Congratulations to the winner and honorable mention for the R.E. Taylor Poster Award given at the 45th International Symposium on Archaeometry, held in Torino, Italy in May. This award acknowledges innovative student contributions to archaeological research through the use of scientific methods, and has enhanced the careers of prominent young scholars and professionals for more than two decades.
Winner – Adriana Iuliano (Archéosciences Bordeaux, CNRS/Bordeaux Montaigne)
We are pleased to announce that the winner of this year’s award is Adriana Iuliano of the University of Bordeaux. Adriana’s research poster, titled “Tracing painting practices in Roman Gaul: an archaeometric study of wall paintings from Limonum (I-III C. AD)” presents the first archaeometric overview of Gallo-Roman pigments and painting techniques in Poitiers (France), covering eight archaeological sites and twelve decorative schemes across three centuries. Using hyperspectral imaging (VNIR-SWIR-HSI) as a screening tool as well as other non-invasive (DM, XRF, XRD) and micro-invasive (OM, SEM-EDS, FTIR, Raman) techniques, the study characterises pigment palettes, complex painting stratigraphies, and identifies workshop practices, offering new insights into the circulation of materials and decorative traditions in a provincial Roman context.
Adriana’s research focuses on the use of physico-chemical characterisation methods for the study of heritage materials, in particular the study of paintings and polychrome objects. By combining imaging and spectroscopic techniques in multi-analytical protocols, her work aims to reconstruct the materials and practices behind painted surfaces. Congratulations once again!
Honorable Mention – Camila Hernández Murillo (Institut Méditerranéen de Biodiversité et d’Écologie- équipe Écologie, Ecotoxicologie & Chimie Appliquées à l’Agroécologie et à la Restauration, Avignon Université; Centro de Investigación en Ciencia e Ingeniería de Materiales, Universidad de Costa Rica)
We are also pleased to announce that Camila Hernández Murillo (University of Avignon/University of Costa Rica) has earned an Honorable Mention for her project, “Crossing Regions: Geochemical Discrimination of Guatemalan Jade and Its Application to Costa Rican Artifact Provenance.” Jade, a material highly valued by ancient Mesoamerican cultures, appears in several Costa Rican funerary contexts (300 BCE–500 CE) despite the lack of local sources. This study determines the provenance of 25 artifacts from ten archaeological sites in Costa Rica to trace pre-Columbian exchange networks. Primarily based on LA-ICP-MS trace element data, Camila developed a PLS-DA discrimination model for the Guatemalan North and South Motagua Mélanges, achieving 88% accuracy in distinguishing these sources. Its application to Costa Rican artifacts reveals strong geochemical affinities, with the majority matching the North Motagua Mélange. This geochemical and statistical approach suggest long-distance interaction networks of over 800 km between the Maya region and Costa Rica.
Camila’s research focuses on the study of jade and greenstones in pre-Columbian Costa Rica. It encompasses an exhaustive identification of materials using non-invasive spectroscopic analysis to distinguish between locally available resources and non-local materials, such as jade. These findings guide a subsequent detailed geochemical characterization of selected jadeite-jade samples for provenance studies, coupled with the development of a methodological framework to achieve robust statistical provenance predictions. Ultimately, Camila’s goal is to advance the application of archaeometric techniques to Costa Rica's archaeological heritage, promoting regional scientific expertise while providing critical insights into ancient trade networks and the region's greenstone lapidary traditions. Well done, Camila!
