arkeometrija

Arkeometrija is the scientific study of archaeological materials and sites using quantitative methods. It is an interdisciplinary field that combines archaeology with scientific techniques and principles from physics, chemistry, geology, and computer science. The primary goal of arkeometrija is to provide objective data and precise measurements to answer archaeological questions, thereby complementing traditional archaeological methods.

This field encompasses a wide range of analytical techniques. Radiocarbon dating, for instance, is a well-known arkeometrija method used to determine the age of organic materials by measuring the decay of carbon-14 isotopes. Other dating techniques include thermoluminescence, optically stimulated luminescence, and dendrochronology. Beyond dating, arkeometrija is employed for material analysis, such as identifying the provenance of stone tools, pottery, or metals through techniques like X-ray fluorescence or mass spectrometry. It also plays a crucial role in site analysis, including geophysical surveys using ground-penetrating radar or magnetometry to detect subsurface features without excavation, and remote sensing technologies like satellite imagery to identify potential archaeological sites from afar. The application of statistical analysis and digital modeling is also integral to arkeometrija, enabling researchers to interpret complex datasets and reconstruct past environments and human activities.