Introduction: Micro-Particle Analysis in Archaeology

Abstract

Nearly 20 years ago, Stephen Weiner drew the distinction between macroarchaeology—that is, the study of the large objects recovered during excavation, from temples down to stone tools—and microarchaeology—that is, the application of scientific techniques to examine the archaeological record beyond what is visible to the naked eye (Weiner 2010). Microarchaeology has enjoyed an increasing prominence in archaeological studies. Such techniques, ranging from the analysis of wear on stone tools using light microscopy, to the identification of lipids and residues using mass spectroscopy, to the recovery and identification of proteins and DNA, have enabled us to “see” features, habitats, and behaviors that would otherwise be invisible.