Archaeometry at the MTAA Conference

I have been attending (and presenting at) the Modern Trends in Activation Analysis conference in College Station, Texas this week. There was a special session on Archaeometry organized and chaired by Mike Glascock. There were several interesting papers and posters on the archaeometry applications and methods development for NAA in archaeological science. Here are the papers and posters presented:

EVALUATION OF RELATIVE COMPARATOR AND k0-NAA FOR CHARACTERIZATION OF ABORIGINAL AUSTRALIAN OCHRE,Rachel S. Popelka-Filcoff, Claire E. Lenehan, Michael D. Glascock, John W. Bennett, Attila Stopic, Jamie Quinton, Allan Pring and Keryn Walshe, Flinders University, Australia

RAISING THE TEMPER - μ-SPOT ANALYSIS OF TEMPER INCLUSIONS IN EXPERIMENTAL CERAMICS, Johannes H. Sterba,Frans Munnik and Nick J. G. Pearce, Atominstitut, Vienna University of Technology, Austria

MODELING CLINAL VARIATION IN CLAY GEOCHEMISTRY FOR CERAMIC PROVENANCE DETERMINATION IN THE VALLEY OF OAXACA, Leah D. Minc, Oregon State University, USA

COMPOSITIONAL ANALYSIS OF PREHISTORIC SHELL FROM EASTERN NORTH AMERICA, Matthew T. Boulanger, University of Missouri, USA

PAST AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS OF ARCHAEOMETRY AT TAMU’S CENTER FOR CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION AND ANALYSIS, Suzanne L. Eckert, Texas A&M University, USA

ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS OF FINE-GRAINED BASALT ARTIFACTS FROM SAMOA: AN INVESTIGATION OF PROCUREMENT,PRODUCTION, DISTRIBUTION, AND CONSUMPTION DURING THE TRADITIONAL SAMOAN PERIOD (1700-300BP) ON TUTUILA ISLAND, Phillip R. Johnson, Texas A&M University, USA

REVITALIZING ARCHAEOMETRY IN AUSTRALIA WITH THE 20 MW OPAL RESEARCH REACTOR, John W. Bennett, Attila Stopic, Peter Grave, Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organization, Australia

NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS USING THE CONVENTIONAL RELATIVE METHOD: A REALISTIC APPROACH FOR ANALYSIS OF LARGE SAMPLES, Patricia Bedregal Pablo Mendoza, Isaac Marcos Cohen, Eduardo Montoya, Instituto Peruano de Energía Nuclear, Perú

THE FENN CLOVIS CACHE: NEW ANALYSES OF ARTIFACT FORM AND FUNCTION, Ted Goebel, Jim Wiederhold,Heather Smith, and Michael R. Waters, Texas A&M University, USA

TRACKING INTRA-ISLAND MOVEMENT OF TOOL-STONE: CHEMICAL CHARACTERIZATION ON LITHIC TOOLS FROM AGANOA VILLAGE, TUTUILA ISLAND, AMERICAN SAMOA, Christopher T. Crews, Texas A&M University, USA

INAA AND DISTRIBUTION PATTERNS OF CLASSIC MIMBRES BLACK-ON-WHITE VESSELS DURING THE CLASSIC PERIOD, Eleanor S. Dahlin, Texas A&M University, USA

INAA OF PRE-CONTACT BASALT QUARRIES ON THE SAMOAN ISLAND OF TUTUILA: A PRELIMINARY BASELINE FOR AN ARTIFACT-CENTERED PROVENANCE STUDY, Phillip R. Johnson, Texas A&M University, USA

FINDING A SUCCESSFUL TECHNIQUE TO DETERMINE THE PRODUCTION PROVENANCE OF 13TH AND 14TH CENTURY SANTA FE B/W POTTERY MADE FROM IGNEOUS CLAYS, Suzanne L. Eckert, Texas A&M University, USA

COMPARISON OF INAA ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION DATA BETWEEN LAGO GRANDE AND OSVALDO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES IN THE CENTRAL AMAZON: A FIRST PERSPECTIVE, Roberto Hazenfratz, Guilherme Mongeló, Casimiro S. Munita, Eduardo G.Neves, University of São Paulo, Brazil

PROVENANCE STUDIES OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL ARTIFACTS FROM BUDDHIST SITES OF INDIA BY INTERNAL MONOSTANDARD NEUTRON ACTIVATION ANALYSIS, N. Lakshmana Das, K.B. Dasari, R. Acharya, A.V.R. Reddy, GITAM University, India

Archaeological science in the Israel Journal of Earth Sciences

This being Christmas (although not part of my particular religious persuasion), I thought I would post something about archaeological science in the modern day country where some of the events pertaining to that holiday supposedly took place.

