portable XRF (PXRF) in Archaeology and Museum Science

Нейтронный резонансный анализ в настоящее время разрабатывается в Лаборатории нейтронной физики им. И.М.Франка с целью определения элементного состава образцов. Метод основан на регистрации нейтронных резонансов при радиационном захвате и измерении выхода продуктов реакции в этих резонансах. Чтобы проверить возможности этого метода, такие исследования были проведены в сотрудничестве с Институтом археологии РАН на импульсном источнике нейтронов ИРЕН ЛНФ для античных монет из Фанагорийского клада.
В качестве детектора γ-квантов использовался цилиндрический многосекционный жидкостный сцинтилляционный детектор.

The main aim of this thesis is to present terra sigillata from
Late Roman and Byzantine strata found at Priniatikos Pyrgos,
Crete. Secondly, this thesis is presenting and evaluating data
gathered by handheld x-ray fluorescence spectrometer of
selected terra sigillata fragments from Priniatikos Pyrgos
site. Furthermore, the XRF data from Priniatikos Pyrgos are
compared with selected sites in the Eastern Mediterranean.
Lastly, this thesis will evaluate whether pXRF can be used for
diagnostic purposes.

In the north coast of present-day Peru, between the Andes and the Pacific Ocean, prospered approximately between about 1200 BCE and 1375 CE, several relevant civilizations: Cupisnique (1200-200 BCE), Chavín (1000-200 BCE),
Vicús and Frías (200 BCE - 300 CE), Moche (100 to 700 CE)+, Sicán or Lambayeque(700-1375 CE)^. These cultures are characterized by a high metallurgic level, and the Moche are well known for their artistic ability, demonstrated by their naturalistic painted ceramic vessels, several thousand of which are scattered in museums and private collections throughout the world, by the colorfultextiles, mostly obtained using wool from vicuñas and alpacas, by the mural paintings and monuments. With reference to metallurgy, the Moche were very sophisticated artisans and metal smiths, so that they are considered the finest producers of jewels and artifacts on Gold, Silver and Copper of the region. The Moche metalworking ability was impressively demonstrated by the excavations of the tomb of the “Lady of Cao”, discovered by Regulo Franco in 2005 and the “Tumbas Reales de Sipán”, discovered by Walter Alva and co-workers in 1987. The two tombs are dated around 300 CE*&. Impressive is not only the beauty of the artifacts, but also the variety of metallurgical solutions, proved by objects composed of gold and silver-alloys, but also of gilded and silvered copper, gilded silver and even silvered gold, tumbaga# and mixture of these alloys with turquoise.
With the aim of studying into details the pre-Columbian metallurgy, to
classifying in terms of classes of composition and thickness, and to identify the soldering methods, more than two hundred fifty metal artifacts,mainly on gold and/or silver were studied, from tombs and from museums, by using various equipments based on following non-destructive§ and non-invasive methods§:
◆ Energy-dispersive X-ray fluorescence (EDXRF): completely portable equipments were employed; EDXRF-analysis was applied to all metal artifacts listed in this book; about two hundred artifacts were analyzed, for about two thousand measurements;
◆ EDXRF-scanning; the same EDXRF-equipment was employed, with a x-z movable table and a dedicated software;
◆ Transmission of monoenergetic X-rays: the same EDXRF-equipment was employed with a Sn-secondary target to monochromatize the X-ray beam and to measure its transmission through the artifacts; this method was applied to about twelve objects from the tomb of the lady of Cao;
◆ Radiographic techniques; this method was applied to objects from the tomb
of the lady of Cao;
◆ Micro-tomography; the same equipment was employed, used for radiography, with a dedicated software;
◆ Optical microscopy, this method was applied to a few objects from the tomb of the Lady of Cao.
Further, fragments were analyzed by field emission scanning electron microscopy
(FE-SEM).
^ Today archaeologists prefer to use the terms: Before the Common Era (BCE) and the Common Era (CE), which are the same as B.C. and A.D. but have nothing to do
with Christianity. In fact, B.C., which stands for “Before Christ,” is used to date events before the birth of Jesus. A.D. is the abbreviation for the Latin anno Domini, which means “in the year of our Lord,” and is used for dates after Jesus’s birth.
* determined through C14-dating. Following L. Chero Z., the Old Lord of Sipán would have been contemporary of the Lady of Cao. Moche Dating carried out with C14 or thermoluminescence are uncertain.
& to give a reference, the period of the lord of Sipán and the lady of Cao (300-450 CE)
corresponds to the last period of the Roman Empire, the fall of which is dated 476 CE (see figure 1.2).
# the meaning of “tumbaga” will be explained in Section 2 and figure 2.1.
§ the use of non-destructive and non-invasive analytical techniques is absolutely mandatory.

• To make students aware about Museology as an allied branch of history.
• To inform the students about role of Museums.
• To understand the meaning, significance, scope of archival Science in the study of history.
• To study the role of library in academic and research career.

