Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1763054
Karla Muñoz-Alcócer, L. Fuster-López, M. L. Vázquez de Agredos-Pascual, F. Izzo, M. Picollo, G. Bartolozzi, Jose Humberto Vega, Diana Maldonado Escobar, A. Mitrani, Miguel Ángel Maynez, E. Casanova-González, I. Rangel-Chávez, J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil
ABSTRACT An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of science and art conservation specialists has provided new insight into the painting materials used in the polychrome walls and wooden ceilings in four seventeenth century Spanish colonial churches of Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico). A multi-analytical study of the decorative surfaces was performed in situ using spectroscopic approaches (XRF, FORS), False Colour Infrared Reflectography – IRFC, as well as micro sampling for ATR-FTIR, LM and GC/MS laboratory analyses. A survey of natural resources were also studied by ATR-FTIR and LM to elucidate the natural occurrence of a select number of materials found in the surrounding areas of the churches. The present paper presents a multi-analytical study and characterization of green, red-orange and black colour pigments and binders selected from the decorative surfaces. The aim of this study is to highlight relationships between local materials and those from the original polychrome ceilings, in order to understand the material and technological influences that converged in the Spanish colonial architecture of northern Mexico. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
{"title":"Multi-technical approach for the characterization of polychrome decorative surfaces at Spanish Mission Churches in Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico)","authors":"Karla Muñoz-Alcócer, L. Fuster-López, M. L. Vázquez de Agredos-Pascual, F. Izzo, M. Picollo, G. Bartolozzi, Jose Humberto Vega, Diana Maldonado Escobar, A. Mitrani, Miguel Ángel Maynez, E. Casanova-González, I. Rangel-Chávez, J. L. Ruvalcaba-Sil","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1763054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1763054","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT An interdisciplinary and multi-institutional group of science and art conservation specialists has provided new insight into the painting materials used in the polychrome walls and wooden ceilings in four seventeenth century Spanish colonial churches of Nueva Vizcaya (Chihuahua, Mexico). A multi-analytical study of the decorative surfaces was performed in situ using spectroscopic approaches (XRF, FORS), False Colour Infrared Reflectography – IRFC, as well as micro sampling for ATR-FTIR, LM and GC/MS laboratory analyses. A survey of natural resources were also studied by ATR-FTIR and LM to elucidate the natural occurrence of a select number of materials found in the surrounding areas of the churches. The present paper presents a multi-analytical study and characterization of green, red-orange and black colour pigments and binders selected from the decorative surfaces. The aim of this study is to highlight relationships between local materials and those from the original polychrome ceilings, in order to understand the material and technological influences that converged in the Spanish colonial architecture of northern Mexico. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"36 1","pages":"287 - 304"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80567246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1825168
Y. Maniatis
The International Symposium on Archaeometry (ISA) is a biennial meeting organized to promote the development and use of scientific techniques in order to extract archaeological and historical infor...
国际考古研讨会(ISA)是两年一次的会议,旨在促进科学技术的发展和使用,以提取考古和历史信息。
{"title":"Proceedings of the 42nd International Symposium on Archaeometry (2018): Preface","authors":"Y. Maniatis","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1825168","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1825168","url":null,"abstract":"The International Symposium on Archaeometry (ISA) is a biennial meeting organized to promote the development and use of scientific techniques in order to extract archaeological and historical infor...","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"11 1","pages":"19 - 19"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86492545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2019.1700451
Andrea Sandoval Molina, Y. Iizuka, Shintaro T. Suzuki
ABSTRACT Dental modifications, especially dental inlays, were one of the most characteristic biocultural traditions in Ancient Mesoamerica. The main objective of this brief report is to identify the raw material used to elaborate dental inlays in the archaeological site of Reynosa, located in the Southern Pacific Coast of Guatemala. The recent discovery of a massive burial, dated roughly in the Middle-Late Preclassic Period (500 BC–200 BC), put the site in the spotlight. There were found some of the earliest carriers of dental incrustations in Mesoamerica, which represent part of the beginning of the inlay tradition. The analytical method used to determine the raw material was scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray spectroscopy. The identified raw materials were pyrite and hematite. These findings have opened new concerns about the obtaining and the usage of those materials in this millennial tradition.
