학술논문

Beyond Provenance
Document Type
book
Author
Source
Subject
Eurasian Bronze Age
Chemical composition of bronzes
Lead isotopes in bronzes
Metal biography
Copper Groups
Alloying patterns
GIS
Spatial analysis
thema EDItEUR::N History and Archaeology::NK Archaeology::NKX Archaeological science, methodology and techniques
Language
English
Abstract
"Human intentionality in chemical patterns in Bronze Age metals For the last 180 years, scientists have been attempting to determine the ‘provenance’ (geological source) of the copper used in Bronze Age artefacts. However, despite advances in analytical technologies, the theoretical approach has remained virtually unchanged over this period, with the interpretative methodology only changing to accommodate the increasing capacity of computers. This book represents a concerted effort to think about the composition of Bronze Age metal as the product of human intentionality as well as of geology. It considers the trace element composition of the metal, the alloying elements, and the lead isotopic composition, showing how a combination of these aspects, along with archaeological context and typology, can reveal much more about the life history of such artefacts, expanding considerably upon the rather limited ambition of knowing where the ore was extracted. Beyond Provenance serves as a ‘how-to handbook’ for those wishing to look for evidence of human intentionality in the chemical patterning observed in bronzes."