Program on Ancient Technologies and Archaeological Materials at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign ATAM is a Division of the Illinois Transportation Archaeological Research Program

Archaeologists, art historians, geologists, chemists, and many others conduct archaeometric research at the University of Illinois. Below are brief summaries of current research carried out by members of ATAM and related faculty.

  Sarah Wisseman (ATAM and ITARP), Thomas Emerson (ITARP), and Randall Hughes (Illinois State Geological Survey) are using a Portable Infrared Mineral Analyzer (PIMA) manufactured by Integrated Spectronics, Ltd of Australia to source North American stone figurines and pipes. More Information

  Professor Wayne Pitard (Program for the Study of Religion) is working with Bruce Zuckerman at the University of Southern California to digitize ancient Near Eastern cylinder seals up to five thousand years old house at the U of I's Spurlock Museum. Students at both institutions are collaborating with the two professors, learning how to use 3D imaging to build a virtual library. More information

Professors Bruce Fouke (Geology) and Eric Hostetter (Classics and Art History) are using new geochemical dating techniques on tufa and travertine quarries in Rome in an attempt to provide absolute dates for ancient buildings such as the Colosseum. More information

Professor Stanley Ambrose (Anthropology) is an African archaeologist and paleoecologist with a special interest in reconstructing Early Hominid environments using stable isotope analyses of human and animal bones, teeth, and other organic remains. More information

Professor Ripan Malhi (Anthropology) integrates population genetics, phylogenetics, ancient DNA analysis, and field research in collaboration with Native American communities. His recent research includes when and how the First Americans arrived in North America. More information

Copyright 1999-2007. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.