Archaeometry

The role of exact sciences in connection with cultural heritage now is well established and a new scientific branch has been generated: Archaeometry. Literally, Archaeometry means measurement on ancient objects. It is a multidisciplinary field of Investigations where the rigorous methods of exact sciences give a fundamental contribution to solving the problems associated with conservation and restoration, as well as to the study itself of the cultural heritage. Archaeometry, as a scientific research field, involves interdisciplinary groups formed by scholars of the humanistic area together with scientists: physicists, chemists, mathematicians, biologists, engineers, etc. The primary justification for the need of involving exact sciences in the field which, in the past, traditionally has been exclusive of Art Historians must no doubt be found in the conservation and restoration activities. The second argument which, in the public opinion, justifies the involvement of science with the world of Art is the confidence that scientific methods are Infallible in unmasking forgeries. But in our opinion the awareness of the central role of scientific methods as a support for philological and

Electrochemistry plays an important role in preserving our cultural heritage. For the first time this has been documented in the present volume. Coverage includes both electrochemical processes such as corrosion and electroanalytical techniques allowing to analyse micro- and nanosamples from works of art or archaeological finds. While this volume is primarily aimed at electrochemists and analytical chemists, it also contains relevant information for conservators, restorers, and archaeologists.

The book contains the Proceedings of the 37th International Symposium on Archaeometry, 12th May 2008, Siena, Italy. The aim of the Symposium is to promote the development and use of scientific techniques in order to extract archaeological and historical information from cultural heritage and the paleoenvironment. It involves all Natural Sciences and all types of objects and materials related with human activity. Papers deal with the development and/or application of scientific techniques for extracting information related to human activities of the past, including the biological nature of man himself and the environment in which he lived. Topics include: Field Archaeology and Intergrated Site Studies; Archaeo-chronometry including recent developments in Radiocarbon Dating; Human - Environment Interactions including Geoarchaeology, Palaeoclimate studies, Landscape Archaeology, Environmental reconstructions, etc.; Bioarchaeology; Food preparation and consumption in Antiquity; the Technology and Provenance of Stone, Plaster, Pigments;Ceramics, Glazes, Glass and Vitreous Materials, Metals and Metallurgical Ceramics; and Micro/nano diagnostic techniques.

Analytical Archaeometry describes this interesting and challenging field of research - on the border between natural sciences (chemistry, spectroscopy, biology, geology) and humanities (archaeology, (art-)history, conservation sciences). It fills the gap between these two areas whilst focussing on the analytical aspects of this research field. The first part of the book studies the main analytical techniques used in this research field. The second part expands from the different types of materials usually encountered, and the final part is organised around a series of typical research questions. The book is not only focussed on archaeological materials, but is also accessible to a broader lay audience. Overall the book is clearly structured and gives insight into different approaches to the study of analytical providing extensive discussion on a wide range of techniques, materials, questions and applications. Due to the advances in analytical instrumentation and applications in this field, it is important to have all this information merged together. Academics as well as professionals in archaeology, art history, museum labs and conservation science will find this an invaluable reference source ensuring the reader is provided with the latest progress in this research field.

Proceedings of the Archaeometry Symposium at NORM 2019, Portland, Oregon, papers, with case studies in Spain, Canada, Thailand, Lithuania or Russia, address the application of different techniques in archaeology in order to comprehend some aspects during and after excavations, for instance, physics, chemical analysis, remote sensing, LiDAR, etc.

In a period when the study of archaeological remains is enriched through new methods derived from the natural sciences and when there is general agreement on the need for more investment in the study, restoration and conservation of the tangible cultural heritage, this book presents contributions to these fields from South-Eastern Europe.

This large volume contains 86 papers selected from papers given at the 2003 conference. Papers range from the broadly theoretical, to the discussion of specific techniques and to practical examples of their application. Themes include dating, geophysics, geoarchaeology, palaeodiet, palaeoanthropology, material characterisation techniques, ceramics, glass, stone, mortars, metals, painting media, organics and conservation.