Since its inauguration on 2 June 1992, the Wiener Laboratory of the American School of Classical Studies at Athens has gained recognition as a promising research facility supporting scholars applying a wide variety of analytical techniques from the natural, physical and biological sciences to archaeology and history. Through fellowships, consultations, lectures, seminars and workshops, the Lab plays an integral role in encouraging more scientific work and enlarging the scholarship base and scope of research in Aegean archaeology by providing resources and opportunities for scholars working in Greece. In September, Dr. Vanda Vitali became the new Director of the Wiener Laboratory.
Fellowships
Each year the Wiener Laboratory offers three fellowships
to specialists in the fields of human skeletal studies, faunal studies
and geoarchaeology. The fellowships are open to scholars with a Ph.D. and
those working on a doctoral dissertation; a stipend of approximately $13,000
to $25,000 will be awarded depending on seniority and experience. Applicants
must have a well-defined project addressing significant archaeological
questions which can be undertaken in the Wiener Laboratory within the academic
year. The J. Lawrence Angel Fellowship in Human Skeletal Studies is specifically
for the study of human skeletal remains from archaeological contexts in
Greece; similarly, the Research Fellowship in Faunal Studies is for the
study of faunal remains from archaeological contexts in Greece. The Research
Fellowship in Geoarchaeology is for individuals whose projects address
significant archaeological questions in areas of study which may include
quarried stone, lithics, building materials, ceramics, soil and sediment
studies.
In addition to the proposed research, the Fellow
will be expected to contribute to the development of the Labís comparative
or other collections, assist with queries from excavators, offer a lecture
on the work undertaken while at the Lab, participate in one school trip,
and contribute to seminars on aspects of archaeological science as part
of the American Schoolís annual curriculum. The deadline for applications
for 1998-99 is 5 February 1998; further details are available from the
Director at the address below.
Reference Collections
The Wiener Laboratory houses a growing specialist
library and seven developing reference collections, resources that support
its membersí research and are available to other interested scholars and
excavators.
The specialist library contains 26 journals and
newsletters and over 1,150 books, dissertations and monographs including
advanced texts in the fields of faunal, human skeletal and geoarchaeological
studies as well as general reference and introductory texts in various
areas of archaeology and the natural sciences. The library is intended
not only to support the Labís work, but also to serve as a starting point
for multidisciplinary research.
The Labís first reference collection, the Modern
Animal Bone Comparative Collection, was initiated in 1992 by Dr. Walter
Klippel (University of Tennessee) and Dr. Lynn Snyder (Smithsonian Institution)
and was developed by Dr. Yiannis Hamilakis (University of Wales Lampeter),
Justine Lev-Tov (University of Tennessee), Deborah Ruscillo (University
College London), and Dr. Ekaterina Trantalidou (Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology
and Speleology, Greece). This growing collection now has over 150 specimens.
The Mollusk Study Collection, which contains primary
marine mollusk shells found in Aegean archaeological contexts, was started
by Michele Miller (Boston University) and will be expanded by 1996-7 Faunal
Fellow Deborah Ruscillo (University College London).
The Lithic Collection contains hand-samples, thin-sections,
and a computerized catalogue of over 200 specimens donated to the Lab.
Dr. Ruth Siddall (University College London) has curated the collection
and provided complete petrographic and hand-sample descriptions for each
of the lithic specimens. The collection has grown with the addition of
thin-sections, hand-samples and a stable isotope database for Aegean marbles
contributed by Dr. Norman Herz (University of Georgia); and will be further
expanded by samples of oolithic limestone from Greek and Roman quarries
at Corinth from a study by Dr. Chris Hayward (London Natural History Museum);
as well as by marble samples from Mount Pentelikon, and other quarry regions,
from various studies conducted by Scott Pike (University of Georgia).
An Anthropological Archive is being created by 1996-1998
J. Lawrence Angel Fellow Anna Lagia (University of Chicago). It will comprise
of well-documented human skeletons of known age, sex, occupation, place
of birth, death and cause of death. Endorsed by the Department of Human
and Animal Physiology of the University of Athens and the Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology
and Speleology in Greece, this collection will be invaluable to anthropological
and medical research.
An Ethnobotanical Collection has been initiated
by Research Associate Harriet Blitzer as part of her National Geographic
Society-sponsored project on the environmental and cultural contexts of
olive cultivation and the relationship of olive cultivation to other aspects
of Aegean culture. Her contribution of plant and seed samples from wild
and domesticated olives, as well as samples of associated flora, will open
this collection.
