Project Topics
Our research combines work with traditional archaeological science analyses, innovative techniques, and theoretical considerations in addressing important archaeological questions about the making of material culture. Current topics of interest include:
- The manufacture and design of things
- Transfer / movement of technology and knowledge across time and space
- Material evidence of past craft techniques
- Properties and sustainability of ancient and historical materials
- Craft traditions and workshops
- Cross-craft and cross-industry networks of production
- Technological change and continuity
- Social networks of technology
- Environmental impacts of technological practices and raw material extraction
Current Research Projects (faculty and graduate students):
- Colonial iron production sites in North America (Krysta Ryzewski) [link]
- Assembly of a chemical standard collection of archaeological metals using XRF (K. Ryzewski)
- Mining and metallurgy of native copper resources in the Americas (K. Ryzewski & Max Mankin) [link]
- Early iron metallurgy in Greece (Alex Knodell)
- Grain boundary precipates in iron (Brian Sheldon & K. Ryzewski)
- Glass production and working techniques, Aqaba, Jordan (Carolyn Swan) [link]
- Ceramic production technologies at Sagalossos, Turkey (Elizabeth Murphy)
- Quarrying practices in the eastern Mediterranean (Brad Sekedat)
- Instrument design - 3-D neutron imaging, in collaboration with Oak Ridge National Laboratory (K. Ryzewski, B. Sheldon, S. Alcock)
Undergraduate Research Projects:
- From ARCH1860, Spring 2009. "Engineering Material Culture: An Introduction to Archaeological Science" (Instructor: K. Ryzewski). [link]
Research Funding & Awards:
- Brown University OVPR Seed Grant, 2009-2010 (S. Alcock, B. Sheldon, K. Ryzewski)
- Material Matters! UTRA Research Group, Summer 2008 click here
