In this presentation, Dr. Michael Glascock will describe some of the techniques employed in archaeometry and discuss a few recent discoveries made in his laboratory. Archaeometry involves the application of scientific techniques and methodologies in the laboratory or in the field to investigate research questions of interest to archaeology. The range of archaeometry research includes the following major themes: (1) prospection; (2) dating; (3) conservation; (4) materials characterization; and (5) provenance/sourcing. Archaeologists can obtain significant information using these methods such that archaeometry has the potential to alter our understanding of the past.
Dr. Michael Glascock is Group Leader of the Archaeometry Laboratory and Professor of Anthropology at the University of Missouri-Columbia. He is the 2009 recipient of the Fryxell Award for Interdisciplinary Research from the Society for American Archaeology. His laboratory is the world’s leading laboratory in the application of chemical characterization methods to archaeological materials for provenance/sourcing research.