{"title":"Preclassic Mesoamerican dental inlays: study of the raw material by SEM–EDS","authors":"Andrea Sandoval Molina, Y. Iizuka, Shintaro T. Suzuki","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2019.1700451","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2019.1700451","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Dental modifications, especially dental inlays, were one of the most characteristic biocultural traditions in Ancient Mesoamerica. The main objective of this brief report is to identify the raw material used to elaborate dental inlays in the archaeological site of Reynosa, located in the Southern Pacific Coast of Guatemala. The recent discovery of a massive burial, dated roughly in the Middle-Late Preclassic Period (500 BC–200 BC), put the site in the spotlight. There were found some of the earliest carriers of dental incrustations in Mesoamerica, which represent part of the beginning of the inlay tradition. The analytical method used to determine the raw material was scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with X-ray spectroscopy. The identified raw materials were pyrite and hematite. These findings have opened new concerns about the obtaining and the usage of those materials in this millennial tradition.","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"2 1","pages":"157 - 163"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"88486291","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1760489
L. Barba, J. Ligorred, J. Blancas, Agustin Ortiz
ABSTRACT T’hó –a Mayan city cited in historical documents – has been discovered and is now a topic in current archaeological discussions and research topics due to a joint UNAM and UADY research project. This project encompassed several steps, including the recording of material recovered from the city’s subsoil while monitoring urban infrastructure programs, as well as the study of historical documents and maps and finally verifying hypothesis by using georadar. After surveying almost 17 km of paved streets in downtown Merida, we realized that it was possible to recognize three main deposit layers underlying the area. The uppermost layer showed modern fillings and urban infrastructure, the intermediate layer had pre-Hispanic cultural remains, and the deepest one included limestone bedrock. This study constitutes the first attempt to create a map of the remains underlying downtown Merida City in order to know and preserve its archaeological patrimony.
T 'hó -一个历史文献中引用的玛雅城市-已经被发现,现在是当前考古讨论和研究课题的主题,这是UNAM和UADY联合研究项目的结果。该项目包括几个步骤,包括记录从城市底土中回收的材料,同时监测城市基础设施项目,以及研究历史文献和地图,最后使用地质雷达验证假设。在测量了梅里达市中心近17公里的铺砌街道后,我们意识到可以识别该地区下面的三个主要沉积层。最上层是现代填充物和城市基础设施,中间层是前西班牙文化遗迹,最深处是石灰石基岩。这项研究首次尝试绘制梅里达市中心遗址的地图,以了解和保护其考古遗产。
{"title":"Searching with georadar ancient T’hó, a Mayan city underneath the modern Merida, Yucatan","authors":"L. Barba, J. Ligorred, J. Blancas, Agustin Ortiz","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1760489","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1760489","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT T’hó –a Mayan city cited in historical documents – has been discovered and is now a topic in current archaeological discussions and research topics due to a joint UNAM and UADY research project. This project encompassed several steps, including the recording of material recovered from the city’s subsoil while monitoring urban infrastructure programs, as well as the study of historical documents and maps and finally verifying hypothesis by using georadar. After surveying almost 17 km of paved streets in downtown Merida, we realized that it was possible to recognize three main deposit layers underlying the area. The uppermost layer showed modern fillings and urban infrastructure, the intermediate layer had pre-Hispanic cultural remains, and the deepest one included limestone bedrock. This study constitutes the first attempt to create a map of the remains underlying downtown Merida City in order to know and preserve its archaeological patrimony.","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"46 Suppl 4 1","pages":"247 - 256"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77424657","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1761092
V. Panagiotidis, George Malaperdas, Vassiliki Valantou, N. Zacharias
ABSTRACT In this paper environmental, topographic and geological data of the Classical till Roman Times thriving city of Ancient Thouria situated in Messenia, SW Peloponnese, Greece are presented in context to their archaeological interpretation of the study area’s landscape and usage. Using environmental and geographic factors in collaboration with soil characterization, a preliminary spatial analysis was conducted, aiming at the archaeological interpretation of parameters such as water availability, weather conditions, topography, settlement accessibility and land fertility, taking under account analytical data of soil samples retrieved from a section of an ongoing excavation. The study was conducted using a digital elevation model of the area that enabled the examination of the criteria of watershed, slope, aspect and visibility and assisted X-ray Fluorescence analysis of soil samples from the Asklepieion excavated area thus highlighting the contribution of spatial and in situ analysis to archaeology. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
