Retrospective and Prospective for Scientific Provenance Studies in Archaeology
Seiten
2025
Cambridge University Press (Verlag)
978-1-009-59219-2 (ISBN)
Cambridge University Press (Verlag)
978-1-009-59219-2 (ISBN)
This Element reviews the golden age of provenance studies in archaeology, shows the complexity of materials and human behavior, and is reliable for lithics and obsidian but complex for ceramics and metals. It suggests focusing on human selectivity and processing, and the wider resources available, rather than simply focusing on the object's origin.
Provenance has been one of the major scientific applications in archaeology for a hundred years. The 'Golden Age' began in the 1950s, when large programmes were initiated focussing on bronzes, ceramics, and lithics. However, these had varying impact, ranging from wide acceptance to outright rejection. This Element reviews some of these programmes, mainly in Eurasia and North America, focussing on how the complexity of the material, and the effects of human behaviour, can impact on such studies. The conclusion is that provenance studies of lithic materials and obsidian are likely to be reliable, but those on ceramics and metals are increasingly complicated, especially in the light of mixing and recycling. An alternative is suggested, which focusses more on using scientific studies to understand the relationship between human selectivity and processing and the wider resources available, rather than on the simple question of 'where does this object come from'.
Provenance has been one of the major scientific applications in archaeology for a hundred years. The 'Golden Age' began in the 1950s, when large programmes were initiated focussing on bronzes, ceramics, and lithics. However, these had varying impact, ranging from wide acceptance to outright rejection. This Element reviews some of these programmes, mainly in Eurasia and North America, focussing on how the complexity of the material, and the effects of human behaviour, can impact on such studies. The conclusion is that provenance studies of lithic materials and obsidian are likely to be reliable, but those on ceramics and metals are increasingly complicated, especially in the light of mixing and recycling. An alternative is suggested, which focusses more on using scientific studies to understand the relationship between human selectivity and processing and the wider resources available, rather than on the simple question of 'where does this object come from'.
1. The provenance hypothesis; 2. The origins of chemical analysis in archaeology; 3. The first expressions of provenance; 4. The archaeological framework; 5. Provenance in practice; 6. The 'Golden Age' of provenance studies; 7. Cracks in the façade; 8. Towards a new provenance hypothesis; References.
| Erscheinungsdatum | 28.01.2025 |
|---|---|
| Reihe/Serie | Elements in Current Archaeological Tools and Techniques |
| Zusatzinfo | Worked examples or Exercises |
| Verlagsort | Cambridge |
| Sprache | englisch |
| Maße | 152 x 229 mm |
| Gewicht | 259 g |
| Themenwelt | Geisteswissenschaften ► Archäologie |
| ISBN-10 | 1-009-59219-X / 100959219X |
| ISBN-13 | 978-1-009-59219-2 / 9781009592192 |
| Zustand | Neuware |
| Informationen gemäß Produktsicherheitsverordnung (GPSR) | |
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