Nuclear Physics Micro-SR-XRF Studies of Gold Provenance in Archaeology (original) (raw)

Micro-SR-XRF studies for archaeological gold identification—the case of Carpathian gold and Romanian museal objects

Applied Physics A: …, 2010

In the determination of the provenance of gold in archaeological artifacts, trace elements are more significant than the main components. Several minute fragments of natural Carpathian gold—placer and primary—and some very small (a few milligrams) fragments of archaeological items were studied using micro Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (micro SR-XRF) at the BESSY Synchrotron Facility in Berlin, Germany. The goal of the study was to identify the trace elements characterizing Carpathian gold, looking especially at Sn, Sb, Pb and Te, and to determine if the gold in the archaeological items is native or refined. Applications to the authentication and provenance of nine Dacian gold bracelets, koson coins and two Bronze Age items are presented.

Elemental analysis through X-ray techniques applied in archeological gold authentication — the case of Transylvanian gold and of the Dacian bracelets

Spectrochimica Acta Part B-atomic Spectroscopy, 2009

To identify the provenance of gold archeological metallic artifacts, trace elements are more significant than the main components. The most promising elements are Platinum Group Elements (PGE), Sn, Sb, Hg, Pb, Te, and Cu. Several minute fragments of natural Transylvanian gold – placers and primary – were studied by micro Particle Induced X-ray Emission (micro-PIXE) at Forschungszentrum Dresden-Rossendorf, Germany and micro Synchrotron Radiation X-Ray Fluorescence (micro SR-XRF) at ANKA Synchrotron Radiation Facility of the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe, Germany. The goal of the study was to identify the trace elements characterizing Transylvanian gold, especially Sn, Sb, Pb and Te. A spectacular application of these measurements to the authentication of nine Dacian gold bracelets is presented.