Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) Nuclear Archaeology Program Archives
The Nuclear Archaeology Program at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) was one of the first-generation archaeometry labs in the world, operating between the 1960s and the early 1990s (Asaro and Adan-Bayewitz 2007). While in operation, the Berkeley lab produced compositional data on an estimated 10,000 archaeological samples, mostly by neutron activation and X-ray fluorescence. Although well known for analysis of pottery from the Mediterranean and the Middle East, LBNL also analyzed over 300 archaeological specimens from the Americas and over 800 specimens from Africa.
This database covers data from the initiation of NAA at LBNL in the late 1960s until the late 1980s. In 2006, an archive of the LBNL was transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri Research Reactor (MURR) for digitization, curation, and public distribution. Materials transferred to MURR are in varying stages of completeness and include surplus powders, over 6000 pages of laboratory correspondence and hand-written descriptions of archaeological specimens, over 3000 photographs, approximately 1000 pages of irradiation records, five two-drawer file cabinets of COM microfiche, and 20 bound volumes of elemental abundances. The massive amount of compositional data in the archive, and the presence of detailed descriptive data provide the most thorough record in existence of the LBNL’s archaeometric research. In addition to archaeological and geochemical data, the LBNL archive contains a substantial amount of historical documentation including correspondence, records of transfer, and solicitation letters, making it an ideal primary source of data for the history of archaeometry and archaeology.
Since 2006, the MURR Archaeometry Laboratory has worked to digitize the records and information in the LBNL archive. These efforts have focused on stabilizing the LBNL archive and producing a digital copy suitable for future research. In 2011, Matthew T. Boulanger and Michael D. Glascock of the MURR laboratory were awarded a grant from Digital Antiquity to finalize work on the LBNL archives and make these data available through tDAR. That initial posting (v.1) contained records for 8253 specimens of pottery analyzed at LBNL, of which, chemical data for 5308 (64%) had been located. In July 2014, all of the data files were updated to reflect additional data that had been located and digitized in the intervening 3.5 years. The updated files (v.2) contain records for 8462 specimens, of which 7386 (87%) have accompanying chemical data. Chemical data for approximately 50 additional specimens exist in the offline database at MURR.
Although every effort has been made to ensure that these data are accurate to the original source documents, errors may yet exist. Any errors or inconsistencies may be brought to the attention of the MURR Archaeometry Laboratory.
Site Name Keywords
Alexandria •
Tel Ashdod •
Acuchimay •
Ayacucho •
Carmenca •
Chakipampa •
Churukana •
Conchopata •
Cuzco •
Huari
Site Type Keywords
Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex •
Settlements •
Town / City •
Hamlet / Village •
Domestic Structures •
Archaeological Feature •
Kiln •
Funerary and Burial Structures or Features •
Cemetery •
Tomb
Other Keywords
Neutron Activation Analysis •
Compositional Analysis •
Ceramic Composition •
Neutron Activation •
Source Analysis •
Geochemistry •
Geochemical Analysis •
Ceramic Analysis •
Ceramic Analyis •
Terra Sigillata
Culture Keywords
Roman •
Islamic •
Bronze Age •
Midianite •
Greek •
Persian •
Neolithic •
Medieval •
Edomite •
Archaic
Investigation Types
Collections Research
Material Types
Ceramic
Temporal Keywords
Medieval •
Roman •
Bronze Age •
Iron Age •
Neolithic •
Hellenistic •
Chalcolithic •
Late Horizon •
Middle Horizon •
Modern
Geographic Keywords
Asia (Continent) •
Africa (Continent) •
Europe (Continent) •
Al Hasakah (State / Territory) •
Gaziantep (State / Territory) •
IL (ISO Country Code) •
State of Israel (Country) •
Syrian Arab Republic (Country) •
West Bank (Country) •
SY (ISO Country Code)
Resources Inside This Collection (Viewing 1-24 of 24)
There are 24 Projects within this Collection [remove this filter]
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LBNL Nuclear Archaeology Program Notebooks
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project contains image-only PDF documents created from scanning the primary-source notebooks maintained by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's Nuclear Archaeology Program. Notebooks were maintained for samples received, specimen descriptions, and general correspondence. All pages in these notebooks were scanned at the University of Missouri Archaeometry Laboratory. Descriptions contained in these notebooks were transcribed and merged with compositional data (when available), and...
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Armenia
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Armenia. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from California
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from the United States. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Cyprus
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Cyprus. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Egypt
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Egypt. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from France
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from France. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Georgia
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Georgia. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Greece
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Greece. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR. Data for some samples are drawn from a previous LBNL-digitization project at the University of...
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Iran
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Iran. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Iraq
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Iraq. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Israel and the Palestinian Territories
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Israel. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Italy
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Italy. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Jordan
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Jordan. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Lebanon
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Lebanon. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Mexico
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project contains data on 45 ceramic specimens from Cerro Portezuelo, Mexico, and 6 clay specimens from the surrounding region. These data were produced at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory in the mid 1970s. The specimens were analyzed as part of Barbara Branstetter-Hardesty's Ph.D. dissertation work at the University of California, Los Angeles. Additional information regarding these specimens may be found in her dissertation: Branstetter-Hardesty, B. (1978) Ceramics of Cerro...
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Niger
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Niger. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Nigeria
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Nigeria. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Oman
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Oman. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Peru
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project contains data on 166 ceramic specimens from various sites in Peru. The data were produced at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory between the late 1960s and mid 1970s. All of the specimens were provided to the laboratory from the collections of the Lowie Museum.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Saudi Arabia
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Saudi Arabia. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Sudan
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Sudan. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Syria
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Syria. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Turkey
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Turkey. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.
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Neutron Activation Analysis of Ceramics from Uzbekistan
PROJECT Uploaded by: Matthew Boulanger
This project pertains to the compositional analysis of ceramic materials from Uzbekistan. These data were generated by neutron activation analysis (NAA) at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) between the late 1960s and early 1990s. Data from the LBNL were transferred to the Archaeometry Laboratory at the University of Missouri, where they were digitized for distribution through tDAR.