Due to the resounding success  of the 1st  Portable X-Ray Fluorescence
(pXRF) Symposium session at the 2010 SHA International Conference at Amelia
Island Florida and the full session of the 2nd  SHA pXRF Symposium session
at the 2011 SHA International Conference at Austin Texas and at the request
of SAA members,  Wondjina Research Institute (WRI) and Country Chemist (CC)
in association with OLYMPUS INNOV-X, the Society for Archaeological Science
(SAS) and  the pXRF Users Group are sponsoring the 1st  International
Symposium for Recent, International advance in the use of pXRF and other
portable, field technologies for Archaeochemical Studies of Sites as a
session of the SHA 2011 meeting in Sacramento California, USA     

 

 

1st Call for Presentations

 

SAA 2011,  Sacramento, California  USA

March 30-April 3, 2011

1st  International SAA Symposium for Recent, International advances in the
use of pXRF and other portable, field technologies for Archaeochemical
studies of Sites in the Americas

 

Organizers:

 

Dr. Claudia Brackett (California State University-Stanislaus and the
University of the Pacific) and  Mr. Richard Lundin, RPA (Wondjina Research
Institute) and Ms. Vanessa Muros (UCLA\Getty Conservation)

 and 

Co-sponsored by OLYMPUS INNOV-X, Society for Archaeological Science (SAS)
and the pXRF Users Group 

Below the surface of every landscape is chemical evidence of past human
activity and, potentially, an historic site.   Recent advances in the use of
portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF), RAMAN technologies and the reduction in
costs for laboratory analyses have made these technologies affordable for
field studies that "complete the circle of understanding" of historic era
terrestrial and marine sites through the integration of archaeochemistry,
Archaeogeophysics, literature research, oral interviews and excavation.

We are looking for presentations from terrestrial and marine archaeologists
who have used these new technologies for field and laboratory studies to
gain insights into human behavior from the chemical "signatures" that have
been left behind.  Presentations are encouraged that integrate
archaeochemical studies with Combined Survey Format (CSF) archaeogeophysical
studies, petrographic provenience studies of lithics, ceramics and metals
from field studies, museum studies, and heritage studies. International
presentations will be encouraged and it is hoped that many of the recent,
excellent, presentations that have been made in other, international, forums
will be presented.

 

Some of the basic topics that presentations are being solicited include but
are NOT LIMITED to


          Basic chemistry of site formation and human activities.
.         

          Chemical characterization of various site types and activities. 


.         Chemical characterization of marine sites via portable and
laboratory analyses of plant, animal and sediment materials.

.         Limits of use of archaeochemical data.

.         Issues of contamination: Background  chemical "noise" vs. "real
chemical signatures" of human activity.

.         Case histories and studies of use of these technologies.

.         History of use of archaeochemistry over time to define sites and
features.

 

          Integration of archaeochemical data into Combined Survey Format
studies.

 

          Use and limitations of archaeobiochemical studies.

 

          Research on deep sea field archaeochemical studies. 

 

          Archaeochemical data analysis.



We also working on a potential method to have remote participation for those
who cannot, physically, attend the conference. So, please, feel free to
submit even if you are constrained in your ability to travel to Sacramento
for the session.

Proposals are due to WRI and CC by September 5, 2010 and should be sent to
Dr. Claudia Brackett at [log in to unmask]  For further information
and to discuss YOUR SUBMITTAL, please feel free to contact Rich Lundin, RPA
at [log in to unmask]"