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The paper presents a structural analysis of two pottery fragments belonging to the Hamangia phase III Ceamurlia culture, discovered in a settlement with several living levels on the northern shore of Lake Techirghiol, at the Minerva – Paloda Hill. From two ceramic fragments, fired in a reducing atmosphere, samples were taken to perform X-ray diffraction (XRD) and wavelength‐dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectra (WDXRF) analyzes to determine the crystalline structure and composition of the ceramic materials. Digital optical microscopy was used to observe the details of the fracture surfaces of these ceramic fragments. This work contributes to the knowledge of the techniques and materials used by the Hamangia civilization in the manufacture of ceramic vessels.

Over several millennia, various native plant species in South America have been used for their healing and psychoactive properties. Chemical analysis of archaeological artifacts provides an opportunity to study the use of psychoactive plants in the past and to better understand ancient botanical knowledge systems. Liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was used to analyze organic residues from a ritual bundle, radiocarbon dated to approximately 1,000 C.E., recovered from archaeological excavations in a rock shelter located in the Lípez Altiplano of southwestern Bolivia. The site is located at an elevation of ∼3,900 m above sea level and contains evidence of intermittent human occupations during the last 4,000 years. Chemical traces of bufotenine, dimethyltryptamine, harmine, and cocaine, including its degradation product benzoylecgonine, were identified, suggesting that at least three plants containing these compounds were part of the shamanic paraphernalia dating back 1,000 years ago, the largest number of compounds recovered from a single artifact from this area of the world, to date. This is also a documented case of a ritual bundle containing both harmine and dimethyltryptamine, the two primary ingredients of ayahuasca. The presence of multiple plants that come from disparate and distant ecological areas in South America suggests that hallucinogenic plants moved across significant distances and that an intricate botanical knowledge was intrinsic to pre-Columbian ritual practices.

The paper presents a qualitative and quantitative structural analysis of some pottery fragments belonging to the Boian culture, discovered in the archaeological site of Galatui - Movila Berzei, in a dwelling - sanctuary. Six representative pottery fragments were used. To visualize some microscopic details of the surfaces of these pottery fragments, digital optical microscopy was used. Also, for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the crystalline structure of the powder samples taken from the surfaces, X-ray diffraction (XRD) was used. The obtained results show that the ceramic mass has a high content of quartz, accompanied by various oxide compounds from the clay used, low in calcium but rich in iron. The analyzed pottery fragments present different decorative patterns, from parallel and broken lines, to checkerboard-type patterns that denote a special leaning towards aesthetics of the communities from Galatui - Movila Berzei.

With its promise of nondestructive processing, rapid low-cost sampling, and portability to any field site or museum in the world, portable X-ray fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometry is rapidly becoming a standard piece of equipment for archaeologists. Even though the use of pXRF is becoming standard, the publication of pXRF analytical methods and the resulting data remains widely variable. Despite validation studies that demonstrate the importance of sample preparation, data collection settings, and data processing, there remains no standard for how to report pXRF results. In this article, we address the need for best practices in publishing pXRF analyses. We outline information that should be published alongside interpretive results in any archaeological application of pXRF. By publishing this basic information, archaeologists will increase the transparency and replicability of their analyses on an inter-analyst/inter-analyzer basis and provide clarity for journal editors and peer reviewers on publications and grant proposals for studies that use pXRF. The use of these best practices will result in better science in the burgeoning use of pXRF in archaeology. Con la promesa de un procesamiento no destructivo, muestreo rápido y económico y la portabilidad a cualquier sitio de campo o museo en el mundo, sistemas portátiles de fluorescencia de rayos X (pFRX) se está convirtiendo rápidamente en equipo estándar para arqueólogos. Mientras el uso de pFRX se está volviendo estándar, la publicación de métodos analíticos pFRX y los datos resultantes siguen siendo muy variables. A pesar de estudios de validación que han demostrado la importancia de la preparación de muestras, la configuración de la recopilación de datos, y el procesamiento de datos, permanece sin estándar para reportar los resultados pFRX. En este articulo, abordamos la necesidad de mejores prácticas en la publicación de análisis pFRX. Describimos la información que debe publicarse junto con los resultados interpretados en cualquier aplicación arqueológica de pFRX. El uso de estas mejores prácticas dará como resultado una mejor ciencia en el floreciente uso de pFRX en arqueología. Al publicar esta información básica, los arqueólogos van a aumentar transparencia y la replicabilidad de sus análisis entre analistas y entre analizador es y brindarán claridad a los editores/editoras y revisores sobre publicaciones y propuestas de subvenciones para estados que emplean pFRX.

The trajectories of human and object mobility in the 3rd and 2nd millennia BC have long been a significant area of inquiry within prehistoric archaeology and over the past decade, aDNA and isotope analyses revealed a complex pattern of human migration, cultural admixture and exchange routes. While Northern Italy is clearly involved in this phenomenon, there remains a significant gap for the south of the country, generally considered peripheral to major exchange networks in this phase. Recently, two large cemeteries have been discovered in the hinterland of Mount Vesuvius (Acerra, Italy). They have yielded unprecedented numbers of exotic metal objects dating to 2400–1800 BC. Such items are extremely rare in Southern Italy, displaying typologies more commonly found across Northern Italy and Central Europe. Archaeological, bioanthropological and geochemical methods were applied to material from the cemeteries. Pb isotope analyses and metal artifact distribution modeling revealed long-distance terrestrial and maritime connections to Northern Italy, Continental Europe and the Western Mediterranean. Conversely, Sr isotope data indicate that these prestigious and exotic objects were deposited within a context of low human mobility. By integrating investigations into both metal and human mobility, this study emphasizes the extent and complexity of the exchange network in Southern Italy around 2000 BC.

