Physics Methods in Archaeometry
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Author(s): Società Italiana di Fisica
Publisher: IOS Press
ISBN: 1586034243
Format: hardback
501pp
Price: £115.00, $211.00, €170
Review Date: 15 July 2004
Review: ‘Archaeometry’ literally means ‘measuring objects’. It is the science used by archaeologists and art historians to solve problems associated with conservation and restoration. These are the invited lectures given at the International School of Physics “Enrico Fermi” held in Varenna in June 2003. They cover: optical spectroscopy and colorimetry; multivariate analysis of archaeometric data; thermodynamics for cultural heritage; ion beam techniques for analysing archaeological metallic artefacts; information technologies for examining museum collections; methodologies for the provenance of white marbles; thermoluminescence dating; gilding since 3000 BC; wire manufacture since the Bronze Age; the Sutton Hoo ship burial; identifying forged antiquities; archaeometallurgy; image spectroscopy for conservation of contemporary art; production of ancient pottery; glass and vitreous materials; glazed pottery; radio nuclide dating; archaeological provenance studies; stable isotope analysis; luminescence and particle track dating; forensic science trace evidence approaches; and thermographic testing on historic buildings.