Magnetism Makes Archaeological Sourcing 'High Definition'

Wednesday, May 22, 2013 - 09:31 in Paleontology & Archaeology

Sourcing of ancient artifacts has gotten a new advance. While at the University of Sheffield in the years 1965–1972, Professor Lord Colin Renfrew developed a technique that matched stone tools made of obsidian, naturally occurring glass, to their volcanic origins based on their chemical fingerprints. It was considered one of the greatest successes in scientific archeology, matching artifacts to specific volcanoes was a significant leap forward in understanding trade, contact, and cultural change in the ancient world. read more

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