Abstract: In this study the feasibility of infrared stimulated luminescence (IRSL) for dating loessic colluvial sediments, deposited as a result of human activity, is investigated. It is demonstrated that the ‘IRSL-clock’is reset after a few minutes of daylight exposure even under foggy weather conditions. Samples of independently known age were taken at the Neolithic Bruchsal Aue site in south-west Germany. Different laboratory procedures are tried and a method is suggested (narrow wave-length band in the blue, preheat at 220° C for 5 min) to overcome age underestimates. This laboratory technique yielded archaeologically reasonable ages for colluvial sediments and hollow fillings. The IRSL-ages demonstrate that the deposition of the colluvia is related to soil erosion triggered by human activities, such as wood clearing and agriculture. The successful dating of archaeosediments has a great potential for applications in environmental archaeology as well as in geomorphology and in particular for the reconstruction of man-landscape interactions in central Europe.

Abstract: Around 90 samples of Roman wall painting dating from the first to the third century AD were analysed using different analytical techniques: X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, infrared spectrometry, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, optical microscopy and physico-chemical tests. The identified pigments are: ash, calcite, carbon black, celadonite, cinnabar, Egyptian Blue, glauconite, goethite, hematite and red lead. Pigment mixtures were used to get other colours such as brown, pink or purple. Three types of plaster were used: a first, and most dominant, with river sand, a second with crushed tile for damp places and a third, to which cinnabar was exclusively applied, was prepared with crushed calcite crystals.

Abstract: Publication de la liste de dates obtenues a partir d'echantillons du Paleolithique, Mesolithique et Neolithique de differentes regions geographiques grâce aux mesures de spectrometrie de masse effectuees au laboratoire d'Oxford

Abstract: Dans le cadre d'une etude des pigments utilisees par les indiens Chumash, quelques pigments noirs ont ete examines. Une croute de pigment a ete caracterisee comme de la suie par microscopie a rayons polarises, et la microscopie infrarouge Fourier montre que le liant est de nature proteinique. L'examen du pigment, au moyen de la chromatographie en phase gazeuse et de la spectrometrie de masse, montre la presence d'une suite caracteristique d'acides amines, proportionellement similaires au sang. L'identification sanguine est confirmee par l'analyse immunologique. Il est demontre que le liant est un melange de sang humain et animal, l'animal etant l'antilope a corne pointue. Il s'agit ici de la premiere identification fructueuse du liant d'une croute de pigment indien Chumash

Abstract: Carbon-13 nuclear magnetic resonance spectra have been examined under high resolution conditions for 31 samples of fossil resin that have been dated to the Cretaceous period. Samples from Alaska, Canada, parts of the United States, Greenland, France, Switzerland, Lebanon, Jordan, and Israel have very similar spectra, consistent with a common, geographically dispersed palaeobotanical source. Samples within this large group exhibit a variation in spectral linewidth that is consistent with differences in sample age or maturity. A single Triassic sample from Bavaria shows the same spectral patterns but greater linewidths, indicating that it probably had a similar palaeobotanical source.

Abstract: L'application des analyses du phosphore aux contextes archeologiques peut etre considerablement amelioree grâce a l'extraction par ultrasons et a l'evaluation statistiques des resultats, a travers une analyse des divergences. Ces outils rendent l'application archeologique des analyses du phosphore plus rapide, plus economique et plus coherente. Cet article decrit les caracteristiques de ces outils et propose une etude de cas : la phase Neolithique recent-âge du Cuivre ancien du site de Polideportivo a Martos, en Espagne meridionale

Abstract: Cet article propose une methode de datation fondee sur l'etude de la mineralogie et de la geochimie des mortiers de chaux. Si ces mortiers utilises pour la construction des diverses parties d'un bâtiment ont ete tires de calcaires de geochimie (elements mineurs) et de mineralogie (composants d'argiles) distinctes, ces differences devraient etre identifiables dans leur composition. De plus, si certaines parties d'un bâtiment peuvent etre datees avec precision, les mortiers employes pourraient etre compares aux mortiers utilises dans des parties du bâtiment ne pouvant etre datees. Sous certaines conditions, il est possible d'etablir une relation entre les mortiers, et de proposer une date. Un procedure experimentale, fondee sur l'identification des phases de mortiers, est proposee. La methode a ete testee sur deux monuments historiques, construits aux 11e-12e s. et au 19e s., illustrant divers problemes de datation

