Archaeometry最新文献

The provenance of yellow, red, and green Fe-bearing mineral pigments used in archaeological and artistic contexts is pivotal in archaeological science providing information on trading activities, commercial routes, and procurement of appropriate raw materials. To support these studies, mineralogical and geochemical databases are required.

The research presents a complete database of raw materials collected in the western sector of the Lessini Mountains (Venetian Pre-Alps in NE Italy) based on mineralogical (X-ray Powder Diffraction; XRPD) and geochemical (Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectroscopy; ICP-MC) data, providing a solid reference archive for provenance studies.

The evidence for imitation coinage found on the Gallo-Roman site of Châteaubleau (Seine-et-Marne, France) has been attested for several years. Successive excavations and findings related to the production of imitation coins, both struck and cast, have revealed major minting activity during the second half of the third century CE. This paper presents the study of 11 archaeological samples issued from this counterfeiting workshop site, which is today considered the most important in the north-western provinces of the Roman Empire. These samples, which correspond to different stages in the production chains leading to coins, mainly radiates (antoniniani, double sestertii), were characterized by metallography, energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF), scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and the Vickers hardness test, in order to understand the different manufacturing processes, especially the ‘rod to coin’ one. This project is divided into two parts. The first, which is the subject of this paper, focuses on the chemical and metallurgical study of the archaeological artefacts. This has enabled us to identify and characterize the manufacturing processes thanks to the highly characteristic microstructure of the samples from the rod-to-coins process. Some of the cylinders derived from this process were also silvered by plating a foil of silver or silver–copper on a flan of pure copper in order to obtain irregular radiates. As regards fake double sestertii, several manufacturing techniques were identified: direct moulding of coins in stacked terracotta moulds, the casting of flans to strike double sestertius and the cutting of flans from metal plate is also a technique used in Châteaubleau. Characteristic composition and microstructures were also observed in these samples. This paper will be followed by a second focused on two experimental archaeology sessions carried out in order to reproduce the process ‘from rod to coins’ and then to compare the reproduced samples with the archaeological samples.

This paper describes the evolution and use of key concepts in the CRM family of standards to document the relationship between the objects and events documented and time. It discusses the differences between phenomenological and declarative time and between absolute and relative dating and how they are implemented in the CRM. It considers the use of periods, spacetime volumes, and the concept of a presence, and finally explores the registration of dates.

It is intended as an introduction to the richness of the ontological toolset contained in the CRM and its application to recording time.

The Heimajing cemetery of the Han Dynasty is in southwestern China's most famous tin-mining area. Smelting relics, such as tin ore and lead ingots, unearthed from Heimajing cemetery indicated the people were probably involved in mining and smelting. We used chemical composition and lead isotope analyses to study 76 samples from bronze artifacts and metallurgical remains. The results show that Han-style bronzes, such as bronze hu, pan, ear cups, and other household utensils, as well as coins, are mainly lead–tin bronzes, while Southwest barbarian-style objects such as spears, ge, and chu are copper or tin–bronze. Lead isotope analysis shows that these bronzes and metallurgical remains were mainly produced locally using the mineral sources of the Gejiu region. Not only are Heimajing bronzes stylistically similar to Han-style bronzes of the Lingnan region, but also the source of the bronze material in both places is the same, both from the local mine in Gejiu. We speculate that the mining and metallurgical activities of metal mineral resources in Gejiu attracted many people from Lingnan. Then, they transported raw metal materials to the outside world, so Gejiu quickly became a center for supplying lead and tin raw materials during the Han Dynasty. Lead and tin sources from Gejiu have been transported to the Yungui Plateau, Lingnan, and Southeast Asia.

The stratigraphic sequence of an archaeological site constitutes its biography, which details what was deposited, when it was deposited, and how the deposition occurred. However, many current methods of recording archaeological stratigraphy do not allow for a full reconstruction of a site's biography. This paper introduces a theoretical framework for analysing a site's formation and deformation processes, emphasizing the integration of different temporal, spatial, geological, and archaeological information elements. This approach offers a way to study change and dynamics by deciphering successive episodes, depositional events, their temporal and causal ordering, and, when possible, the speed and rhythm of such depositions. The integration of micromorphological data and absolute dating can increase the chronological resolution of a site's biography by formally defining the temporal boundaries of depositional events. Additionally, the use of multidimensional geometric analysis of occupational floors and sedimentary volumes enhances the understanding of the complex relationships between stratigraphic depth and temporality. These tools enable archaeologists to create multidimensional visualizations, make inferences, and enhance interpretations of archaeological sites.