A Ceramic/Clay, Building Material Collection is
in the planning stages with material anticipated from the following projects
and researchers: [1] ceramic and raw material samples from a study of ceramic
technology at Lerna in the Third Millennium B.C. by Christine Shriner (Indiana
University); [2] clay samples from a preliminary petrographic analysis
of Epirote coarsewares by Melissa Moore (Boston University); [3] samples
from a study of the production and distribution of Canaanite storage jars
in the Late Bronze Age East Mediterranean by Michael Sugerman (Harvard
University); and [4] lime cement, mortar and concrete samples from Dr.
Ruth Siddallís research on building materials at the site of Ancient Corinth.
A Sediment Collection is also in its planning stage
with thin sections and micromorphological descriptions anticipated from
the following projects and researchers: [1] a preliminary study of lithostratigraphy
and micromorphology of Theopetra cave deposits, Thessaly, Greece by Dr.
Panajotis Karkanas (Ephoreia of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology, Greece);
and [2] a micromorphological study of sediments from the Late Minoan site
of Halasmenos, Crete by Scott Pike.
Current Anthropological Research
Research Associate Dr. Ethne Barnes (Wichita State
University) continues her analysis of developmental defects and pathology
of human skeletal material from Petras, Crete and the excavations of a
Frankish cemetery at Ancient Corinth.
1996-97 J. Lawrence Angel Fellow Sandra J. Garvie Lok (University of
Calgary) is collecting samples and examining Byzantine and post-Byzantine
materials from the Church of Agios Nicholaos at the Athenian Agora, the
13th Byzantine Ephoreia on Crete, the 11th Byzantine Ephoreia in Servia,
and from Agia Triada, Thebes as part of her dissertation (An Examination
of Diet, Health and Gender in Byzantine and Ottoman Greece).
1996-98 J. Lawrence Angel Fellow Anna Lagia (University
of Chicago) continues her dissertation research (The Biological Imprint
of Major Historical Processes that Occurred during the Twentieth Century
in Northern Greece).
Research Associate Lisa M. Littleís (Indiana University)
dissertation research (A Biological Distance Study of Mycenaean Populations
on the Greek Mainland) utilizes the results of epigenetic skeletal
analysis in an effort to address questions of social interaction within
and between communities during the Mycenaean period. Some of the populations
to be included in this research are from the Athenian Agora, Galatas and
Mycenaeís Grave Circle B. In addition to work on her dissertation, Lisa
is also involved in the analysis and publication of a number of other skeletal
collections from a wide range of archaeological periods: [1] the Late Minoan
III Mochlos, Crete with Jeffery Soles (University of North Carolina); [2]
Kritsa, Crete with Metaxia Tsipopoulou (Archaeological Museum, Agios Nikolaos,
Crete); [3] the Early Iron Age collection from the Athenian Agora with
John Papadopoulos (The Getty Museum); [4] the Medieval period burials from
within the Hephaisteion, Athenian Agora with Eric Ivison; and [5] human
remains from a Hellenistic well in the Athenian Agora with Susan Rotroff
(Washington University) and Lynn Snyder (Smithsonian Institute).
Research Associate Sevasti Triantaphyllou (University
of Sheffield) is carrying out mortuary data analysis of Prehistoric cemetery
populations from Northern Greece.
Current Zooarchaeological Research
1996-97 Faunal Fellow Deborah Ruscillo (University
College London) is collecting data for her dissertation (Sexual Dimorphism
in Mammalian Skeletons for Applicability in Archaeology).
Research Associate Dr. Lynn Snyder (Smithsonian
Institution) is examining faunal materials from the Frankish Complex and
Demeter Sanctuary in Corinth as well as material from the Athenian Agora
and two sites on Crete - Halasmenos and Kavousi.
Research Associate Dr. Ekaterini Trantalidou (Ephoreia
of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology, Greece) is analyzing Late Bronze
Age animal bones from several sites including: [1] Akrotiri, Thera; [2]
the sanctuary of Hermes and Aphrodite in Symi, Crete; [3] Kalamakia, Areopolis
Cave; and [4] Maara cave.
Current Geoarchaeological Research
1996-98 Geoarchaeology Fellow Richard K. Dunn (University
of Delaware) is working on the mid to late Holocene evolution of the alluvial-coastal
plain at Marathon, the site of the 490 B.C. battle between the Athenian
and Persian armies. Mycenean to Hellenistic cemeteries and a Roman villa
are also situated on the plain. Subsurface studies are determining the
past shifts in alluvial, lagoonal, coastal, and shallow marine environments,
and paleoenvironmental maps place the battle and other sites in their proper
environmental framework. In September, Rick will begin a study of the alluvial-coastal
plain at Itea, on the northern Gulf of Corinth. Situated below the site
of the oracle at Delphi, the area is the probable harbor site of the sacred
center. Subsurface studies will determine the extent and duration of a
former marine embayment and the potential for existence of a natural harbor.
Research Associate Dr. Panajotis Karkanas (Ephoreia
of Palaeoanthropology and Speleology) carries out the petrographic component
of his study on diagentic changes in the Theopetra Prehistoric cave deposits.