This article demonstrates that distinct and coherent silver sources can be discriminated from surface composi-tional analyses. In the first large-scale study of Archaic (pre-479 BC) Athenian silver coins in museum collections around the world, we analysed 788 coins by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) spectrometry with a mathematical correction to provide a reliable composition for key diagnostic elements. Principal Component Analysis reveals compositional patterns including at least one copper-lead-gold (Cu, Pb, Au) triplet with strong clustering of data. The pattern for bismuth (Bi) was similar to, but not as clear as Pb. Considering elemental compositions in combination with a die study and isotopic analyses in the literature, we reveal when Lavrion was the metal source from which Wappenmünzen and Owl coinage types were struck, providing important new understanding about Athenian history in the pivotal period of transition from tyranny to democracy in the late sixth century BC. Beyond this specific example, we contend that XRF spectrometry could have wider application in studies of ancient silver, not least for a simplified triage protocol to help determine which silver artefacts should be subjected to slower, more costly and invasive trace elemental and isotopic analyses.

In central Russia, the examination of characteristics of economic activity of Bronze Age settlements and the determination of functional zones that existed in their territories in the first half of the second millennium BC based on the results of XRF (X-ray Fluorescence) analysis of samples of the cultural layer have never been done before. The data from elemental analysis of the samples of the cultural layer of the Bronze Age settlement Pesochnoe 1 from an excavation area of 126 m 2 obtained via the XRF method showed significant content of copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P), several times exceeding the content of the same chemical elements in the surrounding soils. The discovered Cu can be associated with metalworking, Zn are likely from ash and the biomass of the aquatic environment, and Ca and P can be found in bone remnants. Analysis of the spatial distribution of archaeological objects with quantitative indicators of Cu, Zn, Ca, P made it possible to distinguish two functional areas in the excavation of the Bronze Age settlement. A very high concentration of Cu, Zn, Ca, P recorded in the first functional zone, in the center of which was a hearth, indicates diverse activity that took place in this territory, including the use of different organic materials (plants, bones) as fuel and melting of metal. The second functional area with high concentrations of Zn, Ca and especially P suggests it was a place where biomaterials of animal origin might have been used.

For nearly 70 years scientific techniques have been routinely applied in archaeological research. Yet some artefacts hold such cultural significance that sampling is inappropriate, restricting the methods that can be brought to bear in their analysis. Such restrictions often apply to rock art, especially where research is directed by the indigenous peoples who have stewardship over not only the site fabric, but its inseparable cultural context. Here we report a multi-technique program of in-field and laboratory-based analyses to describe the materiality of a painted rock art site in Nyiyaparli country, in the Central Pilbara region of Western Australia. The relationship between the rock art, nearby potential pigment sources and evidence for ochre processing at the site was investigated using in situ portable X-Ray Fluorescence and optical microscopy, with interpretations aided by field and laboratory-based residue analysis of grinding related stone artefacts and X-Ray Powder Diffraction of potential ochre sources. Our findings provide an example of the nuanced interpretations that scientific analyses can add to rock art investigations. Our work suggests that local materials were used in the production of painted art and that ochre processing was ubiquitous at the site and other nearby rockshelters. Combined with the placement of rock art in a hidden context within the site, we suggest the panels at BBH15-01 were part of in-group events and that art and ochre processing in the Baby Hope study area were part of everyday activities.

World | Barcelona | Napoli

MCPS è il risultato di uno studio che tenta di analizzare il ruolo dello spazio pubblico nel rapporto tra museo e città contemporanea. Attraverso un racconto trasversale che parte dall'etimologia del termine fino ad arrivare a comporre uno quadro di quella che è la situazione attuale, analizzando anche un caso emblematico della costruzione di uno spazio pubblico di qualità come Barcellona, dove il museo è stato ed è tutt'oggi un dispositivo formidabile per la creazione di quest'ultimo.
Storia, cultura, politica, architettura e urbanistica sono temi trattati con l'obiettivo di comporre un abaco di soluzioni che trovano ragione d'esistere tanto nella pratiche di trasformazione fisica, quanto in quelle di governance del territorio.

-In today’s world most of the accidents occurs due to drowsiness and alcohol consumption. Drowsiness is turning
into a serious issue if there should be occurrence of auto collision. Sleeping can be distinguished from a few elements like
yawning, grasping power on haggle on. We proposed under taking work and breaking down psychological exercises of
cerebrum utilizing EEG signals depends on the Brain Computer Interface (BCI) innovation. The various cerebrum signs of
various recurrence and transmit to the microcontroller and then for drowsiness detection we are using two different sensors.
We are also sensing detection of alcohol by gas sensor. The microcontroller control dc motor using relay and keeps the
vehicle self-controlled capacity until stir state. This is designed for deal of lives in street transportation.

Sigtuna is one of the first settlements in Sweden considered to be a proper town. Taking over Birka´s function as a central trading hub when it was founded in the late 10th century AD, Sigtuna was characterized by its early connection to Christianity, and many churches were built there. The foundations of one of these medieval stone churches and its churchyard lie beneath Sigtuna museum’s plot on the block S: t Gertrud 3. However, the full extent of this church and churchyard as well as its foundation date and function is not fully known. The over-arching purpose of this study is to achieve a better understanding of this church’s function. This will be done by geochemically analysing soil samples taken from the museum plot under which the churchyard is located. The first aim of this study is to establish the extent of the churchyard.

During excavations carried out between 1990- 1991 in the neighbouring block Urmakaren, archaeologists discovered the remains of King Olof Skötkonung’s minting house along with various finds, notably two lead pieces with imprints of coin stamps. The second aim of this study is to see if traces of these metalworking activities can be detected on the museum plot. The third aim is to see how the church and churchyard related to the minting house on a spatial plane.