Provenance studies chemical

Gale, N. and Z. Stos-Gale (2000), Lead isotope analysis applied to provenance studies, in Ciliberto, E. and G. Spoto (eds.), Modern Analytical Methods in Art and Archaeology, Chemical Analysis Series, Vol. 155, Wiley, New York, pp. 503-584. 

Beardsley, F. R., Goles, G. G., and Ayres, W. S. (1996). Provenance studies on Easter Island obsidian an archaeological application. In Archaeological Chemistry organic, inorganic and biochemical analysis, ed. Orna, M.V., ACS Symposium Series 625, Washington, DC, American Chemical Society, pp. 47-63. 

Descantes, C., Neff, H., Glascock, M. D., and Dickinson, W. R. (2001). Chemical characterization of Micronesian ceramics through instrumental neutron activation analysis a preliminary provenance study. Journal of Archaeological Science 28 1185-1190. 

An examination of the potential for provenance studies of variation in mineralogical and chemical composition on very old ceramic assemblages (of ancient Japanese pottery and of Mesoamerican plumbate pottery surfaces) has been performed by LA-ICP-MS. Results suggested that the region s geological complexity may inhibit successful provenance studies of ceramics.9-11... 

Provenance studies of pottery from various regions around the globe indicate that identifying distinct chemical or compositional profiles of pottery production centers, which are located in a relative proximity to each other, is not simple (9, II, 12, 22, 23, 26-30). While the success of identifying such profiles... 

As the book will indicate, these diagnostic categories do not reflect valid diseases or illnesses comparable to Alzheimer s disease, stroke, or diabetes. Despite claims to the contrary, these psychiatric disorders have no proven genetic, chemical, or biological basis. They cannot be diagnosed with physical symptoms or laboratory studies. 

Our decision to use AAS for provenance studies is supported by several facts. A large number of atomic absorption spectrometers are in use in Mexico thus good service, maintenance, and supplies are generally available. It is economically feasible to hire several chemists, but almost prohibitive to acquire new and expensive instruments. Also, it would be difficult to obtain chemicals, literature, and the other supplies needed for the operation of these new instruments. 

The choice of Fine Orange ceramics for one of the initial studies on the development of our analytical method is significant. In addition to the archaeological importance of this ceramic type, it was one of the two ceramic types analyzed by Sayre in his pioneer work on the provenance studies (26), which were the practical breakthrough for provenance determination through chemical analyses. 

Therefore, chemical analysis is the key to provenance studies, especially for ceramics with identical or similar figure types, for pottery with an unknown origin or when trade routes are to be investigated. 

Sixty-one obsidian artifacts from four Early Neolithic sites were selected for chemical analysis. The analysis of significant-sized assemblages from single cultural periods allows direct comparison between contemporary sites in different geographic locations. Many early provenance studies, however, relied on very few artifacts from individual sites so that such patterns in the exploitation of specific obsidian sources could not be determined (75). 

There are several possible reasons why a scientific study of an art work may be desirable. An obvious one is in cases where the authenticity of an object is doubted on styHstic grounds, but no unanimous opinion exists. The scientist can identify the materials, analy2e the chemical composition, and then investigate whether these correspond to what has been found in comparable objects of unquestioned provenance. If the sources for the materials can be characterized, eg, through trace element composition or stmcture, it may be possible to determine whether the sources involved in the procurement of the materials for comparable objects with known provenance are the same. Comparative examination of the technological processes involved in the manufacture allows for conclusions as to whether the object was made using techniques actually available to the people who supposedly created it. Additionally, dating techniques may lead to the estabUshment of the date of manufacture. 

Elemental chemical analysis provides information regarding the formulation and coloring oxides of glazes and glasses. Energy-dispersive x-ray fluorescence spectrometry is very convenient. However, using this technique the analysis for elements of low atomic numbers is quite difficult, even when vacuum or helium paths are used. The electron-beam microprobe has proven to be an extremely useful tool for this purpose (106). Emission spectroscopy and activation analysis have also been appHed successfully in these studies (101). 

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