Scientific Methods in Archaeology

This option will be provided by staff of the Research Laboratory for Archaeology, and aims to introduce the principles, and explain the methods used, in archaeological science concentrating mainly on the archaeology of the last 10,000 years. Examples that demonstrate these in action will be studied. It will consist of a total of 24 sessions, of which about 16 will be as taught classes or lectures. These will be divided up into the principal areas of:
Materials Analysis (6-8 lectures), dealing with ancient technologies and the movement of goods and ideas;
Biomolecular Archaeology (4-6 lectures), dealing with isotopic and other chemical genetic analyses, dealing with ancient diet and the movements of people;
Dating (2-3 lectures) concentrating mainly on radiocarbon dating, with some contribution from supporting methods such as dendrochronology and luminescence dating.

This course is usually taught in Michaelmas and Hilary Terms. (Convenor: M.Pollard, Research Laboratory for Archaeology and Art History).