This thesis presents an investigation into how geopolitical change and religious control are reflected in the composition of copper-alloy costume artefacts, recovered from Roman and early medieval... Show moreThis thesis presents an investigation into how geopolitical change and religious control are reflected in the composition of copper-alloy costume artefacts, recovered from Roman and early medieval contexts. It engages with the challenging topic of portable X-ray Florescence Spectrometry use in archaeology, especially as applied to corroded copper-alloy artefacts. The relevance is twofold. Firstly it helps us better understand the globalising effects of the Roman Empire on distant cultures and the emergence of the western economy after the end of antiquity. This is investigated by detecting changes in craft production, considered a proxy for understanding changes in past economies and societies. Secondly it advances a methodology for the study of copper-alloy objects. Subsequently the composition of Roman brooches from Germania Inferior, suggested a strong link between brass and Roman military production. This connection was also seen in other parts of the Roman world, suggesting a degree of centralisation or control. The earliest roman objects found in the Baltic States, far north of the Limes frontier, are also in this 'Roman' alloy. These objects had a lasting impact on the peoples of this region. They adopted and adapted them stylistically to suit their local preferences for centuries after they first appeared. Show less
Archaic and Classical architectural terracottas constituted an integral part of the architecture of monumental buildings at Akragas. These objects therefore provide unique insights into the... Show moreArchaic and Classical architectural terracottas constituted an integral part of the architecture of monumental buildings at Akragas. These objects therefore provide unique insights into the built environment of sanctuaries at this important Greek colony in Sicily. This research's multi-disciplinary approach to the material allows for the creation of a revised typology, which takes into account stylistic characteristics, fabric, production techniques, material composition, and architectural context. The investigation is based on original analyses and documentation of over 250 fragments, of which a significant number was previously unpublished. By approaching these objects as complex architectural elements, and not just as decorative roof edges, a more nuanced image of local production is revealed. While the terracotta roofs from Akragas demonstrate a proficiency in regional stylistic and technical conventions, a number of adaptations is used in the decoration, profile and production techniques, which changes throughout different time periods. By investigating the required technical knowledge and the use of a local technical style, this research has gained new insights into the organization of local production and the distribution of architectural innovations. Show less
Humans have long had an ambiguous relationship with physical activity. From the Greek idolization of the young athlete, over the condescending attitudes towards manual labor, to Olympic performers... Show moreHumans have long had an ambiguous relationship with physical activity. From the Greek idolization of the young athlete, over the condescending attitudes towards manual labor, to Olympic performers who push their bodies beyond all limits for prestige. This fascination with how we use our bodies extends into the questions we ask about past societies.This dissertation examines how we can reconstruct physical activity by looking at variations in the shape of muscle attachment sites ( ‘entheses’) on the human skeleton. It evaluates two post-medieval contexts; rural Middenbeemster and urban Aalst. Findings show societal differences in the sexual division of labor, but also remind us not to over-simplify the lives of people in the past, nor underestimate the complexity of the human body and its varied response to strain.The dissertation also broaches an entirely new field of study; variation in appearance of entheses in growing, individuals. By developing a standardized method, it lies the foundation for research into activity reconstruction in children from both archaeological and forensic settings.Ultimately, it provides the reader with a comprehensive study of the potential and limitations of entheses for activity reconstruction. In doing so, it presents a glimpse into life in the past. Show less
This study presents the results of chemical analyses on a specific type of decorated ceramics, the so-called maiolica compendiario, which was produced and traded throughout many areas of Europe... Show moreThis study presents the results of chemical analyses on a specific type of decorated ceramics, the so-called maiolica compendiario, which was produced and traded throughout many areas of Europe between ca. AD 1550 and 1650. Due to the enormous success of the compendiario, and the similarity in the ceramic style amongst different European production centers, faience decorated in compendiario faces many attribution problems (Jaspers 2009; 2012b). The Dutch soil revealed a large amount and wide range of maiolica decorated in compendiario. Dozens of them have been positively linked to French production (e.g. Nevers and Rouen), the area of central Italy (e.g.. the cities of Faenza and Deruta), and Southern Italy (e.g. Castelli d’Abruzzo and/or Naples/Salerno). However, there is a broad but unique category of compendiario that belongs to one specific homogeneous stylistic group, which has several authentication problems. In previous literature, it was often incorrectly attributed to a provenance in Faenza, the Italian city that invented the style, or to Haarlem/Delft, because Dutch borders contained the most archaeological examples of this compendiario type. Yet, Nina Jaspers claimed, based on stylistic similarities with other Ligurian productions , that this particular group was produced in Liguria (Albisola and Savona); on the northwestern Italian coast (Jaspers 2007a; 2007b; 2007c; 2009; 2012a, 2012b; 2013). In this research, we tested Jaspers’ hypothesis through chemical analysis with a portable-XRF (pXRF) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) on the maiolica paste composition. A large dataset of 200 faience samples from archaeological excavations in Amsterdam, Enkhuizen, Hoorn and ceramic reference material from Italy (Liguria, Venice, Faenza, Naples), France (Nevers) and Portugal were analysed. The results of the analysis and the comparison of following elemental ratios: Fe/Sr, Zr/Ti for pXRF and La/Sc; Th/Co; La/Cr; Th/Sc; La/Lu; Y/Tb; V/Sc for ICP-MS, provide solid evidence to connect the unique group of compendiario retrieved from Dutch soil to the Ligurian reference materials. Hence, through the interpretation of the trace and rare earth elements values, we confirmed Jaspers’ hypothesis that the majority of imported compendiario in the Netherlands belongs to Ligurian production, rejecting the previous attributions to a production provenance in Faenza, Haarlem or Delft. Moreover, the results from this analysis demonstrated that faience during the 16th and 17th centuries can be analysed and distinguished by the composition of matrix components either with pXRF, being non-invasive, and with micro-destructive analysis with ICP-MS. This research called for a reconsideration of the European production of compendiario, confuting the previous false attributions, and quantitatively places Ligurian production as one of the most prominent in Europe. Show less