This review summarises the state-of-the-art of lead-based pigment studies, addressing their production, trade, use and possible alteration. Other issues, such as those related to the investigation and protection of artworks bearing lead-based pigments are also presented. The focus is mineralogical, as both raw materials and degradation products are mineral phases occurring in nature (except for very few cases). The minerals described are abellaite, anglesite, blixite, caledonite, challacolloite, cerussite, cotunnite, crocoite, galena, grootfonteinite, hydrocerussite, laurionite, leadhillite, litharge, macphersonite, massicot, mimetite, minium, palmierite, phosgenite, plattnerite, plumbonacrite, schulténite, scrutinyite, somersetite, susannite, vanadinite and an unnamed phase (PbMg(CO 3 ) 2 ). The pigments discussed are lead white, red lead, litharge, massicot, lead-tin yellow, lead-tin-antimony yellow, lead-chromate yellow and Naples yellow. An attempt is made to describe the history, technology and alteration of these pigments in the most complete manner possible, despite the topic's evident breadth. Finally, an insight into the analytical methods that can (and should) be used for accurate archaeometric investigations and a summary of key concepts conclude this review, along with a further list of references for use as a starting point for further research.

A multimethod archaeometry study (zooarchaeological, isotopic, ancient DNA, paleobotanical, and radiocarbon dating) of a spider monkey sacrificed in the ceremonial center of Teotihuacan, Mexico (1 to 550 CE) is interpreted as a diplomatic gift exchange with neighboring Maya. Not only does this spider monkey provide the earliest known instance of primate translocation and captivity in Mesoamerica, it helps date incipient modes of interregional diplomacy between two major powers during Early Classic Mesoamerica: Teotihuacan and the Maya. Details of human–primate interaction include age at capture and transport (before ∼3 y of age), captive duration (over 2 y), anthropogenic diet (staple was maize, though secondary resources unique to anthropogenic diet including arrowroot and chili pepper were also found), context of sacrifice (tethered and associated with complete golden eagle and an array of other statecrafts), and general site context (including presence of Maya vessels and Maya-style murals). The timing of the spider monkey’s sacrifice (250 to 300 CE) and its life history suggest a reconsideration of epigraphically attested militaristic involvement of Teotihuacan at certain Maya sites. We propose that a period of more multilateral and fluid ritual exchange with Maya dignitaries preceded the Teotihuacan state’s eventual ascent to prominence.

Ancient Jian wares are famous for their lustrous black glaze that exhibits unique colored patterns. Some striking examples include the brownish colored “Hare's Fur” (HF) strips and the silvery “Oil Spot” (OS) patterns. Herein, we investigated the glaze surface of HF and OS samples using a variety of characterization methods. Contrary to the commonly accepted theory, we identified the presence of ε-Fe 2 O 3 , a rare metastable polymorph of Fe 2 O 3 with unique magnetic properties, in both HF and OS samples. We found that surface crystals of OS samples are up to several micrometers in size and exclusively made of ε-Fe 2 O 3 . Interestingly, these ε-Fe 2 O 3 crystals on the OS sample surface are organized in a periodic two dimensional fashion. These results shed new lights on the actual mechanisms and kinetics of polymorphous transitions of Fe 2 O 3 . Deciphering technologies behind the fabrication of ancient Jian wares can thus potentially help researchers improve the ε-Fe 2 O 3 synthesis.

This article presents the results of an analysis of ceramics from archeological sites. The main goal of the study was to determine the elemental composition of ceramics using XRF. This study was conducted in two stages. The first stage involved the analysis of complete vessels from the museum exhibition. The second involved the interpretation of the results obtained from the first stage. In the second stage, 30 samples obtained by dividing a single fragment of a ceramic vessel were analyzed. The results (results scattered due to material heterogeneity) were compared with the results of analyses of a large group of ceramic samples from a similar period. To supplement the information about the ceramic material studied, destructive analyses were also performed (after grinding the aforementioned 30 samples), namely mineral composition using FTIR (to determine the raw materials) and iron speciation using UV-Vis and HPLC-ICP hrOES (to determine the firing method). The results obtained indicated that limiting the research to the most-used non-destructive procedures in archaeometry can lead to misinterpretation. Although the presented study concerned archaeological objects, it can be considered in the context of research on other materials.

This article summarises the history of cinnabar, from its first uses in burials to modern oils on canvas. After a brief introduction on mercury and contamination issues, the article gets to the heart of the topic. First, mercury-based minerals significant for studying pigments, i.e . cinnabar, metacinnabar, hypercinnabar and calomel, are presented. Structural information and properties precede an overview of the geographic distribution of cinnabar deposits. The following section addresses the multiple uses of cinnabar, divided into funerary use, decorative use, lustre and Chinese lacquer production. The use of cinnabar for writing (ink), medicine and cosmetics is briefly described, and a shortlist of uncommon finds is further provided. The following section approaches inherent but less known topics such as cinnabar procurement, trade, production technology, application and alteration. An entire section is dedicated to calomel before concluding with an overview of the analytical methods for the characterisation and provenance investigation of cinnabar.