Archaeological Chemistry - Brossura

Pollard, A. Mark; Heron, Carl

Brossura

ISBN 10: 0854042628 ISBN 13: 9780854042623

Casa editrice: Royal Society of Chemistry, 2008

Riassunto

The application of chemistry within archaeology is an important and fascinating area. It allows the archaeologist to answer such questions as "what is this artefact made of?", "where did it come from?" and "how has it been changed through burial in the ground?", providing pointers to the earliest history of mankind. Archaeological Chemistry begins with a brief description of the goals and history of archaeological science, and the place of chemistry within it. It sets out the most widely used analytical techniques in archaeology and compares them in the light of relevant applications. The book includes an analysis of several specific archaeological investigations in which chemistry has been employed in tracing the origins of or in preserving artefacts. The choice of these investigations conforms to themes based on analytical techniques, and includes chapters on obsidian, ceramics, glass, metals and resins. Finally, it suggests a future role for chemical and biochemical applications in archaeology. Archaeological Chemistry enables scientists to tackle the fundamental issues of chemical change in the archaeological materials, in order to advance the study of the past. It will prove an essential companion to students in archaeological science and chemistry, field and museum archaeologists, and all those involved in conserving human artefacts.

Su questo libro

Recensione:

Chemistry looks back

Archaeological chemistry

A. Mark Pollard and Carl Heron
RSC Publishing, Cambridge, UK, 2008, 437pp., (HB) ISBN 978-0-85404-262-3

 

Reviewed by Howell G M Edwards

Mark Pollard and Carl Heron have set out to produce a text that will bring together an interdisciplinary readership in the fields of chemical conservation, restoration, archaeological excavation, historical provenancing, and chemical analysis. It is perhaps the latter area that will appeal most to chemists, but it must be appreciated that the application of chemical analytical procedures to artefacts and archaeological materials has several unique restraints which demand, in particular, minimal sampling, or preferably non-invasive and non-destructive analysis. These pose major challenges for analytical chemists due to the special nature of the specimens presented.

One of the first chemists to analyze ancient pigments was Sir Humphry Davy, who published his results from the analysis of wall paintings from Pompeii in the Proceedings of the Royal Society  in 1815; this paper stands as the first example of the application of chemical analysis to ancient art and archaeology. Even then, Davy appreciated the fact that his analyses completely destroyed the valuable specimens presented to him. In the 1920s, a seminal study of English porcelains by Eccles and Rackham produced some very important analytical information but again at the expense of the sacrifice of whole items of chinaware, such as plates, cups and saucers. These analytical protocols would just not be acceptable today.

Many of these aspects are addressed in this book and it will provide a fascinating introduction to experienced analytical chemists interested in applications of their techniques in new areas. It will also be a source book for experienced archaeologists and conservators who are interested in information about the use of ancient materials and their degradation in the depositional environment using modern analytical techniques. This book is also highly recommended for students across a range of chemistry and archaeological science degree courses.

Chemistry World, 2009, 6(5), p.p.66

L'autore:

Professor Mark Pollard holds the Edward Hall Professor of Archaeological Science and Director of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art, University of Oxford Professor Mark Pollard's main research interests are the study of archaeological materials , the investigation of biogeochemical processes and numerical applications in archaeology and palaeoclimatic reconstruction. Professor Carl Heron, is Professor of Archaeological Sciences at Bradford University, UK. Professor Carl Heron's main interests Main research interests include molecular archaeology, pottery function and use of history of archaeological science.

Su questa edizione

• Editore: Royal Society of Chemistry
• Data di pubblicazione: 2008
• ISBN 10: 0854042628
• ISBN 13: 9780854042623
• Rilegatura: Copertina flessibile
• Numero edizione: 2
• Numero di pagine: 438