Stone artefacts and neutrons - Case studies from Hungary (original) (raw)
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Il Nuovo Cimento C, 2007
Two non-destructive neutron techniques have been used for the analysis of archaeological objects, among them English monumental brass plates, Dutch tin-lead spoons, a Roman leaded bronze fibula and several limestone samples. Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) is a non-destructive method for determination of the major and trace element compositions of various archaeological materials. Time-Of-Flight Neutron Diffraction (TOF-ND), on the other hand, is a non-invasive diagnostic tool for obtaining structural information from ceramic and metal objects. The element information (PGAA) holds the key information for addressing questions of provenance and authentication, whereas the structure information (TOF-ND) addresses questions of ancient materials and making techniques. Here we present data from those two complementary neutron methods, applied to different types of materials and artefacts, in order to highlight commonalities and differences.
Neutron activation analysis and provenance research in archaeology
Neutron activation analysis is a powerful quantitative analytical technique with application in a broad range of disciplines such as agriculture, archaeology, geochemistry, health and human nutrition, environmental monitoring and semiconductor technology. Due to its excellent sensitivity, great accuracy and precision, and versatility, the technique is a suitable method for analysing many different types of samples. Archaeologists, in particular, have made extensive use of neutron activation analysis for the purpose of characterizing archaeological materials and determining their provenance. This paper presents a brief history of the technique and its application to archaeology, describes the physics behind the analytical method, and explains how the method is generally employed to determine the sources of archaeological materials.
Archaeometry, 2007
The Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory pottery provenance group developed standards and instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) methods that are used at many archaeometry laboratories around the world. The background and development of 'Standard Pottery' and of methods for INAA are described. Early pottery provenance studies are described, and other research programmes, involving obsidian and magmatic mixing, the origin of the stone used for the Colossi of Memnon, and the 'Plate of Brass', are mentioned. Research work by the Laboratory included the discovery of the worldwide iridium anomaly and extensive subsequent research on what has come to be known as the 'Asteroid Impact Theory'. Characteristics of the analytical programme for pottery provenance work, including overall aims, precision and accuracy, intercalibration, and irradiation and measurement protocols, are discussed. New research areas developed in the past 15 years, to broaden the usefulness of chemical compositional data for archaeological investigation, and examples of recent work, are described. This research, which makes use of high-precision X-ray fluorescence analysis in addition to INAA measurements on sample splits, includes distinguishing the products of different workshops located at the same production site, studies on the significance of the distribution of silver in archaeological pottery and the use of high-precision chemical compositional data as an aid for making chronological distinctions.
Non-destructive analyses of bronze artefacts from Bronze Age Hungary using neutron-based methods
Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C4JA00377B
In this paper we present the application of various neutron-based methods carried out at the Budapest Neutron Centre. Non-destructive and non-invasive neutron radiography (NR), prompt gamma activation analysis (PGAA) and time-of-flight neutron diffraction (TOF-ND) analysis were applied to reveal more information on raw material and production techniques of bronze artefacts that can be dated to the Central European Bronze Age (2000–1200 BC).
Acknowledging fifty years of neutron activation analysis in archaeology
Archaeometry, 2007
Neutron activation analysis has been an important analytical technique for chemical characterization studies of archaeological materials since 1957, and remains one of the best analytical approaches for bulk chemical characterization of archaeological ceramics and other materials. This paper introduces a series of reports that document the history of NAA applied to archaeological materials.
Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry
A new approach for analysis of entire potsherds of archaeological interest by INAA, using the conventional relative method, is described. The analytical method proposed involves, primarily, the preparation of replicates of the original archaeological pottery, with well known chemical composition (standard), destined to be irradiated simultaneously, in a well thermalized external neutron beam of the RP-10 reactor, with the original object (sample). The basic advantage of this proposal is to avoid the need of performing complicated effect corrections when dealing with large samples, due to neutron self shielding, neutron self-thermalization and gamma ray attenuation. In addition, and in contrast with the other methods, the main advantages are the possibility of evaluating the uncertainty of the results and, fundamentally, validating the overall methodology.
Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis as an Archaeological Tool
Tools for Tomorrow: Archaeological Methods in the 21st Century, 1994
Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) can provide important data to identifr sources of ceramic raw materials as well as changes in prehistoric pottery technology. In this paper, INAA of ten major, minor and trace elements is used to characterize ceramics from a number of Northern Ontario and Manitoba Woodland period sites. This technique, in conjunction with other metbods of physical examination, has yielded valuable information on ceramic materials from the Northern Boreal forest. The precise data on chernical composition gained from INAA has allowed the authors to recognize ware groups in otherwise unsorted assemblages Neutron Activation can also help identify regional patterns of source materials. When used in combination with analysis of local resource, regional trade and communications, networks can be proposed. Finally these methods can distinguish technological changes in regional ceramic traditions
Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports, 2018
Instrumental neutron techniques such as Prompt Gamma-ray Activation Analysis and Neutron Tomography and their combination, are effective methods to obtain chemical compositions with good detection limits and visualize internal structures within a sample. As non-destructive analysis methods, they are especially suitable for the investigation of cultural heritage objects and are therefore attractive for the field of archaeometry. This article reports on the investigation of two ring-like Celtic burial gifts from the Bavarian region using these methods. In contrast to our initial presumption, the two rings were not made in the same way. Our results clearly show completely different compositions and internal structures.
Some aspects of the analysis of ancient artifacts by neutron activation analysis
Journal of the International Institute of Conservation-Canadian Group, 1978
SI.OWPOKt: Rclctor Ollicc. Room 134. Wallbcrg Building. I)cpartmcnt ol Chcmical F-nginccringand Applicd Chcmistr\ Iinirclsitr ol loronto. Ioronto. Ontario. M5S lA4, Canada Manuscript rcccircd March ll. l97lt Rcrision rcccircd -lunc 2-1. l9?li Lorrt'ktl[on ol Lul<iunt $itlt qll tlu' othcr elentcnts it1 lr()tt(rr. iu.\tulr()\itit)n ottt d outrt: /ltitttttts duns lu ltottt it'. * Ilutliotrt trvt' i.tottt1t1,.s trtut l,t tltlittctl lr.v tltt ctrcr,qiL'.s ttf t/rcl-rtt.v: tlrcr L'trtir tttrtl h.r tltL'ir lrull-li/t'nhit/t i.: tlrc tittrc irtrtrt'ul irt wlti<lt tlrt,tttrtptttrr pl rutlittuL tivitl ltf u ltttrtit trlur rutlirti.stttttlt4 11g1 111.s ttt ltull it.t vulttc. '['lttt.s ttrtt, rrru t .s1teuA t tf :ltttr I untl It trt,q-I ivetl rutlir ti.tr tr t tltt'.:. Bronze. J.llC-CG., Vol. 3, No. 2, pp.2l-21 'Ihe substantial encouragement ol' U.M. Franklin. Department of Metallurgy and Material Sciences. is gratefully acknowledged.
Neutron activation analysis of archeological artifacts using the ISIS pulsed neutron source
AIP Advances, 2021
Archeological artifacts can be analyzed after neutron irradiation at the pulsed ISIS neutron and muon source, UK, using a newly installed high purity germanium gamma ray spectrometer to perform neutron activation analysis. In this work, the details of the measurement methods and data analysis are presented. In particular, it is explained how Monte Carlo calculations are necessary to evaluate the detection efficiency, taking into account self-shielding effects. The results for two certified bronze standards are presented. The good agreement between expected and measured compositions is promising for the use of this technique for archeological artifacts where the elemental concentration is often unknown. As an example, the analysis of a Chinese sword from the first or second century BC is presented.