definitions and theories (e.g. geologic time, radioactivity, precision and accuracy, uncertainty)
• explain principles and theoretical foundation for the different dating methods
• evaluate reliability of data obtained using numeric and relative methods, as well as correlation methods
• evaluate dating results critically with respect to geochronologic and geologic context
• demonstrate which method that gives results in need of correction and/or calibration

Skills
The student can

• select appropriate dating methods for a given material and/or a given scientific question
• perform simple calculations and calculations for dating of geological material, for instance by means of spreadsheets and web-based resources
• summarize observations/data/results/principles graphically
• recognise and discuss different geological processes that have implications for the application of individual dating methods and interpretation of results

General competence
The student can

• use a precise geological language to describe and discuss geological processes, archives, material and dating methods
• utilize scientific method and integrate, analyse, interpret and critically evaluate datasets for testing of hypotheses
• use geoscientific knowledge in scientific questions linked to use of method and results
• use libraries and scientific databases to retrieve relevant information, as well as cite sources correctly

Lectures and exercises.

Lecture and/or exercise, 4 hours per week for 15 weeks