Background
Liritzis, Ioannis George was born on November 2, 1953 in Dephi, Phokis, Greece. Son of George Yiannis and Martha (Alexiou) Liritzis.
anthropologist archaeologist physicist
Liritzis, Ioannis George was born on November 2, 1953 in Dephi, Phokis, Greece. Son of George Yiannis and Martha (Alexiou) Liritzis.
He studied physics at the University of Patras and continued at the University of Edinburgh, where he obtained his Doctor of Philosophy 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). 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).
Obsidian hydration dating established a new approach based on the surface saturation layer and the SIMS profile of hydrogen (SIMS-Steamship method). Significant contributions in archaeoastronomy are also worth mentioning.
He has written over 250 original papers in internationally cited journals and 9 books (4 in English).
Many Greek and international magazines and newspapers have referred to his work, as has the Discovery Channel. Liritzis is an editorial member in twenty International Imperial Chemical Industries Journals and is Editor-in-Chief of two.
Committee member Hellenic Student's Union, Edinburgh U., 1977-1978. Co-founder, president Delphic Amphictionia, Delphi, 1982-1983, Academy Delphic Studies, Athens, since 1991. Founder Southern European Conference on Archaeometry, 1984.
With National Svc. Technology Corporation. Fellow Royal Astronomical Society Great Britain, Royal Geography Society Great Britain, New York Academy Sciences. Member Institute Physics Great Britain, International Astronomical Union, Planetary Society, Hellenic Astronomical Association, Hellenic Archaeometry Association, Southern European Archaeometry Conference (founder, conference organizer, sec.1984, 91).