Archaeometric provenance studies: An expert system approach

Abstract

This article explores the structure of archaeological interpretations based on archaeometric data. The methodology chosen to expose and render the structure of an interpretive, archaeological study transparent, is that of constructing an expert system. VANDAL is a prototype expert system developed to produce archaeological interpretations dealing with the provenance of archaeological ceramics based on chemical and data analysis information. At this stage it treats only one aspect of provenance investigation, comparison of ceramic reference groups. Development of a comprehensive expert system will follow this investigative stage that is concerned only with the investigation of the suitability of expert systems as tools in archaeometry. The findings of this study demonstrate that: (a) expert systems offer a technique for constructing an interpretive, reasoning process in a systematic and verifiable way; (b) expert systems can be used to guide the interpretive stages of an archaeological study based on archaeometric information; (c) archaeological interpretations involve a knowledge and understanding of the premises in all disciplines involved in an archaeological study.