The Challenge of ‘Technological Choices’for Materials Science Approaches in Archaeology*

Sillar, Bill; Tite, M. S.

doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2000.tb00863.x

Cited by 267 publications

(142 citation statements)

References 18 publications

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“…Lechtman 1977, White 1988, Veldhuijzen & Rehren 2007, technological choice (e.g. Lemonnier 1993, Sillar & Tite 2000, and advocates of practice, agency, and materiality in archaeological theory (e.g. Dobres & Hoffman 1994, Gardner 2008, Jones 2002, Martinón-Torres et al 2007, Martinón-Torres & Rehren 2008, Taylor 2008.…”

Section: Social Constructionism and Ancient Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric copper production and technological reproduction in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley of Central Thailand

Pryce

Pigott

Martinón‐Torres

et al. 2010

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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Haeng were analysed in hand specimen, microstructurally by refl ected-light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and chemically by polarising energy dispersive x-ray fl uorescence spectrometry ([P]ED-XRF) and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive x-ray fl uorescence spectrometry (SEM-EDS). Resulting analytical data were used to generate detailed technological reconstructions of copper smelting behaviour at the two sites, which were refi ned by a programme of fi eld experimentation.Results indicate a long-term improvement in the technical profi ciency of Valley metalworkers, accompanied by an increase in the human effort of copper production. This shift in local 'metallurgical ethos' is interpreted as a response to rising regional demand for copper in late prehistory.4

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Section: Social Constructionism and Ancient Technologiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prehistoric copper production and technological reproduction in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley of Central Thailand

Pryce

Pigott

Martinón‐Torres

et al. 2010

Archaeol Anthropol Sci

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“…It is well known that livestock dung is a valuable source of fuel in many rural communities across the world (Miller, 1984;Anderson and Ertug-Yaras, 1998;Reddy, 1998;Sillar, 2000). Among traditional societies dung is an important secondary product that can be used in varied range of ways (i.e.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

An ethnoarchaeological study of livestock dung fuels from cooking installations in northern Tunisia

Portillo

Belarte

Ramon

et al. 2017

Quaternary International

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Livestock dung is a valuable material in many rural communities worldwide. In our research area, the site of Althiburos and its surroundings, now el Médéïna, in northwestern Tunisia, dung is the main source of fuel for domestic purposes, primarily the processing and cooking of foods. Ovicaprine dung is daily used in traditional mud tannur type ovens, namely tabouna. The archaeological record shows that mud constructed cooking installations were common during the first millennium BC. Previous studies of phytoliths and dung spherulites at Numidian Althiburos suggested the use of vegetal and fecal matter for fuel purposes. We present here the results of the continuation study based on the comparison between archaeological results (a selection of cooking installations, six hearths and two mud ovens) and those obtained from the ethnographic study of dung fuel materials from the site area. The present study builds up on ethnographic observations and informal interviews (dung collection, management, storage, waste disposal and cooking and baking activities), temperature measurements within the burning fuel, as well as modern material sampling (fresh dung, burned pellets, dung ashes and fuel trash paths) which was followed by integrated studies of phytoliths and calcitic microfossil analyses (dung spherulites and wood ash pseudomorphs) for comparative purposes. The results obtained provided direct evidence regarding the type of fuel sources: dung, wood and a mixing of dung and vegetal matter (wood and agricultural by-products). Dung was used as source of fuel material across time (from the Early Numidian occupation phase, 10th-9th century BC, to the last centuries BC) and space (in different excavation areas and type of installations). Such integrated studies demonstrate the value of combining different microarchaeological techniques and the use of ethnoarchaeological material from site areas.

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“…The role of material culture in mapping identity has therefore been much-written about (Kramer 1985a, Hegmon 1992, Pfaffenberger 1992, Gosselain 1999, Hegmon 2000, Livingstone 2000, Sillar & Tite 2000, Stark 2003. A body of theory usually glossed as the 'theory of technology' has recently made important advances by considering technology as a cultural product.…”

Section: Theoretical Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

An Archaeological Investigation of the Kirfi Area, Northern Nigeria: Craft, Identity and Landscape

Sani

2013

Azania: Archaeological Research in Africa

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This doctoral research presents the first sustained archaeological investigation of Kirfi, Bauchi state, northern Nigeria. As part of this work, test pits were excavated at three sites and research was carried out into modern craft practices. These yielded good chronological sequence and allowed the development of a pioneering pottery typology. One central question explored is to what degree the Hausa world just to the north-west of the study area impacted on Kirfi in the past 1000 years. It is argued that theories of technological styles and society can be usefully deployed to understand cultural developments and territorial expansion in African societies. Ideas about economic systems, settlement and social factors resulting in population movements and the definition of cultural identities are key to exploring the complex cultural make-up of the last millennium. I also show that oral tradition is valuable to studies of later African societies when carefully critiqued, in view of the dearth of early written and historical scripts. This thesis will also show how external influences were to alter a native system by the integration of Islam into the socio-political development of Kirfi, including it in a world system that shaped the evolution of the Bauchi region, which then became a principal actor in the spread of a political system in the early part of the 19 th century after the jihad of Shehu Uthman Fodio. The influence of Islam (as opposed to formerly practiced ritual systems), longdistance trading systems and the role of slaves as a commodity, 'Hausaness', craft and economic specialisations are all put forward as factors that played out in the settlements under study here. This finally transformed ancient socio-political systems leading to the ways of life of today.It is hoped that the present research, through its collaborative use of archaeological methods and ethnoarchaeological study, will help improve our understanding of an area that has up to now been a virtual terra incognita and make a wider contribution to African archaeology by interpreting the impact of 'Hausaisation' on the southern Bauchi area.3

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The Challenge of ‘Technological Choices’for Materials Science Approaches in Archaeology*

Cited by 267 publications

References 18 publications

Prehistoric copper production and technological reproduction in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley of Central Thailand

Prehistoric copper production and technological reproduction in the Khao Wong Prachan Valley of Central Thailand

An ethnoarchaeological study of livestock dung fuels from cooking installations in northern Tunisia

An Archaeological Investigation of the Kirfi Area, Northern Nigeria: Craft, Identity and Landscape

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