Neutron activation analysis in Mediterranean Archaeology: current applications and future perspectives

Area of Science:

• Archaeological Science
• Materials Science
• Ancient History

Background:

• The archaeology of the ancient Mediterranean, particularly the Bronze and Iron Ages, relies on understanding ceramic production and trade.
• Current provenance determination methods for pottery often have limitations in precision and scope.

Purpose of the Study:

• To advocate for greater adoption and recognition of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) in Mediterranean archaeology.
• To explore the methodological strengths and challenges of NAA for ceramic analysis.
• To demonstrate the potential of NAA in developing new archaeological research concepts.

Main Methods:

• Discussion of Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) as a proxy data collection method for ceramics.
• Review of methodological strengths and challenges associated with NAA.
• Examination of NAA's role in refining provenance determinations.

Main Results:

• NAA provides valuable proxy data from ceramics, enabling refined provenance determinations.
• The application of NAA can challenge existing scholarly assumptions about ancient ceramic trade and production.
• NAA facilitates a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic aspects of ceramic lifecycles.

Conclusions:

• Increased application of NAA is crucial for advancing archaeological research in the ancient Mediterranean.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration and open data publication are essential for maximizing NAA's benefits.
• NAA offers a powerful tool for re-evaluating and enhancing our knowledge of ancient Mediterranean societies.