Archaeomineralogy

1. Front Matter

   Pages I-XI

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 1-11

3. Properties of Minerals

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 13-40

4. Exploitation of Mineral and Rock Raw Materials

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 41-61

5. Lithic Materials

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 63-86

6. Gemstones, Seal Stones, and Ceremonial Stones

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 87-115

7. Soft Stones and Other Carvable Materials

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 117-137

8. Metals and Related Minerals and Ores

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 139-178

9. Ceramic Raw Materials

   • George R. Rapp

   Pages 179-196

10. Pigments and Colorants

    • George R. Rapp

    Pages 197-217

11. Abrasives, Salt, Shells, and Miscellaneous Geological Raw Materials

    • George R. Rapp

    Pages 219-241

12. Building, Monumental, and Statuary Materials

    • George R. Rapp

    Pages 243-273

13. Back Matter

    Pages 275-326

    PDF

1.1 Prologue What is archaeomineralogy? The term has been used at least once before (Mitchell 1985), but this volume is the first publication to lay down the scientific basis and systematics for this subdiscipline. Students sometimes call an introductory archaeology course "stones and bones." Archaeomineralogy covers the stones component of this phrase. Of course, archaeology consists of a great deal more than just stones and bones. Contemporary archaeology is based on stratigraphy, geomorphology, chronometry, behavioral inferences, and a host of additional disciplines in addition to those devoted to stones and bones. To hazard a definition: archaeomineralogy is the study of the minerals and rocks used by ancient societies over space and time, as implements, orna­ ments, building materials, and raw materials for ceramics and other processed products. Archaeomineralogy also attempts to date, source, or otherwise char­ acterize an artifact or feature, or to interpret past depositional alteration of archaeological contexts. Unlike geoarchaeology, archaeomineralogy is not, and is not likely to become, a recognized subdiscipline. Practitioners of archaeomineralogy are mostly geoarchaeologists who specialize in geology and have a strong background in mineralogy or petrology (the study of the origin ofrocks).

• Archaeology
• History
• Minerals
• Rocks
• artifacts
• geoscience
• mineralogy

From the reviews:

Praise for George R. Rapp's Archaeomineralogy

Geoscientist

"The text is crammed full of useful information, is well-balanced using both new and Old World examples of the archaeomaterials described. It also provides a broad, but of necessity, all too brief overview of the geological raw materials used in antiquity."

Mineralium Deposita

"The book provides much interesting discussion of how particular names came to be employed by archaeologists working in different regions of the world. Overall, I found that the book had much to offer for any geologist or archaeologist interested in minerals and rocks and how they have been used in the past."

The Holocene

"This is a gem of a book, it's strength is that it is encyclopedic in content, if not in layout, draws on a wealth of field experience and almost every sentence contains a nugget of information"

Geological Magazine

"The current volume aims to provide a systematic overview of minerals and rocks that have been used from prehistoric times though to the 17th Century. It is a very readable well-written overview of the subject. In addition to the extensive bibliography there is also a very useful glossary of mineralogical, geological and archaeological terms. Overall this is an excellent volume that should appeal equally to those with a geological or an archaeological background. Highly recommended."

"The scope of this book is ambitious. In it the author aims to cover the main mineral and rock materials used in antiquity from Prehistoric times to the 17th century AD … . the range of materials covered and the extensive bibliography of some 800 references provide the reader with a good starting point for further study. … It is really a book to be dipped into … . Overall, the book is well balanced using both New and Old World examples … ." (LouiseJoyner, Geoscientist, Vol. 13 (9), 2003)

"This little book provides a wealth of information in an entertaining and readable fashion. The coverage is both very broad and complete … . I found the archaeological discussion very informative, and the excellent biography, with over 500 references, provide an immediate entry into the geoarchaeology literature on many different subjects! Overall, I found that the book had much to offer for any geologist or archaeologist interested in minerals and rocks and how they have been used in the past." (C. R. Stern, Mineralium Deposita, Vol. 38 (5), 2003)

"This is a gem of a book … . Its aim is to provide ‘a systematic look at the mineral and rock materials that have been used from prehistoric times through the seventeenth century ACE’ … . Moreover, it attempts to give world coverage … . this is a huge task. It is a great credit, therefore, to the scholarship, energy and experience of the author, that he has managed to achieve his aim … ." (A. M. Pollard, The Holocene, Vol. 13 (5), 2003)

"The current volume aims to provide a systematic overview of minerals and rocks that have been used from prehistoric times through to the 17th Century. … it is a very readable well-written overview of the subject. In addition to the extensive bibliography there is also a very useful glossary of mineralogical, geological and archaeological terms … . Overall this is an excellent volume that should appeal equally to those with a geological or an archaeological background. Highly recommended." (Allan Pring, Geological Magazine, Vol. 140 (3), 2003)

• Archaeometry Laboratory, University of Minnesota, Duluth, USA

  George R. Rapp

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