The relationship between Iron Age hill forts, Roman settlements and metallurgy on the Atlantic fringe
This thesis presents geochemical records of metalliferous enrichment of soils and isotope analysis of metal finds at Iron Age and Romano-British period settlements in North Ceredigion, Mid Wales, UK. The research sets out to explore whether North Ceredigionâs Iron Age sites had similar metal-production functions to other sites along the Atlantic fringe. Six sites were surveyed using portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF), a previously unused method in the archaeology of Mid Wales. Also tested was the pXRF (Niton XLt700 pXRF) with regard to how environmentally driven matrix effects may alter its in situ analyses results. Portable x-ray fluorescence was further used to analyse testing a range of certified reference materials (CRM) and site samples to assess target elements (Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe) for comparative accuracy and precision against Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for both in situ and laboratory sampling. At Castell Grogwynion, one of the Iron Age sites surveyed recorded > 20 times Pb enrichment compared to back ground values of 110 ppm. Further geophysical surveys confirmed that high dipolar signals correlated to the pXRF Pb hotspots were similar
Haylock, Keith
The relationship between Iron Age hill forts, Roman settlements and metallurgy on the Atlantic fringe. This thesis presents geochemical records of metalliferous enrichment of soils and isotope analysis of metal finds at Iron Age and Romano-British period settlements in North Ceredigion, Mid Wales, UK. The research sets out to explore whether North Ceredigionâs Iron Age sites had similar metal-production functions to other sites along the Atlantic fringe. Six sites were surveyed using portable x-ray fluorescence (pXRF), a previously unused method in the archaeology of Mid Wales. Also tested was the pXRF (Niton XLt700 pXRF) with regard to how environmentally driven matrix effects may alter its in situ analyses results. Portable x-ray fluorescence was further used to analyse testing a range of certified reference materials (CRM) and site samples to assess target elements (Pb, Cu, Zn and Fe) for comparative accuracy and precision against Atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for both in situ and laboratory sampling. At Castell Grogwynion, one of the Iron Age sites surveyed recorded > 20 times Pb enrichment compared to back ground values of 110 ppm. Further geophysical surveys confirmed that high dipolar signals correlated to the pXRF Pb hotspots were similar
relationship iron age hill fort roman settlements metallurgy atlantic fringe present geochemical record enrichment soil isotope_analysis metal_find iron_age_romano british period settlement north mid wales set_explore whether north iron age sit similar metal_production function sit along atlantic fringe site_survey use portable x_ray_fluorescence pxrf previously unused method archaeology mid wales also test pxrf pxrf regard environmentally drive matrix effect may alter situ analysis result portable_x ray_fluorescence use analyse test range certify reference material site sample assess target element comparative accuracy precision atomic_absorption spectroscopy inductively couple plasma mass_spectrometry icp situ laboratory sampling iron age sit survey record time enrichment compare back ground value ppm geophysical_survey confirm high signal correlate pxrf similar