Marcos Martinon-Torres

Senior Lecturer in Archaeological Science and Material Culture
Degree Co-ordinator: MSc Technology and analysis of archaeological materials
Course Co-ordinator: ARCL3001 Archaeometallurgy
Course Co-ordinator: ARCLG107 The technology and analysis of archaeological materials
Course Co-ordinator: ARCLG108 Archaeometallurgy I: Mining and extractive metallurgy

Research Pages

Material culture plays a crucial role in the way humans construct and express their position in the world and their relations to each other. Using instrumental techniques of analysis, it is possible to reveal subtle aspects of the selection and transformation of materials in different contexts. Given that materials and technologies are inextricably linked to culture-specific perceptions and values, their study provides an insight into past cultures and their interaction.

Based on these ideas, my core interest is the integration of scientific, archaeological and textual approaches to past materials and technologies in different contexts.

I am particularly interested in the production technologies of metals and ceramics, the perception and understanding of various materials in different cultures, the constrast between theories and practices in past technologies, and technological changes resulting from cultural contact. This research normally involves instrumental analyses of ceramics, metals and metallurgical products, and their interpretation with reference to historical sources and within theoretical frameworks from archaeology and material culture studies.

Some of my general ideas on this research approach are summarised in my introduction to the volume that I edited jointly with Thilo Rehren in 2008 (see publications). The analytical techniques that I employ most frequently are optical and electron microscopy and microanalysis (SEM-EDS and WD-EPMA), as well as XRF and XRD.

I am also interested in the use of experimental archaeometallurgy, and in the past I have investigated the life-histories of megaliths to reconstruct their changing values and uses in different historical contexts.

Publications

This link will take you to a running list of publications. Under Research interests, you can find some of these publications classified by topics

Research interests

Click here for further details of the following research projects and interests:

Alchemy, chemistry and metallurgy in the Renaissance world
Technical ceramics: the production and consumption of crucibles
Materials, recipes and choices: cupels and cupellation remains
The theory and practice of brassmaking
Material culture encounters in America: metals and metallurgy before and after the European contact
Specialisation and standardisation: making weapons for the Terracotta Army
Metals and metallurgy in Africa
Life-histories of megaliths and the history of archaeology

Research students

This link will take you to a list of research students under my (co-)supervision and their dissertation topics

Educational Background

2001-2005. Ph.D. Institute of Archaeology, University College London.
2000-2001. MSc in the Technology and Analysis of Archaeological Materials. University College London
1999-2001. DEA (Advanced Studies Diploma) in Archaeology and Ancient History. University of Santiago de Compostela
1999. MRes (Tesis de Licenciatura) in Archaeology. University of Santiago de Compostela
1995-1999. Licenciatura with Extraordinary Degree Prize in History. Speciality: Archaeology. University of Santiago de Compostela