Israel Journal of Earth Sciences
Volume 56, Number 2 - 4 / 2007

Special Issue: Archaeological Science in Israel

Guest Editor(s): Elisabetta Boaretto, Ruth Shahack-Gross, Sariel Shalev, Steve Weiner, Ehud Weiss

Foreword by the Guest Editors; pp. i – ii; Elisabetta Boaretto, Ruth Shahack-Gross, Sariel Shalev, Steve Weiner, Ehud Weiss.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.i

Archaeology, archaeological science, and integrative archaeology ; pp. 57 – 61; Steve Weiner.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.57

Micromorphology of sediments: Deciphering archaeological context; pp. 63 – 71; Panagiotis Karkanas and Paul Goldberg.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.63

Approaches to understanding formation of archaeological sites in Israel: Materials and processes; pp. 73 – 86; Ruth Shahack-Gross.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.73

Reading the field: Geoarchaeological codes in the Israeli landscape; pp. 87 – 106.  Oren Ackermann.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.87

Assessing Paleolithic pyrotechnology and associated hominin behavior in Israel; pp. 107 – 121; Francesco Berna and Paul Goldberg.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.107

Four decades of Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and its contribution to the archaeology of the ancient land of Israel; pp. 123 – 132; Joseph Yellin and Aren M. Maeir.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.123

A brief outline summary of nonferrous archaeometallurgy in Israel; pp. 133 – 138; Sariel Shalev.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.133

Wood remains from archaeological excavations: A review with a Near Eastern perspective; pp. 139 – 162; Simcha Lev-Yadun.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.139

Plant remains as a tool for reconstruction of the past environment, economy, and society: Archaeobotany in Israel; pp. 163 – 173; Ehud Weiss and Mordechai E. Kislev.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.163

Fire in prehistory: An experimental approach to combustion processes and phytolith remains; pp. 175 – 189; Rosa María Albert and Dan Cabanes.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.175

Archaeomalacological research in Israel: The current state of research; pp. 191 – 206; Daniella E. Bar-Yosef Mayer.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.191

Determining the chronology of an archaeological site using radiocarbon: Minimizing uncertainty;  pp. 207 – 216; Elisabetta Boaretto.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.207

Molecular archaeology: People, animals, and plants of the Holy Land; pp. 217 – 229; Marina Faerman, Gila Kahila Bar-Gal, Israel Hershkovitz, Mark Spigelman, Charles L. Greenblatt.  DOI: 10.1560/IJES.56.2-4.217

               

 

Top 10 Archaeological Discoveries of 2010

Archaeology Magazine has compiled the top 10 archaeological discoveries of 2010. As you might expect, most of them are fascinating archaeological sites from around the world. However, two discoveries are more technical: the technique of non-destructive carbon-dating, developed by Marvin Rowe and colleagues at Texas A&M. Additionally, scientists in Germany were commended for decoding the Neanderthal genome. Congratulations to both groups, and looking forward to more fantastic analytical methodologies in 2011 and beyond!

Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science

Since we are on the theme of new books in archaeological science (thanks Rob), here is another one to add to the list:

A Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science: Analytical Techniques

Mary E. Malainey

Charles E Orser, Editor

Michael B. Schiffer, Editor

2011, 603 pages

ISBN 978-1-4419-5703-0

Link to Springer

This volume is also available online as PDFs for purchase.

From the Preface:

"The information presented should enable an archaeologist to understand and critically evaluate:

-the suitability of various analytical techniques to address particular archaeological questions;

-the data generated through the application of these techniques

-the validity of the archaeological interpretations made on the basis of the data."

Archaeology (and Archaeological Sciences?) and the Global Economic Crisis

Recently, Nathan Schlanger and Kenneth Atichison edited a report of the effects of the global economic crisis on archaeology, published by ACE Project and Culture Lab Editions. While this report mainly focuses on the US and specific countries in Europe, does it reflect worldwide trends in economics and archaeology? Is the field of archaeology suffering major declines due to the economic climate? If so, are these changes permanent or transitory? How can we quantify anecdotal or media evidence? Are the changes destructive or constructive? As archaeologists, we should be aware of how these events have a way of being cyclical.

The report does not specifically address archaeological sciences or archaeometry, but I imagine funding and personnel changes have also affected many of us regardless of employer or institution.

The editors are collecting information on the effects of the global crisis on archaeology for a future publication, so are interested in hearing from the community.

And an online conservation journal

I came across the online journal Conservation Science in Cultural Heritage.
It is peer reviewed, with one issue peryear.  Articles are available as downloadable pdf files.

It is edited by the Dipartimento di Storie e Metodi per la Conservazione dei Beni Cultuali, Università di Bologna; Centro Interdipartimentale di Ricerca in Ingegneria dell'Automazione e dei Sistemi, Università di Palermo; EUREKA project, European Agency Cultural Heritage Research Area CNR.  The scientific editor is Salvatore Lorusso.