Abstract: Excavation of Testar del Moli, the only workshop found in the Manises-Paterna area, revealed the existence of a fourteenth-century ceramic workshop covering the remains of the thirteenth-century workshop. This study is concerned with the fourteenth-century production, and forthcoming papers will connect both epochs following the findings of current excavations. The chemical and mineralogical characterization of the ceramic production of this workshop shows the presence of three groups of ceramic pastes which could also be distinguished by, and, thus, related to, their daily use. The raw materials found in the excavation have also been mineralogically and chemically characterized, and a model of possible mixtures of raw materials has also been developed in order to determine their possible use in the manufacture of the pottery previously characterized.

Abstract: Examination of a Sican ceremonial tumi, dated to the Middle Sican, c. AD 850–1050, showed that it was made in a silver-copper alloy of approximate composition 93% silver, 6% copper. Many separate pieces are used in the construction, joined together by both mechanical methods and by solder. The principal figure has been made from 18 separate silver sheets, with 169 separate parts identified in the head-dress, totalling 187 design elements. Metallographic examination of a fragment of repousse decorated sheet from the figure surmounting the tumi surprisingly showed that the silver-copper alloy has a cast morphology; this demonstrates that Sican metalsmiths were pre-casting silver-copper sheet into the dimensions required for making the tumi, rather than carrying out the expected process of making the idol from hammered silver-copper sheet, shaped by extensive cycles of working and annealing, thus contradicting the usual assumptions about the manufacture of sheet-metalwork made in such cases.

Abstract: L'encre rouge de quatre fragments des Manuscrits de la Mer Morte a ete analysee par fluorescence X et diffraction X. Le pigment rouge a ete identifie comme un sulfure de mercure (HgS), le cinabre. La portee archeologique et historique de cette decouverte est commentee

Abstract: Mons Claudianus in the Eastern Desert of Egypt was an important source of granodiorite for Roman columns. Computer contouring of 1119 magnetic susceptibility measurements at the quarry shows systematic variations, with low readings in the west of the quarry area and higher readings in the east. One hundred and seventy measurements on 62 columns of Mons Claudianus type in Rome and its environs were compared with the quarry readings, using a t-test based procedure. Some columns with distinctively low or high magnetic susceptibility could be provenanced very precisely to areas of about 700 × 700m within the 9km2 of Mons Claudianus. Columns with susceptibility in the middle of the Mons Claudianus range could not be provenanced precisely. Results indicate early (first century AD) use of both west and east parts of Mons Claudianus, and contemporaneous use of several parts of the quarry, rather than systematic or sequential opening of the area. Columns found in third-century AD monuments, provenanced to the same parts of Mons Claudianus as earlier material, may indicate reuse of columns in some monuments. Magnetic susceptibility constitutes a portable and non-destructive method capable of provenancing not only to a quarry, but to specific areas within a single quarry.

Abstract: Chemical analysis of Early Iron Age sherds from Cyprus and the Levant using atomic absorption spectrometry shows that Black-on-Red ware was manufactured only in Cyprus. Two types of fabric are isolated, calcareous and non-calcareous, and their technological significance discussed. The presence of trade links between the Cypriot sites of Kition and Amathus and sites in the Levant is suggested.

Abstract: The recent application by Burton and Krinsley (1987) of back-scattered electron (BSE) petrography to obsidians from sources located in the south-western United States established that this method can effectively resolve and characterize included micro-crystalline phases that have proven difficult to analyse by optical thin-section microscopy. In the first extension of their original study, we have examined, using BSE petrography, obsidians from island sources located in the Mediterranean, including sources known to have been exploited in prehistory. Because of the kinetic contrasts on their crystallization, these microcrystalline phases reflect the magmatic history of the obsidian, providing information about superheating, supercooling, sub-solidus processes, and other phenomena. This information is of significance for the chemical analysis of Mediterranean obsidians and also as the basis for a powerful alternative to existing non-destructive analytical methods for the sourcing of archaeological and art-historical obsidian.

