Abstract:

Since the nineteenth century, views on the possibility of determining the provenance of metal artefacts seems to have gone through periodic cycles like those of the economy. The introduction of a new analytical method is usually greeted with enthusiasm and high hopes. In the initial phase, new insights are provided and the solution of many problems seems to be near; some researchers and many observers begin to rely so heavily on one single technique and to neglect other lines of evidence - and sometimes even simple logic - that they have no hesitation in believing in odd conclusions.

Author: Ernst Pernicka