Archaeometry
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Archaeological science (also known as Archaeometry)
is the application of scientific techniques and methodologies
to archaeology. Significant new data can be obtained
using these techniques, which has the potential to
alter the understanding of the past. A good example
of this is the so-called "Second radiocarbon
revolution", which significantly re-dated European
prehistory in the 1960's (the first radiocarbon revolution
was the original introduction of the method to archaeology).
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As indicated, one of the most important applications
of archaeological science has been the absolute dates
it can provide for archaeological strata and artifacts. Radiocarbon dating - for dating organic materials
Some of important dating methods are:
- Dendrochronology - for dating trees, but also very important for calibrating radiocarbon dates.
- Thermoluminescence dating - for dating inorganic material including ceramics.
- Potassium-argon dating - for dating fossilized hominid remains.
- Electron spin resonance
- Optically simulated resonance or Optical Dating
- radiocarbon Dating
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However, archaeological science has been applied
in many other ways. A variety of methods have been
used to analyze artifacts, either to determine more
about their composition, or to determine their provenance.
These techniques include:
- X-ray fluorescence (XRF)
- Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry
(ICP-MS)
- Neutron activation analysis (NAA)
- Scanning Electron microscopy
- Laser induced breakdown spectroscopy
Lead, strontium and oxygen isotope analysis can also
be applied to human remains to estimate the diet and
the even birthplace of study subjects.
Provenance analysis has the potential to determine
the original source of the material used, for example,
to create a particular artifact. This can show how
far the artifact has been transported and can be used
to indicate systems of exchange.
The use of remote sensing has enabled archaeologists to identify many more archaeological sites. than would
otherwise have been impossible. The use of aerial photography
remains the most wide-spread remote sensing technique,
but this has been supplemented by the use of satellite
imagery, especially with the declassification of images
from military satellites.
Techniques such as lithic analysis, paleobotany,
palynology and zooarchaeology are also sub-discplines
of archaeological science.
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