EPMA, XRF and LA-ICP-MS analysis of archaeological artifacts : applications to provenancing
Chemical data obtained through LA-ICP-MS, EPMA and XRF analysis have been used to investigate the potential for provenancing archaeological.artefacts. By combining chemical analysis with multivariate statistical analysis (pCA and cluster analysis) a more robust and objective method of classification and provenancing can be obtained. Modem glass bottles were used as an analogue for Islamic Bahraini glass samples, to test the application ofXRF analysis. For the modem glass samples which were homogeneous, with the chemistry being tightly controlled during manufacture and were free from alteration by weathering, an accurate method of provenancing was obtained. The colour of the glass was found to be a confounding factor. By restricting statistical analysis to a single colour of sample, a wide range of bottles from around the world were accurately grouped into the region where they were manufactured. Applying the same methods to the Islamic Bahraini glass it was found that the amount of weathering was a major confounding factor, as was the colour of the sample. When performing PCA and cluster analysis it was found that samples clustered together depending on their degree of weathering or how well weathering products
Fraser, Sharon Elizabeth
EPMA, XRF and LA-ICP-MS analysis of archaeological artifacts : applications to provenancing. Chemical data obtained through LA-ICP-MS, EPMA and XRF analysis have been used to investigate the potential for provenancing archaeological.artefacts. By combining chemical analysis with multivariate statistical analysis (pCA and cluster analysis) a more robust and objective method of classification and provenancing can be obtained. Modem glass bottles were used as an analogue for Islamic Bahraini glass samples, to test the application ofXRF analysis. For the modem glass samples which were homogeneous, with the chemistry being tightly controlled during manufacture and were free from alteration by weathering, an accurate method of provenancing was obtained. The colour of the glass was found to be a confounding factor. By restricting statistical analysis to a single colour of sample, a wide range of bottles from around the world were accurately grouped into the region where they were manufactured. Applying the same methods to the Islamic Bahraini glass it was found that the amount of weathering was a major confounding factor, as was the colour of the sample. When performing PCA and cluster analysis it was found that samples clustered together depending on their degree of weathering or how well weathering products
epma xrf la_icp analysis archaeological artifact application provenancing chemical data_obtain la_icp epma xrf analysis use investigate_potential provenancing combine chemical_analysis multivariate_statistical analysis cluster_analysis robust objective method classification provenancing obtain modem glass use analogue islamic glass sample test application analysis modem glass sample homogeneous chemistry tightly control manufacture free alteration weathering accurate method provenancing obtain colour glass find confound factor restrict statistical_analysis single colour sample wide_range around_world accurately region manufacture applying method islamic glass find amount weather major confound factor colour sample perform cluster_analysis find sample cluster together depend degree weather well weather product