Archaeological Science Under a Microscope

Archaeological Science Under a Microscope

Author: Michael Haslam

Publisher: ANU E Press

Published: 2009-07-01

Total Pages: 278

ISBN-13: 1921536853

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These highly varied studies, spanning the world, demonstrate how much modern analyses of microscopic traces on artifacts are altering our perceptions of the past. Ranging from early humans to modern kings, from ancient Australian spears or Mayan pots to recent Maori cloaks, the contributions demonstrate how starches, raphides, hair, blood, feathers, resin and DNA have become essential elements in archaeology¿s modern arsenal for reconstructing the daily, spiritual, and challenging aspects of ancient lives and for understanding human evolution. The book is a fitting tribute to Tom Loy, the pioneer of residue studies and gifted teacher who inspired and mentored these exciting projects.


Use-Wear and Residue Analysis in Archaeology

Use-Wear and Residue Analysis in Archaeology

Author: João Manuel Marreiros

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2014-11-06

Total Pages: 231

ISBN-13: 3319082574

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This book is designed to act as a readily accessible guide to different methods and techniques of use-wear and residue analysis and therefore includes a wide range of different and complementary essential topics: experimental tests, observation and record methods and techniques and the interpretation of a diversity of tool types and worked raw materials. The onset of use-wear studies was marked by the development of theory, method and techniques in order to infer prehistoric tools functionality and, therefore, understand human technological, social and cultural behavior. The last decade of functional studies, use-wear and residue analysis have been aimed at the observation, recording and interpretation of different activities and worked materials found on archaeological tools made on different types of organic and non-organic materials. This international group of contributions will be fundamental for all researchers and students of the discipline.


Wood in Archaeology

Wood in Archaeology

Author: Lee A. Newsom

Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Published: 2022-01-20

Total Pages: 353

ISBN-13: 1107052068

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It considers research involving archaeological wood in all forms, ranging from fuelwood to ships' timbers, from sites around the globe.


International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis

International Conference on Use-Wear Analysis

Author: Nuno Bicho

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2015-01-12

Total Pages: 804

ISBN-13: 1443873454

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The significance of use-wear studies in archaeological research plays an important role as a proxy to prehistoric techno-cultural reconstruction. The present volume, divided into five thematic sections, includes chapters discussing various different research methods, techniques, chronologies and regions. As such, this volume will be of interest to both archaeologists and anthropologists.


50 Great Moments

50 Great Moments

Author: Kyle Ratinac

Publisher: Sydney University Press

Published: 2008-12-02

Total Pages: 408

ISBN-13: 1743323433

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This captivating book presents 50 great moments from the past five decades of the Electron Microscope Unit's activities. Blending history and science in an engaging style, 50 Great Moments tells the story of the unit's creation and profiles the key figures that have forged the facility into the success that it is today.


Use-wear Analysis on Quartzite Flaked Tools

Use-wear Analysis on Quartzite Flaked Tools

Author: Antonella Pedergnana

Publisher: Cambridge Scholars Publishing

Published: 2019-08-01

Total Pages: 172

ISBN-13: 1527537870

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Quartzite is a particularly frequently used lithology for knapping stone tools throughout all stages of human evolution. Despite this, however, there is a surprising lack of detailed methodological research on the formation and appearance of use-wear on this type of rock. As such, this book fills in a gap in the research, and proposes a new method to analyse use-wear on quartzite, by evaluating the variability of use-wear appearance on different rock varieties. This book is conceived as a handbook for the application of microwear analysis on quartzite, and is addressed to both students and lithic use-wear analysists. The extreme surface irregularities of quartzite, mainly due to its microcrystalline structure and the diverse orientation of quartz crystals surfaces, have always been regarded as a major obstacle when applying use-wear analysis. As shown here, the use of scanning electron microscopy allows this and other obstacles when observing highly reflective surfaces, such as quartzite, to be overcome.


IKUWA6. Shared Heritage: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress for Underwater Archaeology

IKUWA6. Shared Heritage: Proceedings of the Sixth International Congress for Underwater Archaeology

Author: Jennifer A. Rodrigues

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing Ltd

Published: 2020-09-03

Total Pages: 698

ISBN-13: 1784916439

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Celebrating the theme ‘Shared heritage’, this volume presents the peer-reviewed proceedings from IKUWA6 (the 6th International Congress for Underwater Archaeology, Fremantle 2016). Papers offer a stimulating diversity of themes and niche topics of value to maritime archaeology practitioners, researchers, students, museum professionals and more.


Thin Section Petrography, Geochemistry and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Archaeological Ceramics

Thin Section Petrography, Geochemistry and Scanning Electron Microscopy of Archaeological Ceramics

Author: Patrick Sean Quinn

Publisher: Archaeopress Publishing

Published: 2022-08-31

Total Pages: 713

ISBN-13: 1803273658

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Thin section petrography, geochemistry, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction are key scientific methods used to investigate the raw materials, origins and production technology of archaeological pottery, ceramic building materials, ancient refractories and plaster. Using over 400 colour figures of a diverse range of artefact types and archaeological periods from 50 countries worldwide, this book outlines the mineralogical, chemical and microstructural composition of ancient ceramics and provides comprehensive guidelines for their scientific study within archaeology. The core of the book is dedicated to the versatile approach of ceramic petrography. This is complimented by a detailed account of the principles of bulk instrumental geochemistry, as well as the SEM microanalysis and XRD characterisation of ceramics. The book is intended as a reference manual for research as well as a course text for specialist training on scientific ceramic analysis.


A Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science

A Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science

Author: Mary E. Malainey

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2010-09-28

Total Pages: 600

ISBN-13: 1441957049

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Many archaeologists, as primarily social scientists, do not have a background in the natural sciences. This can pose a problem because they need to obtain chemical and physical analyses on samples to perform their research. This manual is an essential source of information for those students without a background in science, but also a comprehensive overview that those with some understanding of archaeological science will find useful. The manual provides readers with the knowledge to use archaeological science methods to the best advantage. It describes and explains the analytical techniques in a manner that the average archaeologist can understand, and outlines clearly the requirements, benefits, and limitations of each possible method of analysis, so that the researcher can make informed choices. The work includes specific information about a variety of dating techniques, provenance studies, isotope analysis as well as the analysis of organic (lipid and protein) residues and ancient DNA. Case studies illustrating applications of these approaches to most types of archaeological materials are presented and the instruments used to perform the analyses are described. Available destructive and non-destructive approaches are presented to help archaeologists select the most effective technique for gaining the target information from the sample. Readers will reach for this manual whenever they need to decide how to best analyze a sample, and how the analysis is performed.


Archaeology of Food

Archaeology of Food

Author: Karen Bescherer Metheny

Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield

Published: 2015-08-07

Total Pages: 635

ISBN-13: 0759123667

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What are the origins of agriculture? In what ways have technological advances related to food affected human development? How have food and foodways been used to create identity, communicate meaning, and organize society? In this highly readable, illustrated volume, archaeologists and other scholars from across the globe explore these questions and more. The Archaeology of Food offers more than 250 entries spanning geographic and temporal contexts and features recent discoveries alongside the results of decades of research. The contributors provide overviews of current knowledge and theoretical perspectives, raise key questions, and delve into myriad scientific, archaeological, and material analyses to add depth to our understanding of food. The encyclopedia serves as a reference for scholars and students in archaeology, food studies, and related disciplines, as well as fascinating reading for culinary historians, food writers, and food and archaeology enthusiasts.