Archaeological Science
An Introduction

An accessible and wide-ranging introduction to the exciting and expanding field of archaeological science, for students, professionals and academics.

Michael P. Richards (Edited by), Kate Britton (Edited by)

9780521195225, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 January 2020

464 pages, 54 b/w illus.
26 x 18.1 x 2.5 cm, 1.11 kg

'This is an interesting and well-written text that will be of principal interest to advanced undergraduates and graduate students pursuing careers in archaeology and related fields.' D. A. Brass, Choice

This book provides an up to date introduction to the exciting, but complex, new scientific methodologies that are increasingly used in archaeological study. Written by an international team of specialists, it provides clear and engaging overviews of a wide array of approaches, including DNA and proteomics, dating methods, materials analysis, stable isotope analysis, and the scientific study of human, plant, and animal remains, among other topics. Each technique is explored through the use of actual archaeological examples, which both explain the methods and highlight their potential applications. The work is carefully illustrated with useful charts, graphs and other images, which complement the detail in the text, and help to articulate the case studies explored  as well as the underlying principles of the techniques involved. Feature tables in many of the chapters highlight selected research on each topic, providing useful summaries of the current state and scope of the field for the reader. This volume will serve as a handy reference tool for scholars, as well as a key textbook for courses on archaeological science.

Part I. Introduction: 1. Introducing archaeological science Kate Britton and Michael P. Richards
Part II. Biomolecular Archaeology: 2. Ancient DNA Liisa Loog and Greger Larson
3. Proteomics Jessica Hendy, Nienke van Doorn and Matthew Collins
4. Residue analysis Oliver E. Craig, Hayley Saul and Cynthianne Spiteri
5. Isotope analysis for mobility and climate studies Kate Britton
6. Isotope analysis for diet studies Michael P. Richards
Part III. Bioarchaeology: 7. Human osteology Darlene A. Weston
8. Dental histology Tanya M. Smith
9. Geometric morphometrics Philip Gunz
Part IV. Environmental Archaeology: 10. Vertebrate zooarchaeology Keith Dobney and Beth Upex
11. Invertebrate zooarchaeology Marcello Mannino
12. Palaeoethnobotany A. Catherine D'Andrea
13. Geoarchaeology Panagiotis Karkanas
Part V. Materials Analysis: 14. Ceramics Andrew J. Shortland and Peter Degryse
15. Glass Andrew J. Shortland and Thilo Rehren
16. Metals in archaeological science Thilo Rehren
17. Lithics Shannon McPherron
Part VI. Absolute Dating Methods: 18. Radiocarbon dating Simon Blockley
19. Luminescence dating Richard Bailey.

Subject Areas: Archaeological science, methodology & techniques [HDW], Archaeological theory [HDA]