Artifacts and materials

Neutron activation analysis has proven to be a convenient way of performing the chemical analysis of archaeologically-excavated artifacts and materials. It is fast and does not require tedious laboratory operations. It is multielement, sensitive, and if need be, can be made entirely non-destructive. Neutron activation analysis in its instrumental form, i.e. that involving no chemical separation, is ideally suited to automation and conveniently takes the first step in data flow patterns that are appropriate for many taxonomic and statistical operations. 

If the sample is an insulator there are still methods by which it can be studied in the instrument. The simplest approach is to coat it with a thin (10-nm) conducting film of carbon, gold, or some other metal. In following this approach, care must be taken to avoid artifacts and distortions that could be produced by nonuniform coatings or by agglomeration of the coating material. If an X-ray analysis is to be... 

Allen, R.O., Luckenbach, A.H. and Holland, C.G. (1975). The application of instrumental neutron activation analysis to a study of prehistoric steatite artifacts and source material. Archaeometry 17 69-83. 

Bean et al. (10) used size-exclusion chromatography to remove materials of MW >800. This method of cleanup was rejected because size-exclusion chromatography might introduce new artifacts and cause additional delays in sample analysis time. Because the matrix problem appeared to have acidic components, it was decided that a base extraction procedure might remove these materials. 

One key issue of a study is to minimize sampling and analytical errors, loss of target compound and other artifacts through the preparation steps. Therefore it is important to check all steps in the method. Preparation of samples collected on filters and sorbents, dust samples, and material samples will be discussed here. In Section 2.6 some analysis techniques that require no or minimal sample preparation will be mentioned briefly. 

A rchaeological excavations at pre-Columbian sites have yielded espe-cially rich collections of textile artifacts. These materials often reveal information of considerable anthropological and art historical significance. The difficulties of restoration, maintenance, and exhibition for archaeological textiles are well known to conservators and art historians (1). These materials are frequently recovered in a severe state of deterioration ranging from dangerous embrittlement to extreme friability. The... 

Solvents, reagents, glassware, and other sample processing hardware may yield discrete artifacts and/or elevated baselines which may cause misinterpretation of chromatographic data. All of these materials shall be demonstrated to be free from interferents under the conditions of analysis by running laboratory method blanks. 

This chapter is an overview of the wide variety of archaeological studies conducted by chemists. From the earliest stone artifacts to the artistic manuscripts and textiles of the more recent past, the studies presented in this volume show the wide range of materials that have been studied by chemical techniques. The field keeps expanding as chemists help provide information valuable in the interpretation of archaeological sites and artifacts. Besides helping to detect fraudulent artifacts and artistic objects in museum collections, chemists have studied the physicochemical deterioration processes that destroy the monuments and objects of the past. Thus, the role of chemists is more than just discovery of the past it includes investigation that may help preserve the artifacts for future generations to enjoy and study. 

THE need for precise methods of identifying the species of origin of a blood stain or tissue fragment found in an archaeological setting is well documented. In his analysis of stone tools of various types and materials, Loy (1) detected surface blood deposits on 86% of the samples. These artifacts... 

Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis to a Study of Prehistoric Steatite Artifacts and Source Materials, Archaeometry (1975) 17(1), 69. 

Although x-ray radiography equipment used for paintings is sometimes suitable for the study of objects made of wood, ivory, bone, or other organic materials and for some ceramics, most three-dimensional objects require more powerful equipment. Industrial x-ray radiography units with a maximum x-ray energy of 200-300 kV are required for most metal and stone artifacts and for large ceramics. 

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