Archaeology, History and Science: Integrating Approaches to Ancient Materials / Edition 1

by Marcos Martinon-Torres, Thilo Rehren

Overview

Using a combination of historical, archaeological, and scientific data is not an uncommon research practice. Rarely found, however, is a more overt critical consideration of how these sources of information relate to each other, or explicit attempts at developing successful strategies for interdisciplinary work. The authors in this volume provide such critical perspectives, examining materials from a wide range of cultures and time periods to demonstrate the added value of combining in their research seemingly incompatible or even contradictory sources. Case studies include explorations of the symbolism of flint knives in ancient Egypt, the meaning of cuneiform glass texts, medieval metallurgical traditions, and urban archaeology at industrial sites. This volume is noteworthy, as it offers novel contributions to specific topics, as well as fundamental reflections on the problems and potentials of the interdisciplinary study of the human past.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781598743500
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	05/31/2009
Series:	UCL Institute of Archaeology Publications
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	218
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.70(d)

About the Author

Martinon-Torres, Marcos; Rehren, Thilo

Table of Contents

Illustrations 7

Preface 13

1 Why Should Archaeologists Take History and Science Seriously? Marcos Martinón-Torres 15

2 Licking Knives and Stone Snakes: The Ideology of Flint Knives in Ancient Egypt Carolyn Graves-Brown 37

3 Cuneiform Glass Texts: A Question of Meaning Andrew J. Shortland 61

4 Pliny on Roman Glassmaking Ian C. Freestone 77

5 Ptolemaic and Roman Memphis as a Production Centre Sally-Ann Ashton 101

6 Theophilus and the Use of Beech Ash as a Glassmaking Alkali Caroline M.Jackson James W. Smedley 117

7 Medieval Precious Metal Refining: Archaeology and Contemporary Texts Compared Justine Bayley 131

8 Lustre Recipes for Hispano-Moresque Ceramic Decoration in Muel (Aragón, Spain), or 'How Much a Little Copper Weighs' Josefina Pérez-Arantegui Carlos Pardos 151

9 Naturam ars imitata: European Brassmaking between Craft and Science Thilo Rehren Marcos Martinón-Torres 167

10 Archives and Urban Archaeology: The Fairbank Surveyors' Papers and Work on Brownfield Sites in Sheffield Anna Badcock David Crossley 189

About the Authors 209

Index 213

Editorial Reviews

"Such a critical review of each avenue of information makes this book unique and an important contribution to the field of archaeological science. Summing up: Recommended." --L.D. Frame, CHOICE

"In the past few decades, recent trends in archaeology have included renewed emphases on interdisciplinary research. The rapid and continued growth of archaeological science (or archaeometry) also has provided numerous new avenues for interdisciplinary collaboration. One of the common issues discussed within most papers were challenges associated with integrating the three main forms of data utilized in this book, especially historic written sources. The editors and authors do a nice job of…presenting successful cases of integration of these types of data. This book would make an excellent introductory text for middle- and upper-level undergraduate students, graduate students, and a useful resource for researchers." --Thomas R. Fenn, Journal of Anthropological Research

From the Publisher