Matthew Boulanger presented on efforts to digitize the archaeological ceramics compositional database from the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley (LBL). The LBL database contains over 12,000 analyses from 1968-1989 of ceramics from the Levant, Mediterranean, Africa, and Middle East. In 2006, the paper archives of the database were sent to the University of Missouri Research Reactor for digitization. So far, compositional data for over 9,000 specimens have been digitized along with descriptions and photographs. The digitized files have been made publicly available online. Further work is ongoing to complete digitization and standardize data for broader scientific use and analysis.
The Lawrence Berkeley Archaeometry Archives: Resources for the Study of Levantine Ceramics
1. Matthew T. Boulanger1,2
1Archaeometry Laboratory, University of Missouri Research Reactor
2Department of Anthropology, University of Missouri
Second Workshop on Levantine Ceramic Production and Distribution
Danish Institute of Archaeology, Athens, Greece • February 8–10, 2013
2. Archaeometry at Berkeley
ca. 1968 – 1989
12,000+ analyses by
neutron activation
Ceramic provenance
Levant
Mediterranean
Africa
Middle East
Archives sent to MURR
in 2006
3. • Sent to MURR in 2006
• Make these data usable by the broader scientific community
• Requires
• Digitization
• Preservation and curation
• Distribution
• Archives contain < 50% of data, > 80% of data located through collaborators
4. Goals
Digitize
Compositional (NAA) data
Descriptions
Contextual information
Photographs
Laboratory records
Comprehensive database of analyses
Long-term preservation of all materials
Public distribution
Analysis and publication
5. Accomplishments… (as of Feb. 2013)
LBL Database
NAA data for 9360 specimens (ca. 80%)
Descriptions and context transcribed
Identified and corrected errors in extant
databases of LBL data
Photographs, notes, records scanned
Archives transferred to curation facility
Digital files (v. 1.0) posted on WWW
6. Content and Scope
Country* No. Specimens No. Sites
Cyprus 1880 45
Iraq 240 20
Israel & Palestinian Terr. 2550 70
Syria 280 30
* Using modern (2008) political boundaries
Data span Neolithic – Medieval & Modern Periods
Large collections
Cyprus: Enkomi (n=315), Lapithos (n = 205), Milia (n = 160)
Iraq: Samarra (n = 60)
Israel: Ashdod (n = 750), Tel Mor (n = 171), Akko (n = 110)
Syria: Ras Shamra (n = 80)
Nos. are approximate, and data entry is still ongoing
8. Inter-laboratory Comparison
Comparison of adjusted LBL data with MURR reanalysis of the same specimen
Anomalous values circled
9. Next Steps
Complete digitization (est. >90% of total)
Standardize descriptive terminologies
Refine inter-laboratory corrections
Analysis/use of data
Requires collaborations
Post and publish “Final” database
10. On the Hunt for Elusive Data…
"Data! Data! Data..
I can't make bricks
without clay!“
- Sherlock Holmes
(The Adventure of the Copper Beeches)
11. Acknowledgments
Frank Asaro, Michal Artzy, Joe Yellin, Bernard Knapp,
Hans Mommsen and many others have provided or
helped to locate data from LBL.
Aaron Johnson and many other MU students have
helped to transcribe data.
Questions, Comments, Concerns?
boulangerm@missouri.edu