Chapter 3 MCQ's

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This chapter covers the methods archaeologists use to identify, analyse and record the finds from excavation and fieldwalking/surface collection. In addition to many dedicated archaeological sites there are also good explanations of these techniques on science or commercial laboratory sites. Many of the latter have clear visual explanations which may help you get to grips with the more difficult ideas.

3.0 Processing finds

Processing finds in general is covered at:: http://www.spoilheap.co.uk/washgo.htm
The analysis of artefacts is outlined and illustrated at:: http://www.spoilheap.co.uk/finds.htm; http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/archy/exploration
Characterisation is explained at:: http://www.chem.tamu.edu/services/naa/index.html
An excellent account of conservation: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/publications/waterlogged-organic-artefacts
Waterlogged materials: http://nautarch.tamu.edu/CRL/
Sources on many aspects of archaeological materials: http://www.spoilheap.co.uk/index.html

3.1 Archaeometry

Archaeometry involves the application of scientific techniques to archaeological investigations. Most of these techniques were not designed specifically for archaeology but have been borrowed and adapted by archaeological scientists.

A good introduction is at:: http://archaeometry.missouri.edu/
Reference collections for all types of finds: http://www.wikiarc.org/Archaeological-and-Palaeoecological-Reference-Collections-Online

3.2 Scientific analysis of artefacts

This section covers a range of scientific techniques which can be applied to a range of materials and introductions to methods. Some further examples are included on the material culture pages.

Brief introductions of a range of methods, each with a simple diagram, are on the BM site:: http://www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/science/text/techniques/sr-tech-intro-t.html
The application of X-ray fluorescence (xrf) to archaeology is detailed at:: http://omega.physics.uoi.gr/xrf/english/the_xrf_technique.htm (includes some useful diagrams)
X-ray diffraction and a number of other techniques is explored at:: http://www.matter.org.uk/diffraction/x-ray/x_ray_diffraction.htm
Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) is explained at:: http://archaeometry.missouri.edu/services.html
Spectrometry:: http://www.spectroscopynow.com/coi/cda/home.cda?chId=0
Isotopic analysis is one of the more difficult methods for many students to understand particularly because such techniques are applied to both organic and inorganic remains.
A straightforward illustrated explanation of isotopes is at:: http://education.jlab.org/glossary/isotope.html
And another which focuses on carbon is at:: http://ethomas.web.wesleyan.edu/ees123/carboniso.htm; http://www.uga.edu/~cais/; http://www.qub.ac.uk/eerc/people/academic_staff/wma/wm_a/siff.htm
Scientific analysis of finds: University of Bradford
Stable Isotope Analysis is explained at: http://www.nhm.ac.uk/hosted_sites/ahob/AHOBI/isotopes.htm

3.3 Chemical analysis

Chemical analysis of archaeological finds encompasses a wide range of laboratory techniques to determine what materials are composed of or what remains on surviving surfaces. A general overview is at:: http://www.chem.tamu.edu/services/naa/index.html
Organic residue analysis explained with links to exemplar projects:: http://www.brad.ac.uk/staff/bstern/molecular/molarch.htmlw

3.4 Analysis of ceramics

Ceramics include clay pipes, figurines and roof tiles but most archaeological analysis has focused on pottery.

The history of pottery and information on manufacturing and analysis:: http://www.potweb.org/; http://www.spoilheap.co.uk/medpot.htm
Ceramic petrology. All you might want to know is at:: http://www.postex.demon.co.uk/petrology.htm
Data base of ceramics: http://www.worcestershireceramics.org/
Example of aceramics archive: http://archive.museumoflondon.org.uk/ceramics/index.asp

3.5 Analysis of lithics

Stone tools are the oldest surviving artefacts. Their study is crucial to our understanding of prehistory.

Useful explanations and material on lithics are at:: http://wings.buffalo.edu/anthropology/Lithics/index2.html; http://www.utexas.edu/courses/denbow/labs/lithic2.htm; http://www.mc.maricopa.edu/dept/d10/asb/anthro2003/archy/lithictech; http://www.flintman.co.uk/; http://www.postex.demon.co.uk/petrology.htm; http://microburin.com/category/lithic-analysis/
An excellent site on lithics and experimentation is at:: http://www.hf.uio.no/iakh/forskning/sarc/english/study/experimental_archaeology
Petrology is a technique borrowed from geology which uses knowledge of the different chemical make-up of rocks in different places to determine original sources. A project which illustrates this particularly well is a British database of ores and minerals at:: http://www.smenet.org/opaque-ore/
An explanation of microwear studies is at:: http://www.brad.ac.uk/acad/archsci/microwear/
An overview of Palaeolithic lithic assemblages is at:: http://www.hf.uio.no/iakh/forskning/sarc/iakh/lithic/sarc.html
An Austrian project examining lithics and soils with useful illustrations is at:: http://www.quartaer.info/Berichte
Thin section: http://www.thin.stir.ac.uk/2008/10/31/thin-section-production-movie/

3.6 Analysis of metals

Most of the focus of archaeological scientific investigations of metal artefacts has been either to determine their composition (and possibly their origin) or to understand how they were manufactured. Some aspects of the latter are covered in the section on interpretation and experiment.

Metallurgy:: http://hist-met.org/
Metallurgy projects:: http://users.ox.ac.uk/~salter/
Bronze Age metalworking:: http://www.templeresearch.eclipse.co.uk/bronze/intro.htm

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