Abstract: Roman African Red Slip ware (ARS) sherds from four ARS kiln sites in modern-day Tunisia (El Mahrine, El Ala, Oudna and Pheradi Maius) have been analysed using instrumental neutron activation analysis Multivariate statistical methods (including cluster analysis and Manhattan City Block distances), with a dilution correction applied to the data, were used to interpret the concentration data Reference groups for each of the four kiln sites were established Both El Mahrine and Oudna were described by two dilution-related groups These kiln groups were all shown to be compositionally distinct from each other and suitable for use in provenance studies

Abstract: An analysis of the structure of archaeological textiles can give an insight into different traditions, geographic origins or technologies associated with the textile production. An important parameter in this context is the level and direction of yarn twist. In this paper a new quantitative method of yarn twist measurement is described. Using image analysis techniques a measure of the mean twist level and the variation in twist can be determined. The technique is applied to a selection of woven woollen textiles from the first-century Roman fort at Vindolanda in northern England.

Abstract: There are a number of problems that are due to the physics involved in the ground penetrating radar (GPR) technique which result in the recorded data giving a distorted representation of the true subsurface structure. Many of these problems are reduced by the experience of the person interpreting the data. This paper is an attempt to remove some of the subjectivity from this process by considering how the distortion in the data could be reduced by applying a migration routine. The amount of data, and the time needed to collect it, place a restriction on the use of the migration process to two dimensions only and result in a compromise approach to the use of GPR. This compromise may, however, result in better integration of GPR with the other geophysical techniques available.

Abstract: This paper reports the results obtained applying absolute dating methodologies and mineralogical, petrographical and micropalaeontological characterization techniques to prehistoric pottery sherds varying in age from the Sicilian Middle Neolithic to Bronze Age. All samples came from the archaeological area of Milena (Caltanissetta, Sicily); those of the Bronze Age were found on a site with a precise stratigraphic succession. The investigation has contributed to the determination of an absolute chronology for the Milena prehistoric period. The data provide, for the first time in Sicily, absolute dates covering a wide spectrum of cultures following one another in the same area and, for the Bronze Age site, correlated to the precise stratigraphic succession. The petrographical and mineralogical analyses allowed not only the identification of the principal constituents of the pottery, but also the formulation of some hypotheses regarding the specific manufacturing techniques of different epochs. The microfacies, obtained from the presence of fossils in the groundmass of the pottery, were also analysed and compared with the microfauna present in the Miocene clays outcropping in the area. The data identified local Messinian clay as the raw material probably used in the manufacture of the pottery and also support the presence, already assumed by archaeologists, of imported Mycenaean pottery, thus supporting the dates obtained on pottery taken from the same stratum.

Abstract: The energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence method is used for the non-destructive qualitative analysis of Jingdezhen blue and white porcelains, which include the imperial wares of the Yongle, Xuande, Chenghua, Jiajing and Wanli periods of the Ming dynasty, the imperial wares of the Kangxi, Yongzheng, Qianlong, Jiaqing, Daoguang and Guangxu periods of the Qing dynasty, and those of the Republic and the contemporary period. The distribution pattern of the X-ray fluorescence intensities of the six characteristic elements for porcelain manufactured at different times has been investigated.

Abstract: Trente-cinq echantillons de fragments de recipients ceramiques dates entre le 11e et le 8e s av J-C, mis au jour sur le site archeologique de Rocca Vecchia (cote adriatique, Italie) ont ete examines L'analyse des composants a ete realisee au moyen de la spectroscopie d'emission plasma et les resultats obtenus ont ete traites par des methodes statistiques multiples Outre quelques differences mineures, l'analyse statistique confirme le groupement des structures indiquees par evaluation typologique et stylistique des echantillons, en accord avec la validite des methodes mentionnees ci-dessus

Abstract: African Red Slip ware (ARS) from Carthage and San Sisto Vecchio (Rome) was analysed by neutron activation analysis. The Carthage tableware was linked with Oudna and the type 1 lamps were probably from a northern ARS/lamp factory other than the sources currently investigated. Two samples were central Tunisian, probably manufactured at El Ala. The San Sisto samples divided into three groups and three outliers of undetermined provenance. Group 1 was central Tunisian, probably from El Ala, and was composed entirely of terra sigillata chiara C forms. Group 2 was of unknown origin within northern Tunisia. Group 3 was the largest subset and most of its constituent samples were associated with El Mahrine. Additionally, four samples were linked with Oudna.

