Dr. Steve Weiner. ARCHAEOLOGY

Archaeology is the study of ancient cultures based on the material remains that have survived the ravages of time. This represents a most challenging goal that requires on the one hand, some of the most sophisticated analytical tools available, and on the other hand a keen understanding of human culture and history. This blend of science and humanities is unique. Israel's geographic location at the cross-roads between Africa, Europe and Asia, and its relatively mild climate, are two of the main reasons why this small country is so well endowed with a wonderfully rich archaeological record

My long term goals are to use the properties of the materials that accumulate at an archaeological site, to contribute to a better understanding of the archaeology of the site. The materials include the minerals, the organic materials and the biologically produced materials such as bones, teeth, shells and plant remains. Much of my research is in the field of prehistory. I have recently become involved in ethnoarchaeological approaches in order to develop new tools and better understand existing ones to reconstruct past human behaviour. A major new goal of my research is to use the tools and understanding we have on sediments to contribute to the archaeology of tel sites in the Levant.

I firmly believe that field and laboratory studies have to be totally integrated, and that this can best be achieved by working in both the field and the lab. For this purpose, I also operate a portable Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer on-site, to enable me to work in the field in an interactive mode. In the lab, I use a wide array of instruments to better understand the problem.

Archaeological research is also highly interdisciplinary. The following is a list of my main collaborators