Lund Luminescence Laboratory

Luminescence dating is a geochronological technique that spans the Late Quaternary, and can be used in both geological and archaeological applications. It uses the natural emission of light from mineral grains (namely quartz and feldspar) to inform us about the age of events ranging from the deposition of beach sediments in storm events, change in climatic conditions, and the making of pottery and the burial of ancient rulers thousands of years ago.
The Lund Luminescence Laboratory (LLL) was established in 2011, as the first of its kind in Sweden. It now houses three Risø TL/OSL DA-20 readers and a portable SUERC reader which contribute to a wide range of luminescence-based questions. As of 2025, we will also have EMCCD capabilities at our lab. We have recently received an infrastructure grant that will also allow us to expand our ability to carry out in situ dose rate measurements and date cobbles. Our darkroom laboratory at the Department of Geology is fully equipped for all stages of sample preparation and measurement.
LLL is part of the Lu2D2 research group, in collaboration with the Department of Translational Medicine, where the group focuses on both dating and dosimetry using luminescence. LLL is a member of the ArchLab national infrastructure.