Dr. Benjamin Stern,Assistant Professor
Information about Dr. Benjamin Stern at the University of Bradford.
- School of Archaeological & Forensic Sci
(Faculty of Life Sciences) - Email:
- b.stern@bradford.ac.uk
- Telephone:
- +44 1274 236054
Biography
Ben is currently a Lecturer in Archaeological Sciences.Ben’s role is divided between Archaeology, Chemistry and the Analytical Centre.Research
Bens research falls at the interface between analytical chemistry and archaeology.He is interested in the identification of the ‘archaeologically invisible’ by the correct application of analytical techniques. Some techniques are now fairly routine (such as Gas Chromatography - Mass Spectrometry (GC, GC-MS), Inductively Coupled Plasma - Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) and stable light isotopic ratios (Isotope Ratio-MS)), although these techniques may have not been applied to novel materials. Some are new (e.g. High Performance Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry, HPLC-MS), but all require careful application due to problems of small sample size, contamination, complex mixtures, degradation and the reliability of the biomarker approach.Further details and some case studies.Archaeologically the aims are to find direct molecular, trace element and isotopic evidence for the identification and use of archaeological materials including ceramic vessels, traded goods and soils (in combination with conventional archaeological evidence). Related areas of interest include the analysis of modern natural products their degradation and preservation.Publications
There are 41 publications involving or that are attributed to Dr. Benjamin Stern.
Peer Reviewed Journal
Title | Year | Publication name | Journal | Volume | Pages | Authors | Editors | ISSN | Publisher | DOI | Location |
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Compositional variation in aged and heated Pistacia resin found in Late Bronze Age Canaanite amphorae and bowls from Amarna, Egypt | 2003 | Heron, Carl P.; Corr, L.; Serpico, M.; Stern, Ben; Bourriou, J. | |||||||||
Stable isotope and DNA evidence for ritual sequences in Inca child sacrifice | 2007 | Wilson, Andrew S.; Ceruti, M.C.; Chavez, J.A.; Taylor, Timothy F.; Stern, Ben | |||||||||
Characterization of paint and varnish on a medieval Coptic-Byzantine icon: Novel usage of dammar resin? | 2009 | SPECTROCHIMICA ACTA PART A: MOLECULAR & BIOMOLECULAR SPECTROSCOPY | 73 | Abdel-Ghani, Mona H.; Edwards, Howell G.M.; Stern, Ben; Janaway, Robert C. | 10.1016/j.saa.2008.10.050 | ||||||
From Susa to Anuradhapura: Reconstructing aspects of trade and exchange in bitumen-coated ceramic vessels between Iran and Sri Lanka from the Third to the Ninth Centuries AD. | 2008 | Stern, Ben; Connan, J.; Blakelock, Eleanor S.; Jackman, R.; Coningham, Robin A.E.; Heron, Carl P. | |||||||||
Neolithic zoomorphic vessels from Eastern Macedonia, Greece: Issues of function | 2009 | Marangou, C.; Stern, Ben | |||||||||
Analysis of three putative birch bark tar samples from Melkøya, Arctic Norway | 2009 | Stern, Ben; Heron, Carl P.; Clelland, Sarah-Jane; Nordby, C.C. | |||||||||
Analysis of yellow "fat" deposits on Inuit boots | 2009 | Edwards, Howell G.M.; Stern, Ben; Burgio, L.; Kite, M. | |||||||||
Beeswax preserved in a Late Chalcolithic Bevelled Rim bowl from the Tehran Plain, Iran | 2012 | Mayyas, A.; Stern, Ben; Gillmore, Gavin; Coningham, Robin A.E.; Fazeli Nashli, H. | |||||||||
Waking the dead: Scientific analysis of an Egyptian tunic. | 2009 | Haldane, E.A.; Gillies, Sara; O'Connor, Sonia A.; Batt, Catherine M.; Stern, Ben | |||||||||
Trace element concentrations in mangrove sediments in the Sundarbans, Bangladesh | 2009 | Awal, M.A.; Hale, William H.G.; Stern, Ben | |||||||||
