Traceology Analysis of Instruments for Treatment of the Iron Age and the Roman Period in Central Europe
Abstrakt
Understanding the true picture of diagnostic and treatment practices in the Iron Age and Roman period appears to be impossible given the current level of knowledge and scientific methods. The state of the art at that time in the Central European environment is reconstructed on the basis of the transfer of information from Greek and Roman literary sources, which usually do not relate to the specific geographical and time setting, iconographic sources, often from different geographical settings, and archaeological finds, the interpretation of which as a tools for treatment sometimes might be questioned.
The methods currently used are not effective, but the artefacts are of great telling value and the data have not yet been fully extracted from them. The priority of the research in the archaeology of medicine is the use of non-destructive methods, especially since artefacts are rare and some of them have already been impacted by storing and preservation.
Currently, a method of research with enormous potential is traceology analysis using microscopy at low and high magnifications in 2D, as well as 3D surface imaging, by combining 2D pictures using software tools, or by optical scanning. In the case of metal tools for treatment, traces can be observed to some extent as use-wear traces, manufacturing traces, and traces of the practice of archaeologists and museum workers.
A database of typical traces in metal artefacts interpreted as tools for treatment procedures has not yet been published. This project identifies features of artefacts typical for Central European craftsmanship, for products of Greek and Roman manufacturers, for artefacts from particular periods, and for forgeries, by examining the production processes of tools through traceology analysis.
It also defines the characteristics that will help to distinguish surgical instrumentation from self-care tools.