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This book discusses the application of geological methods and theory to archaeology. Written as a survey text covering appropriate methods and techniques taken from geology, geophysics, geochemistry, and geochronology, it shows the student the practicality and importance of the techniques' use in solving archaeological problems. Specific techniques are illustrated by practical results obtained from their use on archaeological digs. The geographical scope is international, drawing on sites from both hemispheres, eg the Franchti Cave (Greece), St. Catherines Island (USA), the Roman site of Drand (France), and Monte Verde (Chile). The authors also address applications in less traditional areas such as underwater, historical, industrial, and conservation archaeology.
Foreword; 1. Scope of Archaeological Geology; 2. Geomorphology in Archaeology; 3. Sediments and Soils; 4. Chemical Methods; 5. Radioactive Methods: Radioactive Decay and Age Determination; 6. Radiation Damage, Cosmogenic and Atom Counting Techniques; 7. Other Chronological Methods; 8. Archaeogeophysical Exploration; 9. Soil Phosphate in Archaeological Surveys; 10. Archaeological Materials - Rocks and Minerals; 11. Instrumental Analytical Techniques; 12. Metallic Minerals and Archaeological Geology; 13. Ceramics; 14. Applications of Stable Isotopes in Archaeological Geology
"Herz and Garrison (p viii) state that the purpose of their book . . . is to 'show archaeologists the many ways that geological sciences can help solve their problems.' The authors divide their book into four major sections with multiple chapters in each section. Part I, 'The Archaeological Site and Its Environment, ' presents a discussion of geomorphology, sediments, and soils; Part II, 'Dating Techniques, ' covers chemical, radioactive, and other methods of dating; Part III, 'Site Exploration, ' addresses geophysical and geochemical applications to archaeology; and Part IV, 'Artifact Analysis, ' offers a discussion of the analysis of the raw materials used to manufacture artifacts and features."--Geoarchaeology
