Study Of Archaeological Objects Research Articles

Neutron-based techniques for archaeometry: characterization of a Sardinian boat model

Sardinian metallurgy produced samples of high artistic and historical value. In particular, ship models are rare and unmatched examples of the mastery reached by Sardinian metallurgists and their production process deserves an in-depth analysis of all the phases involved in the making. In this work, we examined a Sardinian boat model to obtain information about its composition, microstructure and manufacturing technique. The object is a small bronze ship model that was found near the Nuraghe Colovros, located in north-east Sardinia (Italy). It was analysed by means of neutron imaging and neutron diffraction experiments at the ISIS Pulsed Neutron and Muon Source laboratory (Harwell, UK). Neutron techniques are relatively new in the field of archaeometry, but they are a very effective tool for the study of archaeological objects: they permit to survey complete artefacts, determine compositions and structures, assess the conservation status and address questions of effective use and casting techniques. This type of data can add new and different insights to existing archaeological information, especially where sampling is not permitted. The outcome of the study reveals a peculiar approach to the manufacturing of the boat model.

Геомагнітні дослідження Пліснеського археологічного комплексу у 2018–2019 роках: результати та перспективи

During 2018–2019 in the historical and cultural reserve «Ancient Plisnesk» on the territory of the site of archeology of national significance «Ancient settlement of the chronicle city of Plisnesk of the III–XIII centuries» for the first time, the experimental methodological magnetometry observations were conducted to study the possibilities of the magnetic surveys in studies of archaeological objects of this site. The paper analyzes the results of areal magnetometric survey using proton magnetometers with an observation grid of 0,5×1 m with a total area of 0,252 ha in two sections – in the western part of tract «Vysoke Gorodysko» and in the southeastern part of tract «Zamchysko». On the basis of the received magnetometric data graphs of magnetic field and plans of isolines with different detailing are constructed. In the anomalous picture of the residual magnetic field, alternating magnetic anomalies with an intensity of several tens of nT have been identified, which are confined to structures and production facilities, which is confirmed by the results of archaeological excavations. The spatial features of the anomalous magnetic field revealed a number of negative linear anomalies that mark the locations of ancient archaeological excavations. In order to research and establish the specifics of the planning structure of the settlements of the Slavic and Old Russian periods, the old archaeological excavations revealed on the territory of the Plisnesk archaeological complex, it is extremely necessary to expand the territory of magnetometric survey to a large area. Highlighted anomalous search criteria for archaeological objects in a magnetic field indicate the high efficiency of magnetometry and the expediency of its use in the future for identifying and outlining ground or buried structures of residential, economic, industrial and even fortifications of a wide chronological range before archaeological excavations in the territory of the Plisnesk archaeological complex and similar sites of the Slavic and Old Russian periods. Key words: archaeological complex, magnetic survey, magnetic field, local anomalies.

Electron microscopy methods in studies of archaeological objects

Electron microscopy methods in studies of archaeological objects

Electron microscopy methods in studies of archaeological objects

Electron microscopy methods in studies of archaeological objects

The provenance of "red marble" monuments from the 12th -18th centuries in Hungary

“Red marble” (Liassic-Dogger nodular limestone, ammonitico rosso ) which was mined as a decorative stone, played an important role in the art of Central Europe and especially in Hungary in the past centuries. Quarries are known from the Gerecse-Mts. (Hungary), Adnet, (Austria), Menyhaza (Romania) and Verona (Italy). Determination of the provenance of the “red marble” monuments is not feasible on the basis of petrographical methods only, because the two most typical and important Central European “red marble” occurrences (the Gerecse-Mountains, Hungary and Adnet, Austria) have the same geological age and had formed in similar environments. It is possible, on the basis of stable isotope analysis, to separate the raw material from the Hungarian and Austrian quarries; it enabled us to conduct provenance studies of archaeological objects from Hungary, Upper Hungary (present Slovakia) and Transylvania (present Romania). The results are in accordance with several historical theories, but also provide additional information on the distribution of this important artistic material.

Cluster analysis of mixed-level data: Pottery provenience as an example

Abstract Provenience or “sourcing” studies of archaeological objects most commonly employ quantitative measurements of amounts of chemical constituents in the artifacts and source materials. These are then used in statistical grouping procedures known as cluster analyses. Many additional attributes of artifacts and sources, yielding lower-level qualitative data, are also of potential importance in determinations of artifact origins. These attributes are usually neglected because of the longstanding difficulty in treating “mixed-level” data, that is, combining both qualitative observations and quantitative information in a single powerful statistical procedure. A series of cluster analyses were run on two data sets consisting of archaeological pottery, using mixed-level characterization data in the CLUSTAN program with Gower's coefficient of similarity. The clustering solutions are interpretable in terms of provenience and production strategies.

Studies in Conservation

The Journal of the International Institute for the Conservation of Museum Objects, Vol. 1, No. 1, October, 1952. (London : Thomas Nelson & Sons, Ltd.) Price 21s. each number. In introducinga new journal something should be said to justify an addition to the ever growing list now confronting any scientist. For Studies in Conservation it may at the outset be claimed that it is the only journal covering specifically the application of science to the study of archaeological objects and works of art, for which there has been no medium since Technical Studies in the Field of the Fine Arts ceased to appear in 1942.