Testing the Chert Sourcing Application of Reflectance Spectroscopy

Ryan M.博士教区和大卫H.孟菲斯大学的Dye和来自默里州立大学的合作者Haluk Cetin博士正在研究反射光谱法在研究史前石头资源使用中的应用，以确定考古遗址中发现的文物的地理来源。研究人员的主要目标是了解过去的资源消耗，以便更好地了解目前自然资源的使用情况。 通过研究过去对有限资源的适应所提供的结构，直接为现代社会提供了当前资源战略和可持续实践的基础。 研究人员正在建立在以前的研究基础上，证明了通过采购石材资源获得的文化数据的丰富性，以及更精确地这样做的必要性。 准确的源数据使考古学家能够了解史前的采购，选择，消费，组织，技术，社交网络以及对资源减少的适应。 反射光谱学在考古资源研究中的应用将提高识别特定开采矿床的能力。 反射率数据与现有的地质光谱数据库相结合，将使研究人员能够将石头分子和矿物变化与形成存款的地质过程联系起来，这是所有来源研究的理论框架。 该项目除了为孟菲斯大学考古学和人类学专业的本科生提供培训外，还为一名研究生提供资金。 仪器将在孟菲斯大学建立一个高光谱出处实验室，为公共和私营部门提供合同服务。 教区博士和他的同事们将专注于反射光谱学在考古资源研究中的更广泛的发展。 这项研究的一个具体重点将是对已知在史前被开采的多种燧石/燧石矿床的地质特征进行描述。 将变化与存款的形成联系起来，对于将文物与它们的来源相匹配至关重要。 反射光谱法是一种非常适合通过分析与成分有关的原子和分子结构来处理非常敏感的地质信息的技术。 鉴于燧石/燧石中大量的化学变化使大多数先前的研究受挫，成功表征变化的能力将导致对史前石材资源消耗的更好理解

Drs. Ryan M. Parish and Dr. David H. Dye, of the University of Memphis and collaborator Dr. Haluk Cetin from Murray State University are investigating the application of reflectance spectroscopy in studying prehistoric use of stone resources to determine the geographic source of artifacts recovered in archaeological sites. The researchers' broad goals are to understand past resource consumption in order to better contextualize the present use of natural resources. The structure provided by studying past adaptation to finite resources directly provides modern societies with a basis for current resource strategies and sustainable practices. The researchers are building upon previous studies demonstrating the wealth of cultural data gained by sourcing stone resources and the need to do so with greater precision. Accurate source data allows archaeologists to understand prehistoric procurement, selection, consumption, organization, technology, social networking, and adaptation to dwindling resources. The application of reflectance spectroscopy in archaeological sourcing studies will provide an increased ability to identify specific exploited deposits. The reflectance data paired with existing geologic spectral databases will allow researchers to link stone molecular and mineral variation with the geologic processes that formed the deposit, the theoretical framework of all sourcing studies. The project provides funding for one graduate student in addition to providing training for undergraduate archaeology and anthropology majors at the University of Memphis. Instrumentation will establish a hyperspectral provenance lab at the University of Memphis providing contract services in both the public and private sectors. Dr. Parish and colleagues will focus on the broader development of reflectance spectroscopy in archaeological source studies. A specific focus of the study will be on the geologic characterization of multiple deposits of chert/flint known to have been exploited in prehistory. Linking variation with how the deposit formed is crucial in matching artifacts back to their respected sources. Reflectance spectroscopy is a technique well suited to addressing very sensitive geologic information through the analysis of atomic and molecular structure relating to composition. Whereas, the large amount of chemical variation in chert/flint has frustrated the majority of previous studies, the successful ability to characterize variation will lead to a greater understanding of prehistoric stone resource consumption