Samos & Lemnos: In search of Samian and Lemnian Earths
Samos & Lemnos: In search of Samian and Lemnian Earths
The aim of this project (1998-1999) was to locate and recover the 'earths' of Samos and Lemnos and to characterise them using the modern techniques of applied mineralogy. Both Lemnian Earth and Samian Earth were used for medicinal and other purposes in Classical Antiquity and in our studies we have considered these minerals in the context of the classical references and landscape archaeology. This was a Joint Research between Glasgow University Archaeology Department, Glasgow and the Institute of Geological and Mineral Exploration, Athens, Greece. We are grateful to the British Council and The Greek General Secretariat of Research and Technology, Ministry of Development for funding that project.
Lemnos continued to be an area of research interest to us. We have returned there on a number of occasions and will continue to do so via a collaboration with the Department of Hydrology of the University of Patras, Greece (Dr E. Zagana). A recent publication has been one associated with the holy wells of Lemnos and their association with archaeological sites.
Books
Photos-Jones, E., and Hall, A. J. (2011) Lemnian Earth and the Earths of the Aegean: An Archaeological Guide To Medicines, Pigments And Washing Powders. Potingair Press: Glasgow. ISBN 9780956824004
Articles
Photos-Jones, E., Edwards,C., Häner,F., Lawton,L., Keane,C., Leanord,A., Perdikatsis,V.,2016. Archaeological Medicinal Earths as Antibacterial Agents: the case of the Basel Lemnian sphragides. (inpress) in Geology and Medicine: Historical Connections. Duffin, C.J., Gardner-Thorpe,C. and Moody,R.T.J. (eds). Geological Society of London Special Publication.
Photos-Jones, E., Keane, C., Jones, A.X., Stamatakis, M., Robertson, P., Hall, A.J., and Leanord, A. (2015) Testing Dioscorides’ medicinal clays for their antibacterial properties: the case of Samian Earth. Journal of Archaeological Science, 57, pp. 257-267. (doi:10.1016/j.jas.2015.01.020)
Photos-Jones, E., and Hall, A. J. (2014) Lemnian Earth, alum and astringency: a field based approach. In: Michaelides, D. (ed.) Medicine and Healing in the Ancient Mediterranean World. Oxbow Books: Oxford, pp. 183-189. ISBN 9781782972358
Hall, A., and Photos-Jones, E. (2008) Accessing past beliefs and practices: the case of Lemnian Earth. Archaeometry, 50(6), pp. 1034-1049. (doi:10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00377.x)