This book is an introductory manual that explains the basic concepts of chemistry behind scientific analytical techniques and that reviews their application to archaeology. It explains key terminology, outlines the procedures to be followed in order to produce good data, and describes the function of the basic instrumentation required to carry out those procedures. The manual contains chapters on the basic chemistry and physics necessary to understand the techniques used in analytical chemistry, with more detailed chapters on Atomic Absorption, Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy, Neutron Activation Analysis, X-ray Flourescence, Electron Microscopy, Infra-red and Raman Spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry. Each chapter describes the operation of the instruments, some hints on the practicalities, and a review of the application of the technique to archaeology, including some case studies. With guides to further reading on the topic, it is an essential tool for practitioners, researchers and advanced students alike.

The introduction to this collection of papers is entitled "the book as material object", which effectively outlines its contents. The main themes encompass analysis techniques for the various material components of manuscripts, dating and conservation issues. A range of scientific methods are explained and their effectiveness evaluated.

This book is an introductory manual that explains the basic concepts of chemistry behind scientific analytical techniques and that reviews their application to archaeology. It explains key terminology, outlines the procedures to be followed in order to produce good data, and describes the function of the basic instrumentation required to carry out those procedures. The manual contains chapters on the basic chemistry and physics necessary to understand the techniques used in analytical chemistry, with more detailed chapters on Atomic Absorption, Inductively Coupled Plasma Emission Spectroscopy, Neutron Activation Analysis, X-ray Flourescence, Electron Microscopy, Infra-red and Raman Spectroscopy, and Mass Spectrometry. Each chapter describes the operation of the instruments, some hints on the practicalities, and a review of the application of the technique to archaeology, including some case studies. With guides to further reading on the topic, it is an essential tool for practitioners, researchers and advanced students alike.

In order to make the contents of the British Academy's Proceedings more accessible to readers, the following changes have been made: The large annual volumes have been replaced by an irregular series of slimmer volumes, published about three times a year, with most of the volumes containing papers devoted to one particular subject. Disciplines to be represented in future thematic volumes include archaeology, history, philosophy, literature, and law. The range of subjects will also be extended to areas of the humanities and social sciences inadequately covered at present. Memoirs of the lives and scholarly achievements of deceased Fellows of the Academy will continue to be published in the series. It is hoped that the change from large, multi-disciplinary annual volumes of Proceedings to a series of slimmer, more easily classified (and less expensive) volumes will benefit subscribers to the series. The volumes will continue to be numbered in the same sequence as the former annual Proceedings. The proceedings of this prestigious meeting highlight new developments in archaeological science over the last ten years. There is a strong emphasis on the applications of organic chemistry and biochemistry to archaeological remains, as well as reviews of more traditional subjects, such as the scientific study of ceramics.