Despite the close connections between the theory and practice of archaeology and "the hard sciences," there continues to be a humanities-science divide: scientists are often unfamiliar with archaeological problems, and archaeologists are often unfamiliar with the potential of physical and chemical analyses for understanding archaeological materials, their dynamic processes of production, and more complex material-human interrelationships in the past.

I have been working with Postdoctoral Fellow Krysta Ryzewski (PhD Anthropology, Brown University 2008) to develop links between the Joukowsky Institute for Archaeology and the Ancient World and the Brown's Division of Engineering; I write content for and maintain an archaeological/materials science project wiki that describes our work as well as the undergraduate research we are supervising during the 2008 summer. This forum is the workspace for the Brown University Materials & Archaeological Sciences Research Group, an interdisciplinary body of researchers spanning several disciplines, including Archaeology, Anthropology, Engineering, Chemistry, and Geosciences. The group draws together a wide range of scholars in dialogue and in practice to research archaeological materials through established and experimental techniques. Although based at Brown, our collaborations extend beyond the university to additional research institutions and in working with students from other local universities.

An additional interest of this research group is to explore how archaeology can contribute to techniques and understandings in materials science (specifically) and engineering (more generally). One contribution of archaeology to these disciplines is the promotion of "reverse engineering," i.e. starting from a manufactured object and working backwards to figure out how it was made; such practice could help engineers to improve upon or invent new technologies and analytical procedures. Archaeology is the leading source of information about long-term processes and change, as well as human-materials interactions. As such, archaeology can in effect offer a history of technological knowledge and production processes: all technologies are linked in a chain of development that stretches backwards in time, each new link dependent upon the previous links.

Part of this process is to assemble and maintain a Bibliography.

Yotvata Roman Fort June 2007, southern Israel

Yotvata is a typical Roman castellum: a square enclosure measuring 40 x 40 meters. A monumental Latin inscription (which would have been set above the main gate) tells us that the fort was built by Priscus, probably one of the praeses (governors) of Syria-Palestine during the reign of Diocletian and the tetrarchs (293-305 CE). The fort guarded the oasis and the Roman garrison stationed there would have escorted caravan traffic allong the valley road.

Excavations in 2003-2006 revealed a more complex occupational sequence than was suggested by the soundings made in the 1970s: there is good evidence for a series of Roman phases as well as an early Islamic occupation. 2007 was the fifth and final season of digging, and I was the glass artifact specialist on site. I am currently writing up my glass report for inclusion in the final publication.

Exhibiting Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic Jerusalem 2006-07 Humanities Research Group

This research group discusses the thematic parameters of a traveling exhibit on Roman, Byzantine and Early Islamic Jerusalem, which is planned to take place at the RISD Museum in 2010. "While the general public is keenly aware of the political conflicts past and present surrounding Jerusalem, this exhibition will explore what is generally not known to the public, namely the lives of its residents--the Jews, pagans, Christians and Muslims--who lived in the ancient city from the Roman to the Early Islamic period (1st c. BCE to 1099 CE). The objects and written materials used and produced by these diverse peoples will be assembled to create a richly layered picture of their secular and religious lives."

Goals for the Spring 2007 semester:

• Determine the venues of the exhibit
• Establish a preliminary list of objects and educational support materials
• Design catalogue format and content
• Identify additional grant and funding sources
• Complete first draft of specialist chapter for catalogue

I am participating in this research group as the Ancient Glass Specialist.