Matonis Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 (edited) About 10 years ago I went to Sicily and during my stay there I explored a limestone canyon (not sure what it would be classified as). I had a great time exploring small caves and used chisels and brushes to excavate some small fossils. This was not a heavily developed area, virtually no tourists, and the site was on private property (I was given permission by the property owner). While searching for fossils, I found (what appears to be) a vase handle and have kept it ever since. My question is...how old is it? I'm not trying to scam anyone or anything but, should this be in a museum? Is it too "young" to carbon date? Is it likely just a piece of trash from 20 years ago or is it a relic from...1000 years ago? (idk) Thank you for your help Edited August 22, 2015 by Matonis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acme Posted August 22, 2015 Share Posted August 22, 2015 About 10 years ago I went to Sicily and during my stay there I explored a limestone canyon (not sure what it would be classified as). I had a great time exploring small caves and used chisels and brushes to excavate some small fossils. This was not a heavily developed area, virtually no tourists, and the site was on private property (I was given permission by the property owner). While searching for fossils, I found (what appears to be) a vase handle and have kept it ever since. My question is...how old is it? I'm not trying to scam anyone or anything but, should this be in a museum? Is it too "young" to carbon date? Is it likely just a piece of trash from 20 years ago or is it a relic from...1000 years ago? (idk) Thank you for your help ... The archeological value would be largely in the context of the artifact's location, so if it does belong in a museum I think one local to the find. Ceramics are dated using thermoluminescence. Thermoluminescence dating Thermoluminescence (TL) dating is the determination, by means of measuring the accumulated radiation dose, of the time elapsed since material containing crystalline minerals was either heated (lava, ceramics) or exposed to sunlight (sediments). As a crystalline material is heated during measurements the process of thermoluminescence starts. Thermoluminescence emits a weak light signal that is proportional to the radiation dose absorbed by the material. The technique has wide application, and is relatively cheap at some US$300700 per object; ideally a number of samples are tested. ... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imatfaal Posted August 30, 2015 Share Posted August 30, 2015 Stratigraphy is also vital in dating ceramics - additionally the vast majority of finds from antiquity are ceramics so we have enough to form a very good record of what existed and each styles time line. The stragigraphy produces only a relative timeline - but every so often something like an old piece of wood is found which allows a precise date (dendrochonology is just amazing) to be put on that layer and the ceramics closely associated with it. As Acme said locality is vital - you might justr try a few key word searches on google and look at the style of jug/amphora/bowl you find associated with Sicily. Although you have chosen a place with a huge amount of history! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matonis Posted September 3, 2015 Author Share Posted September 3, 2015 To be more specific, the artifact was found roughly 15 minutes south of Agnone, Sicily. Pictures below. Also a link to images of Ancient Sicilian Amphora Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acme Posted September 3, 2015 Share Posted September 3, 2015 (edited) To be more specific, the artifact was found roughly 15 minutes south of Agnone, Sicily. Pictures below. Also a link to images of Ancient Sicilian Amphora ... As imatfaal noted, stratigraphy can be helpful in dating, however once an artifact is removed without the stratigraphic analysis that usually accompanies digs, stratigraphy may be of little use in your case. Also, things get moved around so even with stratigraphic info it's possible someone else put it where you found it, or it washed in, or came by some other such accidental means. If there's other such artifacts there that you didn't find it might shed some light on the site being a trash site, or hiding place, or storage spot, or a campsite. As to which kind of vessel it belongs to, that's usually a matter for experts who have studied nuances that vary by age, style, specific material & location. As I mentioned, the only positive way to date a ceramic is thermoluminescence (TL) dating. If it is very old then calling it a relic is fine, though vessels with handles from long ago were made in great quantities and were as disposable as today's pickle jars. Not that it couldn't be some kind of unique disposable relic, but again it would take an expert to make that determination. Edited September 3, 2015 by Acme Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
imatfaal Posted September 7, 2015 Share Posted September 7, 2015 As imatfaal noted, stratigraphy can be helpful in dating, however once an artifact is removed without the stratigraphic analysis that usually accompanies digs, stratigraphy may be of little use in your case. Also, things get moved around so even with stratigraphic info it's possible someone else put it where you found it, or it washed in, or came by some other such accidental means. If there's other such artifacts there that you didn't find it might shed some light on the site being a trash site, or hiding place, or storage spot, or a campsite. As to which kind of vessel it belongs to, that's usually a matter for experts who have studied nuances that vary by age, style, specific material & location. As I mentioned, the only positive way to date a ceramic is thermoluminescence (TL) dating. If it is very old then calling it a relic is fine, though vessels with handles from long ago were made in great quantities and were as disposable as today's pickle jars. Not that it couldn't be some kind of unique disposable relic, but again it would take an expert to make that determination. Agree completely "as disposable as today's pickle jars" If anything more so...there are entire seemingly geographical features in Rome that upon closer inspection turn out to be enormous ceramic disposal heaps Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Matonis Posted September 8, 2015 Author Share Posted September 8, 2015 Guys...I'm not labelling this the find of a century lol. Just would be cool to know. To be able to say...hey it turns out this is _____ years old. I'm looking for TL dating resources. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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