{"title":"Environmental aspects of ancient city planning: a pilot study on Ancient Thouria in the Peloponnese, Greece","authors":"V. Panagiotidis, George Malaperdas, Vassiliki Valantou, N. Zacharias","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1761092","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1761092","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT In this paper environmental, topographic and geological data of the Classical till Roman Times thriving city of Ancient Thouria situated in Messenia, SW Peloponnese, Greece are presented in context to their archaeological interpretation of the study area’s landscape and usage. Using environmental and geographic factors in collaboration with soil characterization, a preliminary spatial analysis was conducted, aiming at the archaeological interpretation of parameters such as water availability, weather conditions, topography, settlement accessibility and land fertility, taking under account analytical data of soil samples retrieved from a section of an ongoing excavation. The study was conducted using a digital elevation model of the area that enabled the examination of the criteria of watershed, slope, aspect and visibility and assisted X-ray Fluorescence analysis of soil samples from the Asklepieion excavated area thus highlighting the contribution of spatial and in situ analysis to archaeology. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"165 1","pages":"257 - 268"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80390127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1723240
Carlos López-Puértolas, L. Manzanilla-Naim, María Luisa Vázquez-de-Ágredos-Pascual
ABSTRACT A multi-analytical approach was used to characterize color remains from Xalla, a Teotihuacan palace complex (project Teotihuacan, Elite and Government. Excavations in Xalla led by Linda R. Manzanilla). Color samples were obtained from polished lithic instruments and pigment ores. Those samples were analyzed combining microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Our results coincide with previous studies in Teotihuacan, with the chromatic palette displaying a predominance of iron oxides such as hematite, yellow ochre and natural earths, as well as malachite, celadonite and glauconite. We have enlarged the corpus of raw materials with the characterization of jarosite and bone white and mica as aggregate. The identification of raw materials crossed with functional analysis of polished lithic artefacts suggests a production and application process for the pigmenting materials that were divided in four phases, from the crushing of the raw material to the application and finishing of the painted surfaces. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
摘要:采用多分析方法对特奥蒂瓦坎(Teotihuacan, Elite and Government)宫殿建筑群Xalla的颜色遗骸进行了表征。由琳达·r·曼萨尼拉(Linda R. Manzanilla)领导的Xalla发掘工作)。从抛光的石制仪器和颜料矿石中获得颜色样品。这些样品结合了显微镜和光谱技术进行了分析。我们的结果与之前在特奥蒂瓦坎的研究结果一致,颜色调色板显示出氧化铁的优势,如赤铁矿、黄赭石和天然土,以及孔雀石、青瓷和海绿石。我们以黄钾铁矾、骨白和云母为骨料,扩大了原料的范围。原材料的鉴定与抛光石器文物的功能分析相结合,表明颜料材料的生产和应用过程分为四个阶段,从原材料的粉碎到涂漆表面的应用和整理。图形抽象
{"title":"Characterization of color production in Xalla's palace complex, Teotihuacan","authors":"Carlos López-Puértolas, L. Manzanilla-Naim, María Luisa Vázquez-de-Ágredos-Pascual","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1723240","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1723240","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT A multi-analytical approach was used to characterize color remains from Xalla, a Teotihuacan palace complex (project Teotihuacan, Elite and Government. Excavations in Xalla led by Linda R. Manzanilla). Color samples were obtained from polished lithic instruments and pigment ores. Those samples were analyzed combining microscopic and spectroscopic techniques. Our results coincide with previous studies in Teotihuacan, with the chromatic palette displaying a predominance of iron oxides such as hematite, yellow ochre and natural earths, as well as malachite, celadonite and glauconite. We have enlarged the corpus of raw materials with the characterization of jarosite and bone white and mica as aggregate. The identification of raw materials crossed with functional analysis of polished lithic artefacts suggests a production and application process for the pigmenting materials that were divided in four phases, from the crushing of the raw material to the application and finishing of the painted surfaces. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"9 1","pages":"221 - 233"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85497784","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1735144
D. Arano, P. Quintana, L. Jiménez, F. Camacho, Y. Espinosa, J. Reyes
ABSTRACT The Maya sites Balamkú, Calakmul, Becán, Chicanná, Xpuhil, Hormiguero, Muñeca, and Chactún are located in the south area of the Mexican State of Campeche, immerse in a tropical subhumid climate. Surrounded by jungle vegetation, these archeological sites preserve some of the best examples of sculptural elements from the pre-Classic (1800 b. C. – 250 a. C.) to the terminal Classic (1000 d. C.) periods. These sites display how the Maya used sculptures as architectural elements in order to emphasize their cosmogony and political beliefs. The main purpose of this research is to comprehend the technology of paint layer materials and to register the chromatic palettes by using surface and microscopic analytical techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer system (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in order to analyze and interpret the pictorial technique used for the architectural sculpture decoration.
