Archaeological Chemistry

Description

Through knowledge and understanding, students will be able to: • Attain elementary knowledge about archaeometry • Characterize archaeological materials • Decide which analytical technique to use • Develop an understanding of the relation between chemistry and conservation • Realize the methodology of identification and authentication of art and archaeology • Justify choice of analytical technique to use • Decide and justify dating technique used • Learn about fundamentals of conservation of material culture • Acquire basic knowledge of architectural conservation Through intellectual skills, students will be able to: • Look within a problem for solution • Use concepts they have learned along with a systematic, logical approach to find the solution • Solve a problem by asking questions • Learn to trust themselves to think • Develop analytical reasoning applied to scientific problems • Synthesize researched data with experimental data Through professional and practical skills, students will be able to: • Conduct a simple scientific experiment • Contribute adequately to an inter-disciplinary problem- solving team • Write a laboratory report Through general and transferable skills, students will be able to: • Give correct information on the subject matter • Work with colleagues on a presentation and understand team work dynamics • Understand how a chemistry laboratory works

Program

Egyptian Archaeology

Objectives

• This course aims at introducing students to the science of archaeometry focusing on analytical chemistry methodology, dating techniques and conservation methods for the archaeologist. It introduces them to the field and its development, archaeological materials, methods of analysis, analytical techniques, identification, and authentication, and dating techniques. Then further the course discusses and an introduction to the conservation in the field for the different archaeological material organic, inorganic and a brief introduction to the brief principles of architectural conservation and condition assessment reporting.