COURSE: Archaeometry, GEOL/ANTH 4340/6340
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Ervan G. Garrison
PERIODS: 3RD (11:00-12:15PM), Tuesday & Thursday, Room GG-143
OFFICE: 307 GG; Phone 542-1097, Fax 542-2425; egarriso@arches.uga.edu
GRADING: Grade based on two exams; in-term and final; plus exercises during the term
TEXTBOOKS: Techniques for Archaeological Geology (Garrsion) - Required;
Geological Methods for Archaeology (Herz and Garrison)- Supplemental.
4 unexcused absences will result in reduction of one (1) grade point of your course grade. (E.g. AB; etc) Excessive absences will result in dismissal.
COURSE DESCRIPTION: Archaeometry is the application of scientific analytical techniques in the study of archaeological materials and sites. Our first topics will be dating techniques - relative dating - and then forms of absolute dating analysis including dendrochronology, radiocarbon, etc. Additionally, the content of the course will cover techniques that will characterize archaeological facies such as stone, pottery, bone, and wood. Techniques of this nature include Neutron Activation Analysis, Electron Microprobe; XRD, etc.). We shall examine popular shallow geophysical prospection techniques - termed "archaeogeophysics". Your book(s) will be used to provide background reading for lectures as well as elements not discussed in class.
TOPICS
Historical background and example studies in archaeometry
Non-radioactive dating techniques - Dendrochronology; Archaeomagnetism; Amino Acid Ratios; Obsidian Hydration
Radioactivity & geochronology - 14C; AMS-14C ; U-Th Disequilibria; Fisson & nuclear recoil tracks; Thermoluminescence/OSL; Electron Spin Resonance
Chemical Analysis - Lead/Stable isotopes; XRF, XRD, Microprobe; ICP - MS; Activation Analysis (NAA) - Gamma spectroscopy of archaeological materials
Data analysis: basic statistical methods.
Remote Sensing in archaeological prospection
Geophysics - Resistivity/Electromagnetic; Acoustic
Geophysics, cont. - Radar & Magnetic Methods
EXERCISES & Laboratory Visits:
a. Geophysics - Resistivity/GEM-300 & Magnetometer exercise
b. Geophysics - GPR (Ground penetrating radar) exercise
c. XRD lab visit & exercise
d. Luminescence Dating lab visit & exercise
e. Electron microprobe visit & exercise
f. Statistical methods exercise
EXAMS Exam #1, Thursday, February 20th
Exam #2, (final), Wednesday, May 7th, 8 AM