{"title":"Chromatic palette studies in sculptural architectonical elements of Maya buildings in the south of Campeche, Mexico","authors":"D. Arano, P. Quintana, L. Jiménez, F. Camacho, Y. Espinosa, J. Reyes","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1735144","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1735144","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT The Maya sites Balamkú, Calakmul, Becán, Chicanná, Xpuhil, Hormiguero, Muñeca, and Chactún are located in the south area of the Mexican State of Campeche, immerse in a tropical subhumid climate. Surrounded by jungle vegetation, these archeological sites preserve some of the best examples of sculptural elements from the pre-Classic (1800 b. C. – 250 a. C.) to the terminal Classic (1000 d. C.) periods. These sites display how the Maya used sculptures as architectural elements in order to emphasize their cosmogony and political beliefs. The main purpose of this research is to comprehend the technology of paint layer materials and to register the chromatic palettes by using surface and microscopic analytical techniques such as optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer system (EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) in order to analyze and interpret the pictorial technique used for the architectural sculpture decoration.","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"20 1","pages":"234 - 246"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83344834","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2019.1688492
K. Friedrich, P. Degryse
ABSTRACT This research is performed on a selection of archaeological glass finds with corresponding soil samples, excavated on the site of the High Medieval castle Cucagna in Friuli/Northern Italy. In the frame of understanding medieval glass technology and the chemical–physical conditions that influenced the state of preservation of the glass finds, this study uses a multi-analytical line-up of methods to characterize the composition of the glass and basic parameters of the soil including texture, mineralogical composition, pH, redox potential (Eh) and electric conductivity (EC). The results show that glass corrosion in soil not only depends on acidity, alkalinity or glass composition but also on the texture of the soil, measurable as grain-size distribution, and the mineralogical composition. The compositional groups of the glassware from Cucagna indicate the use of various raw material sources, pointing to Northern and Central Italian glass workshops with primary or secondary glass production. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
{"title":"Soil vs. glass: an integrated approach towards the characterization of soil as a burial environment for the glassware of Cucagna Castle (Friuli, Italy)","authors":"K. Friedrich, P. Degryse","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2019.1688492","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2019.1688492","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT This research is performed on a selection of archaeological glass finds with corresponding soil samples, excavated on the site of the High Medieval castle Cucagna in Friuli/Northern Italy. In the frame of understanding medieval glass technology and the chemical–physical conditions that influenced the state of preservation of the glass finds, this study uses a multi-analytical line-up of methods to characterize the composition of the glass and basic parameters of the soil including texture, mineralogical composition, pH, redox potential (Eh) and electric conductivity (EC). The results show that glass corrosion in soil not only depends on acidity, alkalinity or glass composition but also on the texture of the soil, measurable as grain-size distribution, and the mineralogical composition. The compositional groups of the glassware from Cucagna indicate the use of various raw material sources, pointing to Northern and Central Italian glass workshops with primary or secondary glass production. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"12 1","pages":"138 - 156"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73853277","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1718366
L. Iles
ABSTRACT Reconstructing past anthropogenic influences on forest and woodland resources is an important tool to understand the development of present patterns of land use, and their long-term impacts. Past metallurgical activity undoubtedly consumed significant charcoal, exploiting forest resources for fuel at various stages of metal extraction and processing. This study aimed to quantify this fuel consumption from archaeometallurgical remains, with North Pare as a case study – a prominent centre of precolonial iron production activity in north Tanzania, and a mountainous region subject to considerable erosion processes attributed to changes in forest cover. Archaeometallurgical remains from Pare were examined with bulk chemical analysis, optical microscopy and elemental analysis to reconstruct Pare’s past iron production technologies. The data was interrogated to distinguish the contribution of the fuel ash to the smelting system, with implications for our understanding of past forest degradation processes in relation to metallurgy, reducing reliance on potentially problematic analogy.
