An experimental technique is described for the absolute determination of beta dose-rate in pottery. The calibrated system utilizes thermoluminescent dosimeters (natural CaF₂) which are located external to the pottery sample. These measurements give an evaluation of the dose-rate at the center of the pottery that is effectively independent of the relative importance of the thorium, uranium, and potassium content (typically 12 ppm thorium, 3 ppm uranium and 1% K₂O in pottery). This has been checked using analyzed uranium, thorium, and potassium materials. A dose-rate evaluation may be made after 10-14 days with an accuracy of ± 5%, where the dose-rate to the dosimeter is of the order of 0.3 millirads/day. Although the background dose-rate due to cosmic radiation and that arising from radioactive impurities in the CaF₂ is significant (33%), measurements have shown that it may be accurately established. The tech-nique described is preferred to other systems used in pottery dating because of its independence of relative radioisotope concentration. -- AATA