Tracing traditions : patterns of technological innovation and the circulation of copper in Southwest Asia from the 8th to 1st millennia BCE
The regions of Southwest Asia during the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Age were inextricably linked through trade and culture expansion, but also in their technological development. This thesis presents the results of a large-scale synthesis of published chemical data from the region from the beginning of the use of metal in the 8th millennium BCE to the start of the Iron Age in the early 1st millennium BCE. Change and continuity in alloying tradition, copper-composition, and human interaction with the material are analysed by the application of two 'Oxford System' methodologies and Kuijpers' Perceptive Categories. The resultant patterns in the copper-base assemblage are visible across space and time, and it is the aim of this thesis to marry these alterations in approach or access to material with the wider archaeological context. This large-scale approach has also drawn out aspects of technology which have, until now, generally been regarded as isolated and sporadic regional finds. A pan-regional approach has revealed they are in fact part of wider phenomena. The study of these outliers opens up the prospect for deeper insight into human interaction with and technological approach to material throughout the
Howarth, Philippa
Metallurgy in archaeology ; Bronze Age ; Southwest Asia
Tracing traditions : patterns of technological innovation and the circulation of copper in Southwest Asia from the 8th to 1st millennia BCE. The regions of Southwest Asia during the Late Chalcolithic and Bronze Age were inextricably linked through trade and culture expansion, but also in their technological development. This thesis presents the results of a large-scale synthesis of published chemical data from the region from the beginning of the use of metal in the 8th millennium BCE to the start of the Iron Age in the early 1st millennium BCE. Change and continuity in alloying tradition, copper-composition, and human interaction with the material are analysed by the application of two 'Oxford System' methodologies and Kuijpers' Perceptive Categories. The resultant patterns in the copper-base assemblage are visible across space and time, and it is the aim of this thesis to marry these alterations in approach or access to material with the wider archaeological context. This large-scale approach has also drawn out aspects of technology which have, until now, generally been regarded as isolated and sporadic regional finds. A pan-regional approach has revealed they are in fact part of wider phenomena. The study of these outliers opens up the prospect for deeper insight into human interaction with and technological approach to material throughout the
tracing tradition pattern technological_innovation circulation copper southwest_asia bce region southwest_asia late_chalcolithic bronze_age inextricably_link trade culture expansion also technological_development present large_scale synthesis publish chemical data region beginning use_metal millennium_bce start bce change_continuity alloy tradition copper composition human_interaction material analyse application oxford system methodology perceptive categories resultant pattern copper base assemblage visible across_space time aim marry alteration access_material wider archaeological_context large_scale also_draw aspect technology generally_regard isolated sporadic regional find pan regional reveal fact part_wider phenomenon study outlier open prospect deep insight human_interaction technological material throughout