Consumer's Guide to Archaeological Science

Many archaeologists, as primarily social scientists, do not have a background in the natural sciences. This can pose a problem because they need to perform chemical and physical analysis on samples to perform their research. This manual will be an essential source of information for those students without a background in archaeological science, but be a comprehensive overview that those with some science background will still find useful.§The manual will provide readers with the knowledge to use archaeological science methods to the best advantage. It will describe and explain the analytical techniques in a manner that the average archaeologist can understand, and outline clearly the requirements, benefits, and limitations of each possible method of analysis, so that the researcher can make informed choices. The work includes specific information about the ways of analyzing most common types of archaeological samples, including:§-pottery and ceramics§-stone tools§-bone and teeth§-cultural rock§-organic residues§-shell and plant remains§-paints and pigments§- metal§-glass§-sediments§Since samples are often compromised or changed during experimentation, it is important to select the most effective technique for gaining the target information from the sample before proceeding. Readers will reach for this manual for whenever they need to decide how to best analyze a sample, and how to perform that analysis.