The Science and Archaeology of Materials

"The Science and Archaeology of Materials" is set to become the definitive work in the archaeology of materials. Henderson's highly illustrated work is an accessible and fascinating textbook which will be essential reading for all practical archaeologists. With clear sections on a wide range of mate [...]
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"The Science and Archaeology of Materials" is set to become the definitive work in the archaeology of materials. Henderson's highly illustrated work is an accessible and fascinating textbook which will be essential reading for all practical archaeologists. With clear sections on a wide range of materials including ceramics, glass, metals and stone, this work examines the very foundations of archaeological study. Anyone interested in ancient technologies, especially those involving high temperatures, kilns and furnaces will be able to follow in each chapter how raw materials are refined, transformed and shaped into objects. This description is then followed by appropriate case studies which provide a new chronological and geographical example of how scientific and archaeological aspects can and do interact.They include: Roman pale green and highly decorated glass; 17th Century glass in Britain and Europe; the effect of the introduction of the wheel on pottery technology; the technology of Celadon ceramics; early copper metallurgy in the Middle East; chemical analysis and lead isotope analysis of British Bronzes; early copper alloy metallurgy in Thailand; the chemical analysis of obsidian and its distribution; and, the origins of the Stonehenge bluestones. This book shows how archaeology and science intersect and feed off each other. Modern scientific techniques have provided data which, when set within a fully integrated archaeological context, have the potential of contributing to mainstream archaeology. This holistic approach generates a range of connections which benefits both areas and will enrich archaeological study in the future.