Abstract: Energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF) analyses are compared with neutron activation as well as atomic absorption analyses of ancient copper-based alloys in order to examine their accuracy and to estimate realistic values for precision and sensitivity of EDXRF. The results show that it is possible to obtain reliable data of the surface composition of objects non-destructively. Better results for bulk composition are usually obtained with drill samples where the sensitivity of the method is at least competitive with atomic absorption spectroscopy with flame atomization.

Abstract: Presentation de la 21e liste de datations par radiocarbone realisees au laboratoire d'Oxford et concernant : des echantillons fauniques, floraux et environnementaux provenant de Grande-Bretagne, des restes humains provenant de Grande-Bretagne et de Belgique, de sites paleolithiques de Pologne, Moldavie, Russie et Ukraine, de sites mesolithiques de Grande-Bretagne, de Belgique, d'Allemagne et de Suede, de sites neolithiques et plus recents de Grande-Bretagne et d'Irlande, et de sites de Mediterannee orientale, d'Asie centrale et du sud-est, d'Egypte, d'Afrique sub-saharienne et d'Amerique du sud

Abstract: This paper is a review of the recent developments in use-wear analysis. The focus is on some key issues: polish formation, quantification of use-wear, residue analysis and the way these related themes have affected methods of use-wear analysis. A brief history of the development of use-wear analysis is presented and a discussion of blind tests, expert systems (explained at length in the ‘Appendix’) and how use-wear analysis can be incorporated into the chaine operatoire approach to the interpretation of Stone Age sites.

Abstract: Listes de donnees concernant les analyses d'isotopes de plomb d'echantillons de galene provenant principalement de sites d'Angleterre et du Pays de Galles, et de quelques sites d'Ecosse et d'Irlande

Abstract: Chemical analysis of statistically significant numbers of samples including minerals, sediments, soil, host rock as well as powdered materials, crucible accretions and metal artefacts revealed information about the distribution of cassiterite at Kestel and the tin smelting processes that took place at Goltepe c. 2600 BC. Using the ancient technique of vanning for the isolation of tin ore (cassiterite), followed by assaying by blowpipe/charcoal block, as well as crucible smelting with a blowpipe, good tin metal suitable for alloying with copper to make bronze was obtained. There is every indication that tin was mined and smelted in the Early Bronze Age at the Kestel/Goltepe sites.

Abstract: Non-destructive X-ray fluorescence analyses induced by white synchrotron radiation (SYXRF) have been performed on a page of the Gutenberg Bible and 21 other different single leaves printed in the years 1470 to 1500. Absolute elemental areal densities for the papers and the inks are reported. The known high Cu and Pb content in Gutenberg's ink is confirmed. The elemental compositions of the other inks, if measurable by XRF at all, are in general very low, governed only by a few additional elements and found to be not distinctive for a known printer. This will render an identification of the printer or printing offices by ink composition analysis in the period after 1470 difficult.

Abstract: Epistemology has not kept pace with the progress experienced in the direct dating of rock art. This paper reviews the experimental methods that have been developed in recent years. While many do provide important information about the possible age of rock art, it is of concern that the precipitate archaeological interpretations these data are used for are often not warranted. Some are attributable to not understanding the severe qualifications that apply to most dating results, others perhaps to over-enthusiasm on the part of some researchers. The introduction of archaeological dynamics into direct dating of rock art threatens the reliability of this young methodology. Some of the pitfalls are considered in this paper, and a general rationale for the direct dating of rock art is developed.