Former Acting Director Scott Pike (University of
Georgia) continues the fieldwork and petrographic component of his dissertation
research (Archaeological Geology and Geochemistry of the Ancient Marble
Quarries on Mount Pentelikon, Attica, Greece), as well as the following
projects: [1] a petrographic characterization study of Minoan calcium cemented
sandstone (beachrock) quarries, East Crete with Jeffrey Soles (University
of North Carolina); [2] a soil micromorphological study of selected archaeological
sediment profiles from Halasmenos, Crete with Paul Goldberg (Boston University);
[3] a petrographic and stable isotopic characterization study of marble
quarry regions from Amorgos, Naxos, Paros and Kea Islands, Greece with
Sarah J. Vaughan (University of Bristol) and Norman Herz (University of
Georgia); [4] a study of stable isotope fractionation of marble temper
in experimental ceramic briquettes with Vaughan and Herz; [5] the petrographic,
stable isotopic and geochemical characterization of marble samples from
the prow of the Athena Nike victory monument, Samothrace, Greece and the
presumed marble source quarries near Lartos, Greece with Ira Mark (ISM
Designs); [6] a characterization study of marble quarries from the Cycladic
island of Siphnos, Greece with Herz; [7] a marble characterization project
of Attic statuary from the Archaic, Classical, Hellenistic and Roman periods
to determine the importation history of marble used for fine sculpture
with Herz and Olga Palagia (University of Athens, Greece); [8] a marble
characterization study of the Colossal Apollo statue at Delos with Ken
Sheedy (Australian Archaeological Institute); [9] the marble identification
of roof tiles from Perachora with Blanche Menadier (Royal Holloway).
Research Associate Christine Shriner (Indiana University)
is completing a material and technological study of Late Neolithic and
Early Bronze Age ceramic products from the site of Lerna in the Argolid.
Research Associate Dr. Ruth Siddall (University
College London) is working on a study of the compositions and technology
of varieties of building materials used at ancient Corinth with Dr. Charles
Williams (Corinth Excavations).
Ethnobotany Research
Research Associate Harriet Blitzer is working on
her National Geographic Society sponsored study, ìRegional Variation in
Traditional Aegean Olive Cultivation - The Environmental and Cultural Contexts
of Olive Cultivation and the Relationship of Olive Cultivation to Other
Aspects of Aegean Culture.î
Forthcoming Wiener Laboratory Publications
Vaughan, Sarah J. and William D.E. Coulson (eds.),
Paleodiet in the Aegean, Wiener Laboratory Publication Number 1,
Oxbow Books (in press).
Vaughan, Sarah J. (ed.), The Proceedings of a
Workshop on The Practical Impact of Science on Field Archaeology:
Maintaining Long-term Analytical Options held in Nicosia, Cyprus on 22-23
July 1995, Wiener Laboratory Publication Number 2 (in preparation).
Contributors: Ethne Barnes, Della Cook, Richard Evershed, Paul Goldberg,
G.A. Wagner, Paul Croft, Andreas Georghiades, Julie Hansen, Chris Hayward,
Vasiliki Kassianidou, Walter Klippel, John F. Merkel, Rip Rapp, Jessica
Johnson, Vasilis Kilikoglou, Yannis Maniatis, Alice Paterakis, Sarah J.
Vaughan.
Pike, Scott with Seymour Gitin (eds.), The Practical
Impact of Science on Near Eastern and Aegean Archaeology, Wiener Laboratory
Publication Number 3, Archetype Press (in preparation). Contributors include:
Magen Broshi, Tamar Dayan, Erv Garrison, Yuval Goren, Azriel Gorski, Liora
Horwitz, Anne Killebrew, Mordechai Kislev, Nili Liphschitz, Arie Nissenbaum,
Naomi Porat, Arlene Miller Rosen, Patricia Smith, Steven Weiner, Scott
Woodward, Joseph Yellin.
Pike, Scott (ed.), Selected Papers from a Workshop
on Excavation Techniques and Treatment of Finds: Balancing the Constraints
of Excavation with Conservation and Analytical Potential, Wiener Laboratory
Publication Number 4 (in preparation). Contributors include: Jane E. Buikstra,
Linda Scott Cummings, Hector Neff, Arthur Rohn, Henry Schwarcz, Ruth Siddall,
Ekaterini Triantalidou, Noreen Tuross, Ian Whitbread.
For additional information about the Wiener Laboratory, please contact
the Director, Dr. Vanda Vitali: The Wiener Laboratory, American School
of Classical Studies at Athens, 54 Souidias, Athens 106 76, Greece. Tel:
(301) 723-6313; fax: (301) 729-4047; e-mail: vitali@leon.nrcps.ariadne-t.gr