Ioannis Liritzis
Encyclopedia
Ioannis Liritzis is professor of physics in archaeology (archaeometry
) and his field of specialization is the application of natural sciences to archaeology
and cultural heritage
. He studied physics at the University of Patras
and continued at the University of Edinburgh
, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1980. Since then, he undertook postgraduate work at the University of Oxford
, Université Bordeaux III, University of Edinburgh
and the Academy of Athens
.
Currently he is professor of archaeometry at the University of the Aegean
and he directs the Laboratory of Archaeometry (founded by him at 1999). In the past he served as Head of the Department of Mediterranean Studies at the University of the Aegean
, Member of the Senate of University of the Aegean
and Member of the Executive Committee of National Recognition of Foreign Academic Diplomas. His prior career includes the Greek Ministry of Culture for 5 years (1984–1989) and the Academy of Athens
for 10 years (1989–1999).
He has made major contributions to several interdisciplinary research fields (geophysics
, astronomy
, planetology, paleomagnetism
, paleoclimatology
) and his work has been published in scientific journals such as Nature journal.
He is best known for the invention of two novel dating methods
. Τhe method for surface luminescence dating (introduced at 1994) where Liritzis extended the principles behind optical dating
and thermoluminescence dating
to include surfaces last seen by the sun before buried, of carved rock types from ancient monuments and artifacts, made of granite, basalt and sandstone and the method called SIMS-SS for the obsidian hydration dating
(introduced at 2002).
He has written over 250 original papers in international cited journals and 5 books (3 in English).
Many Greek and international magazines, newspapers and channels such as Discovery Channel have referred to his work.
Liritzis has been elected as Membre Correspondant de l' Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon
and Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts
He was awarded with the Prize of Academy of Athens
for his Book Archaeometry: Dating Methods in Archaeology (1986). Recently he was awarded with the "The Costa Navarino
International Archeometry Award (2010) Issued by the University of Peloponesse.
Archaeological science
Archaeological science, also known as archaeometry, consists of the application of scientific techniques to the analysis of archaeological materials. Archaeometry is now considered its own scientific field. The UK's Natural and Environmental Research Council provides funding for archaeometry...
) and his field of specialization is the application of natural sciences to archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
and cultural heritage
Cultural heritage
Cultural heritage is the legacy of physical artifacts and intangible attributes of a group or society that are inherited from past generations, maintained in the present and bestowed for the benefit of future generations...
. He studied physics at the University of Patras
University of Patras
University of Patras is a university established in 1964 in Patras, Greece. Initially housed in the city centre, the university's campus is now located in the adjacent municipality of Rio...
and continued at the University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
, where he obtained his Ph.D. in 1980. Since then, he undertook postgraduate work at the University of Oxford
University of Oxford
The University of Oxford is a university located in Oxford, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest surviving university in the world and the oldest in the English-speaking world. Although its exact date of foundation is unclear, there is evidence of teaching as far back as 1096...
, Université Bordeaux III, University of Edinburgh
University of Edinburgh
The University of Edinburgh, founded in 1583, is a public research university located in Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The university is deeply embedded in the fabric of the city, with many of the buildings in the historic Old Town belonging to the university...
and the Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens (modern)
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education...
.
Currently he is professor of archaeometry at the University of the Aegean
University of the Aegean
The University of the Aegean is a state, multi-campus university located in Mytilene, Greece. The university was officially founded in 1984, although its historical roots date back to the early 1920s...
and he directs the Laboratory of Archaeometry (founded by him at 1999). In the past he served as Head of the Department of Mediterranean Studies at the University of the Aegean
University of the Aegean
The University of the Aegean is a state, multi-campus university located in Mytilene, Greece. The university was officially founded in 1984, although its historical roots date back to the early 1920s...
, Member of the Senate of University of the Aegean
University of the Aegean
The University of the Aegean is a state, multi-campus university located in Mytilene, Greece. The university was officially founded in 1984, although its historical roots date back to the early 1920s...
and Member of the Executive Committee of National Recognition of Foreign Academic Diplomas. His prior career includes the Greek Ministry of Culture for 5 years (1984–1989) and the Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens (modern)
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education...
for 10 years (1989–1999).
He has made major contributions to several interdisciplinary research fields (geophysics
Geophysics
Geophysics is the physics of the Earth and its environment in space; also the study of the Earth using quantitative physical methods. The term geophysics sometimes refers only to the geological applications: Earth's shape; its gravitational and magnetic fields; its internal structure and...
, astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
, planetology, paleomagnetism
Paleomagnetism
Paleomagnetism is the study of the record of the Earth's magnetic field in rocks. Certain minerals in rocks lock-in a record of the direction and intensity of the magnetic field when they form. This record provides information on the past behavior of Earth's magnetic field and the past location of...
, paleoclimatology
Paleoclimatology
Paleoclimatology is the study of changes in climate taken on the scale of the entire history of Earth. It uses a variety of proxy methods from the Earth and life sciences to obtain data previously preserved within rocks, sediments, ice sheets, tree rings, corals, shells and microfossils; it then...
) and his work has been published in scientific journals such as Nature journal.
He is best known for the invention of two novel dating methods
Dating methodology (archaeology)
Dating material drawn from the archaeological record can be made by a direct study of an artifact or may be deduced by association with materials found in the context the item is drawn from or inferred by its point of discovery in the sequence relative to datable contexts...
. Τhe method for surface luminescence dating (introduced at 1994) where Liritzis extended the principles behind optical dating
Optical dating
Optical dating is a method of determining how long ago minerals were last exposed to daylight. It is useful to geologists and archaeologists who want to know when such an event occurred....
and thermoluminescence dating
Thermoluminescence dating
Thermoluminescence dating is the determination, by means of measuring the accumulated radiation dose, of the time elapsed since material containing crystalline minerals was either heated or exposed to sunlight...
to include surfaces last seen by the sun before buried, of carved rock types from ancient monuments and artifacts, made of granite, basalt and sandstone and the method called SIMS-SS for the obsidian hydration dating
Obsidian hydration dating
Obsidian hydration dating is a geochemical method of determining age in either absolute or relative terms of an artifact made of obsidian....
(introduced at 2002).
He has written over 250 original papers in international cited journals and 5 books (3 in English).
Many Greek and international magazines, newspapers and channels such as Discovery Channel have referred to his work.
Liritzis has been elected as Membre Correspondant de l' Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon
Académie des Sciences, Arts et Belles-Lettres de Dijon
The Académie de Dijon was founded by Hector-Bernard Pouffier, the most senior member of the Parlement de Bourgogne, in 1725. It received royal lettres patentes in 1740...
and Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts
European Academy of Sciences and Arts
The European Academy of Sciences and Arts was created in 1990 in Salzburg, Austria by heart surgeon Felix Unger of Salzburg; the cardinal archbishop of Vienna, Franz König; and the political scientist and philosopher Nikolaus Lobkowicz....
He was awarded with the Prize of Academy of Athens
Academy of Athens (modern)
The Academy of Athens is Greece's national academy, and the highest research establishment in the country. It was established in 1926, and operates under the supervision of the Ministry of Education...
for his Book Archaeometry: Dating Methods in Archaeology (1986). Recently he was awarded with the "The Costa Navarino
Costa Navarino
Costa Navarino is a prime, sustainable destination in the Mediterranean, located in the Greek region of Messinia in the southwest Peloponnese . In Ancient time Messinia was a district in the south-western part of the Peloponnese with a history spanning 4,500 years. Today, it is one of Greece’s...
International Archeometry Award (2010) Issued by the University of Peloponesse.