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The Archaeologist's Laboratory: The Analysis of Archaeological Evidence (2nd Edition)

by Edward B. Banning · Springer

Second edition of the standard post-excavation textbook. Covers measurement, quantification, sampling, and error, then analysis of lithics, pottery, faunal and botanical remains, dates and residues, with emphasis on whether the resulting data actually support archaeological arguments. The comprehensive anchor for this topic - it is literally the textbook for 'what happens to objects after the trench closes'. Covers every material class in the topic note in one volume, plus the measurement theory and data-quality reasoning that specialist manuals assume.

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archaeological.org

The Archaeological Institute of America’s website offers archaeology news and feature articles (from Archaeology Magazine), plus teaching resources, fieldwork updates, and professional opportunities such as grants, fellowships, and events.

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Analytical Chemistry in Archaeology

Chemistry behind archaeometric techniques, then technique-by-technique treatment of atomic absorption, ICP spectrometry, neutron activation, X-ray fluorescence, electron microscopy, infrared and Raman spectroscopy, and mass spectrometry, with archaeological provenance and isotope case studies. Assumes secondary-school chemistry.

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Pottery in Archaeology (2nd Edition)

Cambridge manual on ceramic analysis: fabric and form recording, thin-section petrology and chemical characterisation for sourcing, quantification methods including estimated vessel equivalents, sampling design, and the inferences about chronology, trade and technology that pottery data can carry.

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Lithics: Macroscopic Approaches to Analysis (2nd Edition)

Manual for recording and analysing stone tools and debitage: raw material identification, classification and typology, technological and metric attributes, debitage aggregate analysis, reduction indices, and a section on use-wear and functional studies. Assumes no prior lithics background.

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Materials Science and Industrial Processes: Archaeological Science Guidance

Historic England's free technical guidance on studying production evidence: archaeometallurgy, glassworking, pottery production sites, organic residue analysis, and a national standard for pottery studies. Each linked document sets out sampling, identification, analysis and reporting practice used by UK specialists.

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