New Developments in the Use of Spatial Technology in Archaeology

Spatial technology is integral to how archaeologists collect, store, analyze, and represent information in digital data sets. Recent advances have improved our ability to look for and identify archaeological remains and have increased the size and complexity of our data sets. In this review we outline trends in visualization, data management, archaeological prospecting, modeling, and spatial analysis, as well as key advances in hardware and software. Due to developments in education, information technology, and landscape archaeology, the implementation of spatial technology has begun to move beyond superficial applications and is no longer limited to environmental deterministic approaches. In the future, spatial technology will increasingly change archaeology in ways that will enable us to become better practitioners, scholars, and stewards.     

琼脂凝胶在青铜文物激光清洗中的应用研究

激光清洗应用于青铜文物上有时会使其表面颜色及其他一些物化性质发生改变。如何优化这种方法改善这种状况?为此,本工作将琼脂凝胶-激光联用作为一种可能的优化手段,首先研究了凝胶对激光能量和作用的影响,包括以能量计测量激光穿过凝胶层后的能量减弱幅度,以及通过热敏纸和文物样品上的烧蚀斑观察凝胶对激光烧蚀结果的影响。其次在不同类型的青铜文物样品上将之与普通湿法激光清洗、机械清洗等手段做清洗效果的对比实验,并以视频显微镜、扫描电镜及能谱仪、X射线衍射等手段进行分析验证。实验结果发现,凝胶能小幅度降低激光能量,减轻激光引起的青铜文物表面微观结构的改变,为清洗操作提供更灵活多样的选择。凝胶-激光联用的方法在实验的文物样品上取得了理想的清洗效果,兼顾了操作的效率性和安全性,是在今后的应用中可被考虑的手段。     

Glaze and slip pigment analyses of Pueblo IV period ceramics from east-central Arizona using time of flight-laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (TOF-LA-ICP-MS)

This paper presents the results of glaze-paint and slip analysis of 161 White Mountain Red Ware ceramic samples (AD 1275–1325) from east-central Arizona. Time of flight-laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (TOF-LA-ICP-MS) analysis is used (1) to establish viability of the technique for measuring chemical compositions of glazes and slips, and (2) to establish a methodology for inferring this structured variability, specifically delineating the presence of specific pigment mixtures or “recipes” used by prehistoric potters in the Greater Southwest. These data bear on archaeological questions about craft production, exchange, technology, and social organization.     

试论东汉会稽画像镜的艺术风格及对早期越窑堆塑瓷装饰的影响

本文试从艺术的角度,对会稽画像镜的艺术风格及其对早期越窑堆塑瓷装饰所产生的影响作了探索。     

故宫养心殿燕喜堂琉璃构件表面污染物的清洗实验初步研究

古建筑琉璃瓦构件长期暴露在室外,受到风吹雨淋,加之大量的污染物影响,导致釉层剥落,严重影响其外观及艺术价值,也为后续的保护修复带来巨大影响。实验通过对琉璃构件污染物的检测,发现其污染物主要为黑色含炭的附着物,以及含有钙与铁的原有修复材料。分别用激光清洗、蒸汽清洗等手段进行清洗,通过视频显微与色差仪对其清洗效果评估。结果发现激光清洗能有效去除黑色含碳的附着物,蒸汽清洗则对于表面的灰尘与浅黑色污染物有显著的效果,手术刀片剔除法可以有效清除原有修复材料。本实验对于琉璃构件清洗保护流程及工艺可起到指导作用。     

X射线荧光光谱技术与拉曼光谱技术在齐家文化玉器研究中的应用

为分析判断齐家文化玉器的材质,利用X射线荧光光谱技术对宁夏博物馆藏5件齐家文化玉器进行无损检测分析。结果表明,5件玉器所含元素及相对含量与和田玉相似。再借助齐家文化历史史料的有关信息,可推断为和田玉成分;利用拉曼光谱技术测得5件样品的拉曼光谱图,通过与和田玉样品拉曼光谱图比对,最强及次强特征峰位整体与之相似。可以明显看到透闪石矿物的特征峰,两种检测分析结果相互验证。研究结果为探索齐家文化玉器的玉质和玉料来源提供了重要的科学依据和准确的数据支撑。     

Groundmass microsampling using laser ablation time-of-flight inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA–TOF–ICP–MS): potential for rhyolite provenance research

Provenance research using rhyolite formations that cooled too slowly to form obsidian has proven difficult for geochemical researchers to date. Uncertainties about the temperature regimes within the parent magma chamber and subsequently of the eruption process itself yield highly divergent phenocryst compositions and quantities. Variable and uncertain phenocryst composition and content make bulk and surface compositional analysis techniques (e.g., INAA, XRF) ineffectual without efforts to homogenise or render samples into solutions. This is frequently not a viable option for archaeological materials, thus rendering provenance research on rhyolite artifacts impractical using traditional techniques.     

Practical quantitative lithic use-wear analysis using multiple classifiers

Although use-wear analysis of prehistoric stone tools using conventional microscopy has proven useful to archaeologists interested in tool function, critics have questioned the reliability and repeatability of the method. The research presented here shows it is possible to quantitatively discriminate between various contact materials (e.g., wood, antler) using laser scanning confocal microscopy in conjunction with conventional edge damage data. Experiments with replica and prehistoric tools suggest the quantitative method presented here provides valid functional inferences and is flexible enough to accommodate other relevant sources of data on tool function.     

A proof of concept demonstration of the automated laser removal of rock from a fossil using 3D X-ray tomography data

Laser removal of rock from around a fossil using 3D data was demonstrated was the first time. This proof of concept combines the power of two technologies: X-ray micro-computed tomography scanning and programmable scanning laser ablation. This simple demonstration holds promise for the semi-automated and entirely safe laser removal of bulk material from around precious fossils.     

Cultural Heritage Documentation and Conservation: Three-Dimensional (3D) Laser Scanning and Geographical Information System (GIS) Techniques for Thematic Mapping of Facade Stonework of St. Nicholas Church (Pisa,Italy)

This article reports the mapping of the stones, including marbles and brick masonry, used for building the facade of the medieval Church of St. Nicholas (XI century ad), one of the most interesting churches in Pisa, due also to the nearby famous octagonal bell tower. Mapping of stone materials was performed using a computer-aided design (CAD)/geographical information system (GIS) software package for storing and processing spatial information of the ashlars, obtained using three-dimensional (3D) laser-scanning data, combined with high-resolution images, and stone-to-stone observations. Based on collected data, the facade of the Church of St. Nicholas appeared mostly composed of rocks belonging to the metamorphic Tuscan sequence, quartzites, and marbles from Mt. Pisano area. Other types of rocks were also observed, as black limestones quarried at some kilometers northwest from Pisa in the Monti d’Oltre Serchio area, white Apuan marbles and Macigno sandstones. Conversely, intarsia appeared mainly made up of serpentinite and, subordinately, red limestones laid in white Apuan and Mt. Pisano marbles.