Osher Links

(for Spring 2009 class "Artifact, Relic, or Hoax? Case Studies in Archaeological Science" at the Osher Lifelong Learning Institute)

WHAT IS ARCHAEOLOGY?

Kevin Greene's book, Archaeology: an Introduction
This electronic guide contains book excerpts, useful definitions and many web links to both archaeological and archaeometric topics. See especially chapters 4 and 5. A great resource.

Glossary of Archaeological Terms (from the Anthropology Dept. at Southern Methodist University)

Glossary of North American Archaeological Terms (from the Mississippi Valley Archaeological Center, University of Wisconsin at Lacrosse)

WHAT IS ARCHAEOMETRY?

Link to our page describing the field and typical projects.

Science in the Art Museum
This site is the result of long-term collaboration between the ATAM Program and the Krannert Art Museum. It introduces the science behind art conservation and describes several projects.

EXPERIMENTAL ARCHAEOLOGY

Wonderful article on experimental iron smelting, with illustrations, in the University of Pennsylvania's Expedition. Same article in html form (without images).

GEOARCHAEOLOGY AND PROSPECTION

Check out NOVA's Lost City of Arabia, and click on "Remote Sensing in Archaeology."

 

ARCHAEOMETRIC TECHNIQUES

Summary in pdf form.

Radiocarbon Dating. From Waikato University, New Zealand.

Dendrochronology.

Neutron Activation Analysis
Michael Glascock's excellent introduction to the technique, as used at the University of Missouri Research Reactor pdf of NAA Overview.

X-ray Diffraction

Basic background on XRD prior to a laboratory class at Binghamton.

ARCHAEOMETRY LABORATORIES

Research Laboratory for Archaeology and the History of Art at Oxford University.

MASCA (Museum Applied Science Center for Archaeology) at the University of Pennsylvania.

 

Society for Archaeological Sciences' list of resources and archaeometric facilities.

THE GETTY KOUROS

The J. Paul Getty Museum's page.

Discussion of the Getty Kouros.

General information on Greek sculpture.

FAKES AND FORGERIES

University of Michigan exhibit on fakes and forgeries at the Kelsey Museum.

Museum Security Network site that tracks news about the latest art thefts around the world. Also has a section on forgeries.

ARCHAEOMETALLURGY

ATAM archaeometallurgy projects, including Etruscan slag, Chinese bronze mirrors, and Chinese bronze bowls.

THE SHROUD OF TURIN

Shroud of Turin
A general Shroud site, with lots of interesting info and points of view


Walter McCrone was one of the many scientists who were allowed to sample part of the shroud. His tests indicate that the colors are pigment rather than human blood.

Shroud story site

Shroud historian site

University of Texas Shroud site describing possible contamination of the Shroud by bacteria and fungi.

MUMMIES

The Mummy Master is a good place to visit for updates on current mummy research and publications.

Ice Mummies of the Inca is another NOVA site with lots of related links

The Iceman's last meal. Analysis of the stomach contents of the Austrian Iceman.

Mexican mummies of Guanajuato.

U of I Mummy in the Spurlock Museum

Archaeology article on Oriental Institute Museum mummy

MUSEUM EXHIBITS

"Beyond Babylon" at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

"From Hand to Lip: The Art and Technology of Making a Greek Vase." 2004 student exhibit at the Krannert Art Museum.

UIUC campus museums: The Krannert Art Museum and The Spurlock Museum. Virtual tour of both museums (pdf file).

IN THE NEWS

Jars from Chaco Canyon tested, revealing early use of hot chocolate in North America.

Mysterious rock formation under Lake Michigan.

Cache of stone tools found in Colorado.

Fake art stars in New York show.

RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Traces of the Past, by Joseph Lambert (chemist at Northwestern)

Archaeology: A Very Short Introduction, by Paul Bahn

Childs, Craig; House of Rain: Tracking a Vanished Civilization Across the American Southwest (Little, Brown, and Company, 2006).

 


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