edited by: , MICHAELR. SLABAUGH &i Weher State Coilege @& Ogden, Utah 84408
chem I mpplement Archaeological Chemistry Joseph B. Lambert Northwestern University, Evanston, IL 60201
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eminent chemists, including Davy, Berzelius, Fresenius, and Faradav, published accounts of the analysis of archaeological materials-(1). Today the contributions of chemistry to archaeology can be placed roughly into four categories.
on authenticity or chronology.Methods include not only the familiar radioactive methods such as 14C or KIAr, but also
valve the extensive use of chemical teehniaues, as well as
inorganic chemistry. (3) Prospectcon Location of sites or of features within sites relies
mainly on ohysical methods, but some chemical methods, such as ph&ihate analysis of soils ( 4 ) ,also are useful. (41 Comoosition. Knowledee " of the comoosition of artifacts or other materials associated with ancient peoples can provide a wealth of information.Analysis of the composition of metal, stone, or pottery can lead to location of the source of the raw materials used in their manufacture. Knowledge of trace or minor element composition esn indicate the cause of physical properties, such as the colors of glass or the malleability of metal. Composition also can lead to inferences concerning ancient technology, for example, how melting points were Lowered to achieve the liquid state in metallurgy or glass manufacture,or whether pottery was firedunder an oxidizing or reducing atmosphere. Authenticity can sometimes be revealed strictly by artifact composition.The presence in an artifact of a pigment or alloy that was unknown at the time the object was supposed to have been made is good evidence for forgery. Similarly, chronology can sometimes be established by knowledge of the development of metal or glass composition through history. Even information on ancient diet can be obtained, through the analysis of the composition of bone. ~
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The majority of chemists with interests in archaeology focus on the ~ r o b l e mof comvosition. T h e remainder of this article provides examples of the application of chemical comoosition to archaeolorv. Chemists use all the resources of modern analytical chemistry-instrumental analysis for soecific elements, molecular spectroscopy, chromatography, mhJysi> and micrnw~p\.Among 1111.t ~ ~ v l m ~ qfur u e svle111tm1.11 tire ~ r t m i ~ ;.l!sorl~lit,n . I-\\!. S rny rluc:deri\.cd i n m ori~inallymdiua~~tioe wnrvci will he rich in i h l iln.iw . ceornn~hi~ "~.m d u n s'l'heae - - . diffc,rt.ncesin isotowic ratios can be measured by mass spectrometry, since, as its name indicates, it is a technique for distinmishingmass. Ores from a given region will have characteristic isotopic ratios, which can he found in the artifacts produced from them. In this fashion, lead isotope ratios have been used to establish ore sources for the lead in bronzes, glasses, and pigments (21). Oxygen and carbon isotopes may-he exp1oited;n a similar fashion. In these cases, differences in isotopic distribution are not the result of radioactive decay. oxygen is present with atomic weights 16, 17, or 18, carhon as 12, 13, or 14. These differences are sufficient for fractionation to occur by physical,
(1) Caley, E.R., J. CHEM. EDUC.,28.64 (1951). (2) Tite,M. S.,"Methdsof PhysicalEnamlnationlnArchapology.iiSe~mPress,hndon, ,am
(31 Gaffer, Z., "Archaeo1ogicalChemistry;'John Wiley, New York, 1980. (4) Bahhevk,S.,Norw.Alch.Re"., 13,1(1980). (5) Lmhert. J. B..and McLaughlin, C. D., "Archaeological Chemistry 11: Aduan. Cham. No. 171, American Chemical Society Washington, DC, 1978, pp. 189-199. (61 Sieveking, G, de G.,Bush. P.,Ferguson,J., Cradd0ck.P. T.,Hughes, M. J., and Cowel, M. R, Archooornalry, 14,151 (1972). (7) AUon,R.O.,andPenneU,S.E.,"lchapologidChunistry~,ilAduan. Chem No. 171, Ameriesn Chemical Society. Washington, DC, 1978, DP.23LL257. (8) Lambart, J. B.,McLaughtin, C. D., and Leonard, Jr., A., Archoeomdry, 20, 107 (19781. (9) Bawrnsn, H. R., Assro, F., and Perlman, I., Amhommsn?., 15,123 (1973). (10) Rapp, Jr., G., Henrickson, E., Miller, M., and Aschenbrenner, S., J. Met&, 32, 35
(18) Lsmbert,J. B.,andFrye,J. S., Scirnce.ZL7.55 (1982).
(19)T0minaga.T.. Takeda,M., M~bbbhi,H . , a n d E m o t o e r n . Radioand Lett.,
Course on Advanced Study in Chemistry Offered for High School Chemistry Teachers of Advanced Placement Chemistry A course designed for teachers of Advanced Placement Chemistry will be offered at The University of Texas, Austin, Texas, from June 1 to 24,1983. The purpose of the course is to help prepare high school chemistry teachers to teach advanced placement chemistry. It would also be an excellent course for teachers of introductory chemistry who desire to broaden their background. The course will consist of lectures on selected topics by college professors, laboratory experiments, assigned reading and problems and explanations of the advanced placement curriculum and test. For further information write to: J. J. Lagowski, Department of Chemistry, The University of Texas, Austin, TX 78712.
Volume GO
Number 4
April 1983
347
