Provenance studies metal, trace elements

Trace-element analysis of metals can give indications of the geographic provenance of the material. Both emission spectroscopy (84) and activation analysis (85) have been used for this purpose. Another tool in provenance studies is the measurement of relative abundances of the lead isotopes (86,87). This technique is not restricted to metals, but can be used on any material that contains lead. Finally, for an object cast around a ceramic core, a sample of the core material can be used for thermoluminescence dating. 

There is still much ongoing debate on the validity of the different approaches to perform dietary analysis (single food analysis, duplicate diet analysis, total diet, and total mixed diet analysis) to provide an adequate answer to nutritional questions. The approach followed in this study has proven useful for the assessment of the actual dietary intake of trace metals that may be lost and/or added during the preparation of meals. The measurements done on cooked samples prepared according to the Italian local traditions provides an assessment of the actual concentrations of trace elements uptaken by the population through the diet. 

As LA-MC-ICP-MS becomes more accessible, provenance studies may begin to combine elemental and isotopic characterization. Some time ago, Stos-Gale [114] suggested that metal provenance studies could be based on combined lead isotope and trace element analyses, and the same kind of combined approach would seem desirable in the case of turquoise as well as other, seldom analyzed materials such as ceramic glazes. Cooper et al. [115] combined trace element and LA-MC-ICP-MS lead isotope analysis of native copper from North America, but found that the lead isotopes were of little use in source discrimination. 

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