The Identity of the St Bees Lady, Cumbria: An Osteobiographical Approach | 2010 | Knüsel, Christopher J.; Batt, Catherine M.; Cook, G.; Montgomery, Janet; Müldner, G.; Ogden, Alan R.; Palmer, C.; Stern, Ben; Todd, J.; Wilson, Andrew S. | |||||||||
Gas chromatographic, mass spectrometric and stable carbon isotope investigations of organic residues in `slab-lined pits' from Arctic Norway | 2010 | Heron, Carl P.; Nilsen, G.; Stern, Ben; Craig, O.E.; Nordby, C.C. | |||||||||
Molecular and isotopic demonstration of the processing of aquatic products in northern European prehistoric pottery | 2007 | Craig, O.E.; Forster, M.; Andersen, S.H.; Koch, E.; Crombé, P.; Milner, N.J.; Stern, Ben; Bailey, G.N.; Heron, Carl P. | |||||||||
Application of lipid biomarker analysis to evaluate the function of "slab-lined pits" in Arctic Norway | 2010 | Heron, Carl P.; Nilsen, G.; Stern, Ben; Craig, O.E.; Nordby, C.C. | |||||||||
The 'semblance of immortality'? Resinous materials and mortuary rites in Roman Britain | 2014 | Brettell, Rhea C.; Stern, Ben; Reifarth, N.; Heron, Carl P. | |||||||||
Olive oil or lard? Distinguishing plant oils from animal fats in the archaeological record of the eastern Mediterranean using gas chromatography/combustion/isotope ratio mass spectrometry | 2010 | Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry | 24 | 3478 - 3484 | Steele, Valerie J.; Stern, Ben; Stott, A.W. | https://doi.org/10.1002/rcm.4790 | |||||
The circulation and consumption of Red Lustrous Wheelmade Ware: petrographic, chemical and residue analysis | 2005 | Anatolian Studies | 55 | 25 - 59 | Knappett, C.; Kilikoglou, V.; Steele, Valerie J.; Stern, Ben | ||||||
New investigations into the Uluburun resin cargo | 2008 | Stern, Ben; Heron, Carl P.; Tellefsen, T.; Serpico, M. | |||||||||
‘Choicest unguents’: molecular evidence for the use of resinous plant exudates in late Roman mortuary rites in Britain | 2015 | Brettell, Rhea C.; Schotsmans, Eline M.J.; Walton Rogers, P.; Reifarth, N.; Redfern, R.C.; Stern, Ben; Heron, Carl P. | |||||||||
Organic residue analysis of Egyptian votive mummies and their research potential | 2016 | Brettell, Rhea C.; Martin, William H.C.; Atherton-Woolham, S.; Stern, Ben; McKnight, L. | |||||||||
Qualitative and Quantitative Assessment of Fatty Acids of Buddleja asiatica by GC-MS | 2013 | Ali, F.; Ali, I.; Bibi, H.; Malik, A.; Stern, Ben; Maitland, Derek J. | |||||||||
Yesterday's hair--human hair in archaeology | 2001 | Biologist | 48 | Wilson, Andrew S.; Dixon, Ronald A.; Dodson, Hilary I.; Janaway, Robert C.; Pollard, A. Mark; Stern, Ben; Tobin, Desmond J. | |||||||
Red Lustrous Wheelmade ware: analysis of organic residues in Late Bronze Age trade and storage vessels from the eastern Mediterranean | 2017 | Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports | 16 | 614 - 657 | Steele, Valerie J.; Stern, Ben | Elsevier | 10.1016/j.jasrep.2017.06.027 | ||||
A study of 18th century Coptic icons of Ibrahim Al-Nasekh using Raman microscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry: Indigo as an organic pigment in Egyptian panel paintings | 2012 | Vibrational Spectroscopy | 62 | 98 - 109 | Abdel-Ghani M.;Stern B.;Edwards H.;Janaway R. | 0924-2031 | 10.1016/j.vibspec.2012.05.003 | ||||
Desert roads and transport vessels from Late Roman-Coptic times in the Eastern Sahara | 2005 | Journal of African Archaeology | 3 | 213 - 229 | Eichhorn B.;Hendrickx S.;Riemer H.;Stern B. | 1612-1651 | 10.3213/1612-1651-10051 | ||||
A comparison of methods for establishing fatty acid concentration gradients across potsherds: A case study using Late Bronze Age Canaanite amphorae | 2000 | Archaeometry | 42 | 399 - 414 | Stern B.;Heron C.;Serpico M.;Bourriau J. | 0003-813X | 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2000.tb00890.x | ||||