Topics covered include:

• use of appropriate methodologies and analytical techniques for the characterization of historical masterpieces that are part of the cultural heritage and for the evaluation of the preservation state
• assessment of atmospheric pollution and correlated decay of monuments and historical-artistic setting
• computer science and cultural heritage: methods for data elaboration and cataloguing

Archaeological science vs. archaeology vs. anthropology

On my recent trip out west, I learned of two academic departments where the cultural anthropologists and archaeologists had split and formed separate departments.  I guess even the best of unions suffer after long relationships.  Kind of too bad, though, with all the fuss we make about using the natural sciences in the service of problems important to the social sciences. And, who gets the office furniture when it's all over?

Always interesting to look at the different situation in Europe, where there are entire departments of archaeology, sometimes with specialties in archaeological science.  I'm hoping to visit Bradford when I am in Europe this coming Spring.  Not only can you get an undergraduate degree in archaeology, but you can also specialize in archaeological science.  Pretty sweet.  I know from the majors in environmental science within my own department that those interdisciplinary majors can be tricky, but if done right with an eye for rigor, there is much to be gained.

What are some academic models or departments that you think make for good training for the archaeological sciences? Feel free to comment below.

Australian archaeometry book online

Good deal. The full text of:

New Directions in Archaeological Science
Terra Australis
Edited by Andrew Fairbairn, Sue O’Connor and Ben Marwick
ISBN 9781921536489 $49.50
ISBN 9781921536496 (Online)
Published February 2009

is available online.

Archaeological Science meetings will have a personality of their own depending on the focus of the host archaeological fraternity itself. The 8th Australasian Archaeometry meeting follows this pattern but underlying the regional emphasis is the continuing concern for the processes of change in the landscape that simultaneously effect and illuminate the archaeological record. These are universal themes for any archaeological research with the increasing employment of science-based studies proving to be a key to understanding the place of humans as subjects and agents of change over time.

This collection of refereed papers covers the thematic fields of geoarchaeology, archaeobotany, materials analysis and chronometry, with particular emphasis on the first two. The editors Andrew Fairbairn, Sue O’Connor and Ben Marwick outline the special value of these contributions in the introduction. The international nature of archaeological science will mean that the advances set out in these papers will find a receptive audience among many archaeologists elsewhere. There is no doubt that the story that Australasian archaeology has to tell has been copiously enriched by incorporating a widening net of advanced science-based studies. This has brought attention to the nature of the environment as a human artefact, a fact now more widely appreciated, and archaeology deals with these artefacts, among others, in this way in this publication.

UK Archaeological Sciences 2009 Biennial Conference

UKAS 20009

UK Archaeological Sciences 2009
Biennial Conference
8 – 10 September, 2009
The British Geological Survey, Keyworth, Nottingham
Hosted by NERC Isotope Geosciences Laboratory and the Department of Archaeology, University of Nottingham.




A workshop entitled "Analysing the Bronze Age" will be held, after the UKAS conference, on Friday 11th September. (I'm not sure if the statue of Robin Hood at left from Nottingham is bronze or not.)

Programme
We are looking for talks and poster presentations on the following themes:

• Materials and technologies
• Mobility and migration
• Geo-Archaeology
• Forensic Archaeology
• Human Environment Interaction
• Dating
• Plants, Animals and Domestication
• Genetics
• Issues surrounding destructive analysis
• Laser ablation isotope analysis in archaeology

We welcome additional theme topics, please submit relevant suggestions to Dr Jane Evans.

Archaeological science in Israel

Over the years, I've measured archaeomagnetic samples from Israel, starting with samples I collected at Tel Yin'am in 1984 thanks to the invitation of Harold Liebowitz, and continuing with samples collected for me by colleague Egon Lass at Ashkelon and other archaeological sites. So, I found this interesting:

Inter-University/Weizmann Institute Program in Archaeological Science

The Kimmel Center for Archaeological Science was established at the Weizmann Institute in 1996, toward the purpose of educating a new generation of archaeologists who would be familiar with both the natural sciences and archaeology, in the belief that this is an important future trend in the field of archaeology. The Kimmel Center has an active program, with 6 PhD students currently enrolled. The Center's activities have impacted the field of archaeology in Israel and abroad, in that there are collaborations and interactions with archaeologists, some inter-university/Weizmann Institute courses, several major research programs, and continued interest from potential students to enter the program. While we intend to continue the PhD educational program, we have now broadened the scope of the Center’s activities, in the hope that we will be able to more effectively contribute to the archaeological establishment in Israel and world-wide.

Director of Program:
Prof Steve Weiner, Department of Structural Biology
Weizmann Institute
Rehovot 76100 Israel
Telephone: 972-8-9342552
E-mail: steve.weiner@weizmann.ac.il