What dating method relies on the accumulation of trapped electrons in certain heated objects over time?

The correct choice is thermoluminescence, which is a dating method that relies on the principle of electron traps in certain materials, specifically those that have been heated. When an object such as pottery, flint, or other minerals is heated, electrons within the crystalline structure of the material are excited and can escape from their usual positions. Over time, as the material cools and is exposed to natural radiation from the environment, some of these electrons become trapped in imperfections within the crystal lattice.

When thermoluminescence dating is conducted, the object is then reheated to release the trapped electrons, which emit light in proportion to the number of electrons accumulated. This light emission can be measured and used to calculate the time elapsed since the last heating event, effectively dating the object. This method is particularly useful for archaeological artifacts that are beyond the range of radiocarbon dating.

Other options like radiocarbon dating and carbon dating refer specifically to methods that measure the decay of carbon isotopes, mostly in organic materials, and would not be applicable in this context. Archaeomagnetism, on the other hand, is based on the Earth's magnetic field at the time of heating, and relies on different physical properties than the electron traps utilized in thermol