Compositional variations in aged and heated pistacia resin found in late bronze age canaanite amphorae and bowls from Amarna, Egypt | 2003 | Archaeometry | 45 | 457 - 469 | Stern B.;Heron C.;Corr L.;Serpico M.;Bourriau J. | 0003-813X | 10.1111/1475-4754.00121 | ||||
Combined FT-Raman spectroscopic and mass spectrometric study of ancient Egyptian sarcophagal fragments | 2007 | Analytical and Bioanalytical Chemistry | 387 | 829 - 836 | Edwards H.;Stern B.;Villar S.;David A. | 1618-2642 | 10.1007/s00216-006-0640-x | ||||
Dating resin coating on pottery: The Spirit Cave early ceramic dates revised | 2003 | Antiquity | 77 | 126 - 133 | Lampert C.;Glover I.;Hedges R.;Heron C.;Higham T.;Stern B.;Shoocongdej R.;Thompson G. | 0003-598X | 10.1017/S0003598X0006141X | ||||
A Raman microscopic and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric study of two 19th century overlapping Coptic icons of Anastasy Al-Romi | 2008 | Vibrational Spectroscopy | 48 | 69 - 75 | Abdel-Ghani M.;Edwards H.;Janaway R.;Stern B. | 0924-2031 | 10.1016/j.vibspec.2008.02.013 | ||||
PET bottle use patterns and antimony migration into bottled water and soft drinks: The case of British and Nigerian bottles | 2012 | Journal of Environmental Monitoring | 14 | 1237 - 1247 | Tukur A.;Sharp L.;Stern B.;Tizaoui C.;Benkreira H. | 1464-0325 | 10.1039/c2em10917d | ||||
Birch-bark tar at Neolithic Makriyalos, Greece | 2002 | Antiquity | 76 | 962 - 967 | Urem-Kotsou D.;Stern B.;Heron C.;Kotsakis K. | 0003-598X | 10.1017/S0003598X00091766 | ||||
Characterization of paint and varnish on a medieval Coptic-Byzantine icon: Novel usage of dammar resin | 2009 | Spectrochimica Acta - Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy | 73 | 566 - 575 | Abdel-Ghani M.;Edwards H.;Stern B.;Janaway R. | 1386-1425 | 10.1016/j.saa.2008.10.050 | ||||
Bulk stable light isotopic ratios in recent and archaeological resins: Towards detecting the transport of resins in antiquity? | 2008 | Archaeometry | 50 | 351 - 370 | Stern B.;Lampert Moore C.;Heron C.;Pollard A. | 0003-813X | 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00357.x | ||||
Organic residue analysis of Egyptian votive mummies and their research potential | 2017 | Studies in Conservation | 62 | 68 - 82 | Brettell R.;Martin W.;Atherton-Woolham S.;Stern B.;McKnight L. | 0039-3630 | 10.1179/2047058415Y.0000000027 | ||||
The application of LA-ICP-MS in the examination of the thin plating layers found in late Roman coins | 2007 | Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research, Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms | 265 | 558 - 568 | Vlachou-Mogire C.;Stern B.;McDonnell J. | 0168-583X | 10.1016/j.nimb.2007.09.040 | ||||
'Choicest unguents': Molecular evidence for the use of resinous plant exudates in late Roman mortuary rites in Britain | 2015 | Journal of Archaeological Science | 53 | 639 - 648 | Brettell R.;Schotsmans E.;Walton Rogers P.;Reifarth N.;Redfern R.;Stern B.;Heron C. | 0305-4403 | 10.1016/j.jas.2014.11.006 | ||||
Molecular and isotopic demonstration of the processing of acquatic products in Northern European prehistoric pottery | 2007 | Archaeometry | 49 | 135 - 152 | Craig O.;Forster M.;Andersen S.;Koch E.;Crombé P.;Milner N.;Stern B.;Bailey G.;Heron C. | 0003-813X | 10.1111/j.1475-4754.2007.00292.x | ||||
A geochemical investigation of the origin of rouletted and other related South Asian fine wares | 2005 | Antiquity | 79 | 909 - 920 | Ford L.;Pollard A.;Coningham R.;Stern B. | 0003-598X | 10.1017/S0003598X00115030 | ||||
Bulk stable light isotopic ratios in archaeological birch bark tars | 2006 | Applied Geochemistry | 21 | 1668 - 1673 | Stern B.;Clelland S.;Nordby C.;Urem-Kotsou D. | 0883-2927 | 10.1016/j.apgeochem.2006.07.004 | ||||
Determination of contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and their mode of origin, in urban soils from Leeds (UK) | 2018 | Hamed, Heiam A. Mohamed; Hale, William H.G.; Stern, Ben |