Crisis or Catharsis in Lead Isotope Analysis?

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.