Compositional classes and diversity in archaeological ceramic studies

Archaeological studies are based, at a large extent, on the study of the materials that form the different unearthed assemblages. Thus, ceramic assemblages are defined by their compositions, i.e. how many pots of different types do we have. Those assemblages, are supposed to shed light on chronological issues, as well as on social issues related to the social context after which they were formed. Therefore, one of the key problems in Archaeology is the formation of the archaeological record, since any study based on the unearthed evidence will be thus necessarily conditioned. Pottery, as many other types of artefacts, rarely appears as complete vases. The activity in the systemic context (in the living societies of the past), and the activity in the archaeological one usually leads to incomplete vessels, represented by an unknown number of isolated shards. Several strategies have been proposed to overcome these problems, and they are collectively known as quantification studies (Orton, 1993). In such studies, reassembly of shards is conducted up to different extents. Besides, different principles are assumed in different quantification methods. Even so, especially in studies not devoted to pottery, some criticism have been made on the concept of taxonomical abundance, which guides quantification studies, highlighting the underpinning role of taphonomical issues (Lyman, 2004). Moreover, individuals and assemblages are in the basis of any archaeometric study, and sampling is the most crucial derived issue (Orton, 2000)

Identificació arqueològica i arqueomètrica de noves produccions de Terra Sigillata Hispánica a l'àrea dels Pirineus catalans

Les excavacions realitzades a la Cerdanya han proporcionat l'evidència arqueològica de la possible existència d'una producció local de TSH, que inclou les formes tradicionals i d'altres formes noves. Per tal de contrastar aquesta hipòtesi, s'ha desenvolupat un estudi arqueometric per FRX i DRX. Els resultats mostren l'existència de diverses produccions desconegudes fins el present, sense que cap dels materials estudiats hagin pogut associar-se al taller d'Abella ni a les produccions de l'àrea de Tricio. Aquestes noves produccions ofereixen, a més, una important diversitat tecnològica.Archaeological research in the area of Cerdanya has provided archaeological evidence to postulate the existence of local production of HTS. This production includes traditional types, but also new ones. In order to examine this hypothesis an archaeometric study has been undertaken by means of XRF and XRD. The results show the presence of different productions yet unknown to present. Moreover, none of the studied materials have been successfully related with Abella workshop, neither with the products from Tricio. These new productions exhibit an important technological diversity

Mathematics, statistics and archaeometry: the past 50 years or so

This review of developments in the use of mathematics and statistics in archaeometry over the past 50 years is partial, personal and 'broad-brush'. The view is expressed that it is in the past 30 years or so that the major developments have taken place. The view is also expressed that, with the exception of methods for analysing radiocarbon dates and increased computational power, mathematical and statistical methods that are currently used, and found to be useful in widespread areas of application such as provenance studies, don't differ fundamentally from what was being done 30 years ago

Alterations of Na, K and Rb concentrations in Mycenaean pottery and a proposed explanation using X-ray diffraction

One of the most important reference groups for Mycenaean pottery is the Mycenae/Berbati (MB). In several studies, a second group has been identified (MBKR). The chemical compositions were similar to MB, but with important differences in the Na, K and Rb contents. The present study suggests that these differences are due to selective alteration and contamination processes that are indirectly determined by the original firing temperature. Therefore, groups MB and MBKR should be considered as a single reference group

Morphometrics and compositional classes. The stuy of anthropomorphic sculptures from Teotihuacan (México)

Morphometry is defined as the measurement of the external and perceptible characteristics, i.e., in a first approximation, of the shape or morphology of an object. It includes information related to the object’s appearance as well as to its physical and diachronic constitution (Verrecchia, 2003). Morphometric studies attempt to describe this form or shape through mathematical relationships that allow numerical data, and this can be achieved in different ways. In general, tow main types of analysis can be performed whether they are or they are not based on the study of the contourn. In several instances, the actual contourn is not supposed to be really informative. Instead, elementary Euclidean geometrical measurements or the definition of significant points (landmarks or semi-landmarks), referenced in coordinates systems, are used