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Dr. Leah Minc
Ph.D. Anthropology, University of Michigan
M.A. Anthropology, University of Chicago

OSU Radiation Center
Assistant Professor
A104 Radiation Center, 35th & Jefferson
541-737-4217

Research Interests

Archaeometry (Materials Science in Archaeology)

Compositional analyses of archaeological materials play a significant role in the investigation of past human behavior and ancient economies. Through trace-element characterization of artifacts, raw materials, human remains, and botanical samples, archaeologists are able to address a host of questions concerning resource utilization, trade and exchange, subsistence practices, and the environmental adaptations of past cultures.

At OSU, we’re fortunate to have ready access to the premier method of trace-element characterization - Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA). I head the INAA program at the Radiation Center (OSU-RC) and serve as liaison to researchers using irradiation facilities and detector instrumentation. I also have an active research program in archaeometry and compositional analysis, through collaboration with faculty researchers at OSU and other academic institutions. Recent and on-going projects include analyses of Colonial-era bricks from Maryland, Aztec ceramics from central Mexico, chert from Idaho, and obsidian from Armenia.

Political Economy and Exchange in Early Complex Societies

One key application of trace-element data is in monitoring how raw materials and finished goods circulated in prehistory. Archaeologists can “source” artifacts from their trace-element signature or fingerprint. Once finished artifacts have been linked in their geographic point of origin, mechanisms of trade and exchange, political geography, and social controls over the circulation of goods can be modeled based on the distribution of artifacts from that source.

I am particularly interested in the development of market exchange systems, and the role of elites in regulating market exchange in early states. Although we tend to characterize market exchange as a purely commercial activity, elites frequently intervened in the “commercial sector” to promote their own agenda. Research on market exchange is on-going in three areas: the core of the Aztec empire, the early Zapotec state in central Oaxaca, and the Bronze Age states of Armenia. In each case, key questions include: What mechanisms existed to regulate access to and control over the flow of goods? And, how did these controls affect the decisions of individual producers and consumers?

Courses for Archaeologists

Materials Science in Archaeology

Neutron Activation Analysis for Archaeologists

Quantitative Methods in Archaeology

Introduction to Prehistoric Complex Societies

Mesoamerican Prehistory

Publications

In Press	Lindsay, I., L. Minc, C. Descantes, R.J. Speakman, M.D. Glascock. Exchange Patterns, Boundary Formation, and Sociopolitical Change in Late Bronze Age Southern Caucasia: Preliminary Results from a Pottery Provenance Study in Northwestern Armenia. Journal of Archaeological Science (accepted for publication November, 2007).
In Press	Minc, L.D. A Compositional Perspective on Ceramic Exchange among Late Bronze Age Communities of the Tsaghkahovit Plain, Armenia. In The Archaeology and Geography of Ancient Transcaucasian Societies, edited by A. Smith, R.S. Badalyan, and P. Avetisyan. Oriental Institute Press(accepted for publication November, 2007).
In Press	Minc, L.D. Style and Substance: Evidence for Regionalization within the Aztec Market System. Latin American Antiquity (accepted for publication January, 2006).
2008	Cherry, J.F., E.Z. Faro, and L. Minc. Field Exploration and Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis of the Obsidian Sources in Southern Armenia. IAOS Bulletin 39: 3-6.
2008	Minc, L.D. Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA). In Encyclopedia of Archaeology (Vol. 3), edited by D.M. Pearsall. Academic Press, NY, pp. 1669-1683.
2007	Armitage, R.A., L.D. Minc, S. Hurry, and M. Doolin. Characterization of Building Materials from the Brick Chapel at Historic St. Mary's City. In Archaeological Chemistry: Analytical Techniques and Archaeological Interpretation (ACS Symposium Series 968), edited by M.D. Glascock, R.J. Speakman, and R. S. Popelka-Filcoff, pp. 364-375. American Chemical Society, Washington, D.C.
2007	Minc, L.D., J.R. Sherman, C. Elson, C.S. Spencer, and E. M. Redmond. "M Glow Blue": Archaeometric Research at Michigan's Ford Nuclear Reactor. Archaeometry 49(2):215-228.
2007	Fowles, S., L.D. Minc, S. Duwe, and D. Hill. Clay, Conflict, and Village Aggregation: Compositional Analyses of Pre-classic Pottery from Taos, New Mexico. American Antiquity 72(1):125-152.
2006	Minc, L.D., Monitoring Regional Market Systems in Prehistory: Models, Methods, and Metrics. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 25(1):82-116.
2006	Armitage, R.A., L.D. Minc, D.V. Hill, and S. D. Hurry, Characterization of Bricks and Tiles from the 17th-century Brick Chapel, St. Mary's City, Maryland. Journal of Archaeological Science 33(5):615-627.
2006	Alden, J. R., L.D. Minc, and T.F. Lynch. Identifying the sources of Inka period ceramics from northern Chile: results of a neutron activation study. Journal of Archaeological Science 33(4):575-594.
2005	Bray, T.L., L.D. Minc, M. Constanza-Ceruti, R. Perea, J. Reinhard, and J. Chávez) A Compositional Analysis of Pottery Vessels Associated with the Inca Ritual of Capacocha. Journal of Anthropological Archaeology 24(1):82-100.
2004	Armitage, R. A., L. D. Minc, D. V. Hill, and S. D. Hurry. Characterization of Bricks and Tiles from 17th-Century Maryland. Abstracts of the 34th International Symposium on Archaeometry (Zaragoza, Spain); J. Perez-Arantegui, editor.
2004	Elson, C., R. J. Sherman, L.D. Minc, C.S. Spencer, E.M. Redmond. Los Resultados Preliminares de Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) de la cerámica de las fases Monte Albán I y Monte Albán II de los sitios de El Palenque, Cerro Tilcajete y Yaasuchi. In Cuarta Mesa Redonda de Monte Albán, edited by N. R. G. y R. Spores. Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia, México.
2003	Smith, A. T., R. Badalyan, P. Avetisyan, M. Zardarian, A. Hayrepetyan, L. Minc, and B. Monahan. Early Complex Societies in Southern Transcaucasia: a Preliminary Report on the 2002 Investigations of Project ARAGATS on the Tsakahovit Plain, Republic of Armenia. American Journal of Archaeology 108(1): 1-41.
2002	Michelaki, K., L. Minc, and J. O’Shea. Integrating Typology and Physico-Chemical Approaches to Examine the Potter's Choices: a Case Study from Bronze Age Hungary, In Modern Trends in Scientific Studies on Ancient Ceramics, ed. by Y. Maniatis and V. Kilikoglou, pp. 313-322, British Archaeological Reports International Series 1011.
2001	Minc, L. D. Pottery. In The Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopedia, edited by S. Evans and D. Webster. Garland Publishing, NY.
2001	Minc, L. D. Ceramics. In The Archaeology of Ancient Mexico and Central America: An Encyclopedia, edited by S. Evans and D. Webster. Garland Publishing, NY.