Elemental and Isotopic Analysis in Archaeology: Reconstructing Ancient Technology, Trade, and Subsistence

(57) Elemental Analysis; (83) Geochemistry; (125) Mass Spectrometry; (126) Materials Science

The elemental or isotopic analysis of archaeological materials is fundamental to the reconstruction of many prehistoric human behaviors. Characterization of raw material sources enables the attribution of artifacts to those sources, and thus the reconstruction of ancient trade; transformations in the chemical composition between raw material and finished artifact are important clues to the technological processes of production of metals, ceramics, and glass. The composition of skeletal materials often reflects the foods consumed and the region inhabitated. Advances in analytical instrumentation have led to reduced sample size requirements, lower detection limits, and greater precision & accuracy, all of which have impacted the analysis of archaeological materials. The application of chemical methods of analysis to archaeological materials is illustrated by my research on (1) the obsidian trade using ICP-MS and the electron microprobe; (2) determining the source of marble used for sculptures using stable isotope ratio mass spectrometry (SIRA); (3) tracing the source and smelting/casting technology of copper and bronze objects using TIMS, ICP/Sector MS, and other methods; and (4) reconstructing ancient human diets through the isotopic and elemental analysis of bone, teeth and hair.