The circulation of metal in the British Bronze Age: the application of lead isotope analysis.

The circulation of metal in the British Bronze Age: the application of lead isotope analysis. BRENDA ROHL & STUART NEEDHAM. The circulation of metal in theBritish Bronze Age: the application of lead isotope analysis.(Occasional paper 102.) vi+234 pages, 41 figures, 36 graphs. 1998.London: British Museum Press; 0-86159-102-X (ISSN ISSNabbr.International Standard Serial Number 0142-4815) paperback22 [pounds sterling]. The idea that metal used in artefacts could be traced to itsoriginal source by establishing a `signature' formed by ratios ofits lead isotopes was first used in archaeology over 30 years ago andwas much vaunted vaunt?v. vaunt��ed, vaunt��ing, vauntsv.tr.To speak boastfully of; brag about.v.intr.To speak boastfully; brag. See Synonyms at boast1.n.1. during the 1980s, although its efficacy was notunquestioned. This volume not only reports the results of the firstmajor application of lead isotope analysis to Copper and Bronze Ageartefacts from Britain, it establishes a much more realisticappreciation of the method's usefulness and of its limitations thanhas previously been available. The opening chapters set out the theoretical bases of the methodsused and explain the potential problems in the practical application ofsuch theories, with reference to the very complex scenario of Britishgeology and Bronze Age metallurgy, with a clarity which can only bedescribed as exemplary. The third chapter, which describes the actualanalytical techniques, may, in its detail, intimidate those not of ascientific bent, but the descriptions are equally clear and convey welt weltn.1. A ridge or bump on the skin caused by a lash or blow or sometimes by an allergic reaction.2. See wheal. the extreme rigour required to produce meaningful results. The next two chapters cover the lead isotope analyses of Britishlead and copper ores. The first sets the geological and geographicalcontexts in which the ores are found and provides a useful summary ofthe literature on the investigation of British Bronze Age mining, afield which has opened up relatively recently. The second sets out therange of the results of the analyses for the sites sampled, grouped bothby type of geological origin and geographic position. The overallresults are presented graphically and an `outline' containing allthe lead isotope ratios established from galena galena(gəlē`nə)or lead glance,lustrous, blue-gray mineral crystallizing usually in cubes, sometimes in octahedrons. It is the most important ore and the principal source of lead. samples in England andWales England and Wales are both constituent countries of the United Kingdom, that together share a single legal system: English law. Legislatively, England and Wales are treated as a single unit (see State (law)) for the conflict of laws. is derived, which, although acknowledged to be incomplete, doesestablish a pattern into which future assessments can be fitted. Thisapproach has the merits both of simplicity and adequacy and is a welcomerelief from some rather complex methods used in previous studies. Inaddition to its usefulness for comparing the patterns exhibited by thedifferent groups of samples, it facilitates comparisons with thoseexhibited by other lead and copper ores, as well as with the artefactswhich were analysed during the research programme. Chapter 6 sets out and discusses the results of the lead isotopeanalyses of the artefacts sampled, grouped by typology, and thuschronology, and geographical location. The lead isotope ratios arecombined with the results of chemical compositional analyses of theartefacts, in particular of the trace elements Trace elementsA group of elements that are present in the human body in very small amounts but are nonetheless important to good health. They include chromium, copper, cobalt, iodine, iron, selenium, and zinc. Trace elements are also called micronutrients. exhibited, to establish aclassification incorporating both these analyses which providesconsiderably more differentiation between groups of artefacts than aclassification using only one. Results are again shown graphically andit is, perhaps, unfortunate that colour could not be used to enhance theplots which are essential to the comprehension of the finer detail.Given the very wide geographic area and time span covered, it isinevitable that some components of the joint classification are based onvery small groups of artefacts and that a number of analyses simplycould not be grouped. Thus the reader should not be tempted to assumethat this classification is either immutable or comprehensive. It isclear from the discussion that sourcing must be a process of elimination The process of elimination is a basic logical tool to solve real world problems. By subsequently removing options that may be deemed impossible, illogical, or can be easily ruled out due to some sort of explicit understanding relative to the entire set of options, the pool of and that the evidence is most convincing in the early phases. Those intent solely on the quest for original sources might arguethat the inclusion of analyses of artefacts to which lead has been addedwithin the overall classification may be misleading, as the traceelements and the lead isotope signatures almost certainly reflectdifferent sources. However their inclusion is justifiable given that themethod may prove even more valuable in formulating socially basedinterpretations of metal production and use than in making tentativeidentifications of potential ore sources, especially when dealing withmixed, recycled metal. It is in some ways a pity that the discussionconcentrates on attempting to deduce sources of the original ores ratherthan expanding on the other uses to which the method may be put but thisdoes leave the field open for further studies Above all, this study underlines the need to integrate the resultsof lead istope analysis with other research, in particular chemicalanalyses and typological assessments, in order to establish its realworth. It has for too long been general practice to ignore the potentialfor combining methods examining different aspects of metallurgy.Needham, in a previous publication in this series (The Petters LateBronze Age Metalwork) has been a notable exception to this rule and thecombinatorial approach is extended here. This work is a very welcomeaddition to the archaeometallurgical literature and a most valuablebasis for future research. It is to be hoped that it will also reach awider audience, particularly those with an interest in the Bronze Age,for whom it can provide a clear and concise account of a realisticapplication of metallurgical techniques to archaeological investigation. SUE BRIDGFORD Research School of Archaeology & ArchaeologicalScience, Department of Archaeology & Prehistory prehistory,period of human evolution before writing was invented and records kept. The term was coined by Daniel Wilson in 1851. It is followed by protohistory, the period for which we have some records but must still rely largely on archaeological evidence to University ofSheffield The University of Sheffield is a research university, located in Sheffield in South Yorkshire, England. ReputationSheffield was the Sunday Times University of the Year in 2001 and has consistently appeared as their top 20 institutions.