Traces Of The Past: Unraveling The Secrets Of Archaeology Through Chemistry

by Joseph B. Lambert

When British archaeologists discovered a Viking ship burial at Sutton Hoo, Sussex, in the late 1930s, they were surprised to find no signs of human remains; only through the chemical study of the acidic soil could signs of a body be found. The use of chemistry has enabled archaeologists to pinpoint the origins of ancient Egyptian monuments, discover some causes for the decline of the Roman empire, and date the remains of the earliest protohominids. In Traces of the Past, chemist Lambert introduces readers to this happy alliance of science and history.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Archaeology

336 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 30, 1997

Reviews

[Benjamin Plume · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent treatment of where the fields of Chemistry and Archaeology intersect. I give it so many stars primarily because it's the only text of its kind that I have ever been able to find, but it does stand on its own merits. It presents a lot of information, both in general concepts and excellent detail, and is quite readable. Readability is often an issue when Chemistry or the other hard sciences are a main focus, but the authors avoid that here.