Ioannis Liritzis Scientist
Ioannis Liritzis (Greek: Ιωάννης Λυριτζής; born 2 November 1953 in Delphi) 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 obsidian hydration dating (introduced at 2002). In the Obsidian hydration dating it was established a new approach based on the surface saturation layer and the SIMS profile of hydrogen (SIMS-SS method)Significant contributions in archaeoastronomy are also worth mentionedHe has written over 250 original papers in international cited journals and 9 books (4 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.Editorial Member in twenty International ICI Journals and in two Editor-in-Chief.