The Song dynasty (970–1279 CE) was an era of a prosperous commodity economy, culture and education in China history, with various descriptions of cosmetic usage. However, archaeological evidence for cosmetic application during this period was rare, which hindered comprehensive understanding. During the excavation of the Shijiatang cemetery, two small and exquisite porcelain containers with suspected cosmetics were unearthed from tomb M50, which belonged to a female with an established social position. In this study, ATR-FTIR, SEM, GC/MS, Py-GC/MS and GC-C-IRMS were used to characterize the residue inside the container, and the results demonstrate that the residue is made of minerals, non-ruminant animal adipose fat and plant ingredients. In particular, the detection of arundoin and cylindrin indicates that the herbal medicine plant Bai Mao (Imperata cylindrica) was likely used as a cosmetic ingredient by the noble class of the Song dynasty. This study provides a precious example of cosmetic production in the Song dynasty and, together with the prevalence of cosmetic use described in historical records, suggests a boom in the cosmetics industry during that period. Furthermore, the exploitation of natural herbal ingredients reflects a master of herbal knowledge and a trend to use natural products to aid in maintaining beauty.

Here, we report on an archaeobotanical study of charred wood remains from eight iron spearhead sockets from a sacrificial aquatic site at Nidajno/Czaszkowo 1, Mazurian Lakeland, NE Poland (c. second–fifth c. CE), in search of botanical evidence for the selection of wood for manufacture of wooden shafts used with iron spearheads. The samples were analysed using a Nicon Eclipse ME600 metallographic microscope. The results show significant botanical data for Fraxinus excelsior L. and Tillia sp.

The results of this research illustrate the material standard of the finds from a unique sacrificial site of the Scandinavian ‘sacrificial bog’ type, such as the sacrificial site at Nidajno/Czaszkowo 1—one of the most scientifically prospective in the entire zone of the North European Barbaricum. They also reveal a clear preference in the way spears and javelins were made, linked to the use of ash wood for this purpose. This choice is rational, justified by the technological and operational properties of this type of wood, but it also has connotations from the world of symbolic religious imagery.

Polarized light microscopy, thermal dilatometery and energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (EDXRF) were conducted to analyse the microstructures, sintering temperature and chemical compositions of ancient porcelain glazes excavated from Fanchang kiln, China. The origin, development and decline of Fanchang bluish-white porcelain were thoroughly investigated from the perspective of the formula and firing technology from the Five dynasties (907–906 CE) to the middle Northern Song dynasty (1015–1070 CE). The contents of major elements in glazes were compared with those of Ding, Yue, Qingshan and Hutian kilns over the same period. It was indicated that the glazes of Fanchang bluish-white porcelain were prepared by mixing limestone and plant ashes into the ‘glaze stone’. After the middle Northern Song, the content of limestone and plant ashes gradually increased, which was related to the change of raw materials and the formula technology. The glaze formula of Fanchang kiln was much closer to the southern kilns. Evidence revealed that Fanchang bluish-white porcelains had reached a high firing level in the Five dynasties. At that time, the firing temperature was maintained in the range of 1100–1220°C, and their colour and texture showed at their best. In the middle Northern Song, the quality decreased as the firing temperature decreased, implying signals of a gradual decline.

Cave pearls are spherical concentric speleothems growing radially around nuclei in shallow pools saturated with calcite. They are very rare in the Southern Levant. We present a unique assemblage of 50 cave pearls found in the Iron Age Joweizeh artificial spring tunnel in the Jerusalem Hills of Israel. Some of these deposits represent the first global evidence of formation on archaeological artefacts: pottery sherds and ancient plaster. Multi-analyses were conducted to date and characterize the different nuclei and pearls. Charcoal samples extracted from the plaster nuclei of two pearls were ¹⁴C dated to the Hellenistic period. Two pearls were formed on sherds of Hellenistic lamps. XPS found Co colour remains, suggesting both had been imported. The Hellenistic date is also supported by archaeomagnetic dates of seven other pottery nuclei. Most Hellenistic remains are probably the outcome of a renovation campaign in the tunnel. Four pearls were sampled for stable isotopes (δ¹³C and δ¹⁸O). The range of δ¹⁸O values from the Joweizeh pearls is compatible with the Holocene Soreq and Jerusalem caves’ records. The δ¹³C differences between Joweizeh and Soreq indicate local changes in the overlying vegetation throughout history. The various lines of evidence enabled us to characterize the pearls’ formation process, reconstruct the Joweizeh spring tunnel's hydraulic environment and detect changes that occurred in its water flow regime throughout history.

Ancient Chinese beads provide important evidence of cultural exchanges. This study used a scanning electron microscope with an energy-dispersive spectrometer to analyse the microstructure and chemical composition of faience beads excavated from Laolongtou cemetery in Yanyuan county, China. Based on the analysis results, two glazing methods (efflorescence and cementation) and two bead types (high-Pb and high-K beads) were identified. A comparison of the chemical compositions of samples unearthed at the Laolongtou cemetery and samples from north-western China indicated close regional contact. Bronze wares and burial customs in Laolongtou cemetery also revealed that the Yanyuan region might be a significant node in the Southern Silk Road between the south-western and north-western parts of China and even in Southeast Asia.