Neutron activation analysis in Mediterranean Archaeology: current applications and future perspectives

Kai Riehle, Erich Kistler, Birgit Öhlinger, Christian Heitz, David Ben-Shlomo, Reinhard Jung, Hans Mommsen, Johannes H. Sterba, Stefanos Gimatzidis, Alexander Fantalkin, Susanne Prillwitz, Anno Hein, Leonhard Geissler, Gunnar Lehmann, Jan Kindberg Jacobsen, Richard Posamentir, Udo Schlotzhauer

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

This paper, jointly written by participants of a workshop held in 2021, argues for an increased recognition and application of neutron activation analysis (NAA) in the archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean. Discussing the methodological strengths and challenges, it highlights the great potential NAA has for collecting proxy data from ceramics in order to develop progressive concepts of archaeological research within and beyond the Mediterranean Bronze and Iron Age, pointing out opportunities to revisit long-held assumptions of scholarship and to refine visual/macroscopic provenance determinations of pottery. To take full advantage of NAA’s strengths toward a better understanding of the socioeconomic background of ceramics production, distribution, and consumption, the paper emphasises the need for both interdisciplinary collaboration and basic data publication requirements.

Original languageEnglish
Article number25
JournalArchaeological and Anthropological Sciences
Volume15
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - Mar 2023

Keywords

  • Connectivity
  • Interdisciplinarity
  • Mediterranean Archaeology
  • NAA
  • Pottery studies
  • Provenance determination

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