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Scientific studies in ancient ceramics
Journal
of Archaeological
Science 1982,9,
109-l 10
Book Reviews
Scientific Occasional
Studies in Ancient Ceramics. Edited by M. J. Hughes. Papers No. 19. 1981. 177 pp. Price not stated.
British
Museum
The annual archaeometry symposium has long been a major event in the archaeological science calendar, but surprisingly the proceedings were not published as a volume until 1978. The 1979 Conference, held in the British Museum Research Laboratory, saw a further development, for the decision was taken to group the papers into four volumes according to subject matter. The work reviewed here contains the 14 papers which were concerned with the analysis of ancient ceramics. Within this field a wide spectrum of analytical activity is covered. Five of the papers discuss the use of neutron activation analysis while others are concerned with mineralogical methods. Two important papers explore the application of atomic absorption spectroscopy, while one uses ESR spectrometry in the determination of firing temperatures. The broad spectrum of instrumental methods is matched by the wide range of problems, to which they are applied. An indication of the scope of the volume is given by the headings of the four subdivisions : provenance studies, firing temperatures, pigments and post-depositional changes. The largest of these sections is that concerned with characterization, which comprises nine papers. It is here that the archaeologist is likely to find results which bear most closely upon his immediate problems. It is a testimony to development of fabric analysis that many of these papers present firm results, rather than merely exploring possibilities. This is well illustrated by the two articles on Gaulish amphorae by Laubenheimer, Widemann, Fontes and Leblanc. Amphorae of the form “Gauloise 4” are known to have been produced in numerous small concerns in southern France, but both typological and petrological discrimination has proved difficult. However, neutron activation opens new possibilities for it is now feasible to distinguish broad production regions or to decide which forms were likely to have been made on a given kiln site and which are intrusive. Such fundamental information is essential if the study of amphorae is to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the Roman economy. The volume as a whole is a very useful contribution to the study of ancient ceramics. The contributors, Dr. Hughes and the British Museum all deserve our thanks. D. P. S. Peacock Surveying for Archaeologists and other Field Croom Helm. Price not stated.
Workers.
By A. H. A. Hogg.
1980. London,
As the author observes, “it has always seemed to me self-evident that an accurate plan was an essential part of the definitive description of a field monument”. The author also observes that he was “shocked to discover that many professional archaeologists had a less than rudimentary understanding of the principles of surveying”. It was for this reason that Dr Hogg felt the need for this book. This is not, however, simply a textbook of surveying, for many such books already exist. It is instead very much a personal account of surveying techniques preferred, and used over 25 years, by a member of the Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments in Wales. This personal approach is both the book’s strength and its weakness. The personal approach makes the book readable, unlike many textbooks on surveying. Some of the asides do, however, perhaps tell more about the author than the techniques. Clearly a future generation of archaeological surveyors is not likely to emerge from a chance meeting with a surveyor whose comment on children 109
of Archaeological
Science 1982,9,
109-l 10
Book Reviews
Scientific Occasional
Studies in Ancient Ceramics. Edited by M. J. Hughes. Papers No. 19. 1981. 177 pp. Price not stated.
British
Museum
The annual archaeometry symposium has long been a major event in the archaeological science calendar, but surprisingly the proceedings were not published as a volume until 1978. The 1979 Conference, held in the British Museum Research Laboratory, saw a further development, for the decision was taken to group the papers into four volumes according to subject matter. The work reviewed here contains the 14 papers which were concerned with the analysis of ancient ceramics. Within this field a wide spectrum of analytical activity is covered. Five of the papers discuss the use of neutron activation analysis while others are concerned with mineralogical methods. Two important papers explore the application of atomic absorption spectroscopy, while one uses ESR spectrometry in the determination of firing temperatures. The broad spectrum of instrumental methods is matched by the wide range of problems, to which they are applied. An indication of the scope of the volume is given by the headings of the four subdivisions : provenance studies, firing temperatures, pigments and post-depositional changes. The largest of these sections is that concerned with characterization, which comprises nine papers. It is here that the archaeologist is likely to find results which bear most closely upon his immediate problems. It is a testimony to development of fabric analysis that many of these papers present firm results, rather than merely exploring possibilities. This is well illustrated by the two articles on Gaulish amphorae by Laubenheimer, Widemann, Fontes and Leblanc. Amphorae of the form “Gauloise 4” are known to have been produced in numerous small concerns in southern France, but both typological and petrological discrimination has proved difficult. However, neutron activation opens new possibilities for it is now feasible to distinguish broad production regions or to decide which forms were likely to have been made on a given kiln site and which are intrusive. Such fundamental information is essential if the study of amphorae is to make a significant contribution to our understanding of the Roman economy. The volume as a whole is a very useful contribution to the study of ancient ceramics. The contributors, Dr. Hughes and the British Museum all deserve our thanks. D. P. S. Peacock Surveying for Archaeologists and other Field Croom Helm. Price not stated.
Workers.
By A. H. A. Hogg.
1980. London,
As the author observes, “it has always seemed to me self-evident that an accurate plan was an essential part of the definitive description of a field monument”. The author also observes that he was “shocked to discover that many professional archaeologists had a less than rudimentary understanding of the principles of surveying”. It was for this reason that Dr Hogg felt the need for this book. This is not, however, simply a textbook of surveying, for many such books already exist. It is instead very much a personal account of surveying techniques preferred, and used over 25 years, by a member of the Royal Commission on Ancient Monuments in Wales. This personal approach is both the book’s strength and its weakness. The personal approach makes the book readable, unlike many textbooks on surveying. Some of the asides do, however, perhaps tell more about the author than the techniques. Clearly a future generation of archaeological surveyors is not likely to emerge from a chance meeting with a surveyor whose comment on children 109