{"title":"Exploring the impact of iron production on forest and woodland resources: estimating fuel consumption from slag","authors":"L. Iles","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1718366","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1718366","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Reconstructing past anthropogenic influences on forest and woodland resources is an important tool to understand the development of present patterns of land use, and their long-term impacts. Past metallurgical activity undoubtedly consumed significant charcoal, exploiting forest resources for fuel at various stages of metal extraction and processing. This study aimed to quantify this fuel consumption from archaeometallurgical remains, with North Pare as a case study – a prominent centre of precolonial iron production activity in north Tanzania, and a mountainous region subject to considerable erosion processes attributed to changes in forest cover. Archaeometallurgical remains from Pare were examined with bulk chemical analysis, optical microscopy and elemental analysis to reconstruct Pare’s past iron production technologies. The data was interrogated to distinguish the contribution of the fuel ash to the smelting system, with implications for our understanding of past forest degradation processes in relation to metallurgy, reducing reliance on potentially problematic analogy.","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"134 1","pages":"179 - 199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91056485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2019-12-16DOI: 10.1080/20548923.2020.1797376
S. Hueglin, M. Caroselli, P. Cassitti
ABSTRACT Archaeological and historical research combined with material science help to understand the development of building material and construction technology of the Middle Ages. The natural sciences, especially mortar characterisation and scientific dating have allowed new insights into mechanical mortar mixing which has been introduced and used mainly in the early medieval period between AD 500 and 1000. This paper combines the results of the pan-European archaeological research project RESTOMO with that of the interdisciplinary SNF-project “Mortar technology and construction history” at the UNESCO-world heritage site of Müstair monastery. Müstair so far is the only site with six mortar mixers from two periods. The comparison of the mortar samples from the mixers with samples from the building remains has proven to be challenging and partly contradicts the previous correlation of mortar mixers with archaeologically established building phases. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT
{"title":"Tracing technological transformation – mechanical mortar production in early medieval Europe and at Müstair Monastery, Switzerland","authors":"S. Hueglin, M. Caroselli, P. Cassitti","doi":"10.1080/20548923.2020.1797376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/20548923.2020.1797376","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Archaeological and historical research combined with material science help to understand the development of building material and construction technology of the Middle Ages. The natural sciences, especially mortar characterisation and scientific dating have allowed new insights into mechanical mortar mixing which has been introduced and used mainly in the early medieval period between AD 500 and 1000. This paper combines the results of the pan-European archaeological research project RESTOMO with that of the interdisciplinary SNF-project “Mortar technology and construction history” at the UNESCO-world heritage site of Müstair monastery. Müstair so far is the only site with six mortar mixers from two periods. The comparison of the mortar samples from the mixers with samples from the building remains has proven to be challenging and partly contradicts the previous correlation of mortar mixers with archaeologically established building phases. GRAPHICAL ABSTRACT","PeriodicalId":21858,"journal":{"name":"STAR: Science & Technology of Archaeological Research","volume":"21 1","pages":"305 - 322"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2019-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83337921","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}