Test Tubes and Trowels

Covering aspects of archaeological science such as artefact analysis, ancient technology, trade and exchange, and dating materials, this book critically explores the pace and application of scientific techniques in the discipline of archaeology. Massive advances in archaeological understanding through the application of science have been made in areas that were once thought to be unrecoverable. Nevertheless the application of increasingly sophisticated analytical techniques has often masked poor archaeological questions, or perhaps stated something which can sometimes be blindingly obvious to simple non-technical observation. Conversely some aspects of our understanding of the past, which were once thought obvious, have been thrown into confusion by revelations born of the advances in archaeological science. The use and abuse of science within archaeological understanding are presented through a series of case studies.