Neutron activation analysis in Mediterranean Archaeology: current applications and future perspectives

This paper, jointly written by participants of a workshop held in 2021, argues for an increased recognition and application of neutron activation analysis (NAA) in the archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean. Discussing the methodological strengths and challenges, it highlights the great potential...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Archaeological and anthropological sciences 2023-03, Vol.15 (3), p.25-25, Article 25
Main Authors: Riehle, Kai, Kistler, Erich, Öhlinger, Birgit, Heitz, Christian, Ben-Shlomo, David, Jung, Reinhard, Mommsen, Hans, Sterba, Johannes H., Gimatzidis, Stefanos, Fantalkin, Alexander, Prillwitz, Susanne, Hein, Anno, Geissler, Leonhard, Lehmann, Gunnar, Kindberg Jacobsen, Jan, Posamentir, Richard, Schlotzhauer, Udo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anthropology
Archaeological research
Archaeology
Ceramics
Chemistry/Food Science
Consumption
Culture
Earth and Environmental Science
Earth Sciences
Geography
Integrated approach
Interdisciplinary aspects
Iron Age
Life Sciences
Material culture
Methods
Neutrons
Pottery
Socioeconomic status
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This paper, jointly written by participants of a workshop held in 2021, argues for an increased recognition and application of neutron activation analysis (NAA) in the archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean. Discussing the methodological strengths and challenges, it highlights the great potential NAA has for collecting proxy data from ceramics in order to develop progressive concepts of archaeological research within and beyond the Mediterranean Bronze and Iron Age, pointing out opportunities to revisit long-held assumptions of scholarship and to refine visual/macroscopic provenance determinations of pottery. To take full advantage of NAA’s strengths toward a better understanding of the socioeconomic background of ceramics production, distribution, and consumption, the paper emphasises the need for both interdisciplinary collaboration and basic data publication requirements.
ISSN:1866-9557
1866-9565
DOI:10.1007/s12520-023-01728-1