Characterization of ancient glass excavated in Enez (Ancient Ainos) Turkey by combined Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis and Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometry techniques

A Nondestructive Methodology for the Study of Colored Enamels: Insights into Manufacturing and Weathering Processes

“…However, these techniques are often expensive or not easily available, e.g., Particle Induced X‐Ray (PIXE), Gamma Ray Emission (PIGE), portable X‐Ray Fluorescence (p‐XRF), or analytical techniques based on synchrotron radiation . There are other techniques which are quite unsuitable for the study of whole archeological objects because they require samples to be taken from the object and prepared for analysis (often involving grinding), so damaging or destroying the object (e.g., Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM; X‐Ray Diffraction, XRD; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, NMRS; Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA) . Moreover, the complex composition and nanostructure of ancient glass pieces, their unstable thermodynamical properties and the fact that they have no crystallographic restrictions or stoichiometric ratios mean that a detailed knowledge of properties such as color and durability can only be acquired with advanced techniques…”

“…However, very little research has been done on the combined use of these techniques in ancient glass and enamels. In particular, PCA was used for the discrimination of alteration processes and the division of glass pieces into groups based on different historical eras or low amounts of chromophores . Previous research has shown the relation between the visual aspect of the decay suffered by an ancient glass object and its chemical composition, the range of temperatures at which the craftsmen worked, depolymerization and/or ionic exchange/depletion .…”

“…[1][2][3][4] There are other techniques which are quite unsuitable for the study of whole archeological objects because they require samples to be taken from the object and prepared for analysis (often involving grinding), so damaging or destroying the object (e.g., Transmission Electron Microscopy, TEM; X-Ray Diffraction, XRD; Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy, NMRS; Differential Thermal Analysis (DTA). [5][6][7][8][9] Moreover, the complex composition and nanostructure of ancient glass pieces, their unstable thermodynamical properties and the fact that they have no crystallographic restrictions or stoichiometric ratios mean that a detailed knowledge of properties such as color and durability can only be acquired with advanced techniques. 10 As regards colorimetric studies of glass, invasive techniques such as TEM, XRD, or FTIR revealed that different colors were obtained using different coloring methods, i.e., by transition-metal ions (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni, Cr, Mn) or by colloidal particles or microcrystals.…”

“…11,12 In addition, TEM and XRD were used to identify dispersed crystals of metallic copper, characteristic of a traditional red glass called copper-ruby manufactured since Ancient Egyptian times (1500 B.C.). [5][6][7][8][9][10][11] However, invasive, destructive techniques similar to these clearly cannot be used on ancient objects from our archeological and historical heritage that we are seeking to preserve for posterity. These pieces which are often of great artistic value can therefore only be analyzed using nondestructive analytical methodologies.…”

Investigations of Ancient Terra-cotta Sarcophagi, Excavated in Enez (Ainos) Turkey, by Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis

“…Conditions of cooling and measuring were chosen by taking into account of the half-life time of the elements. [9] For measurement and treatment of the sample spectrum, gamma-spectrometer was used with HPGe coaxial gamma-ray detector (the resolution 1.8 keV at 1332.5 keV, relative efficiency 15 %), charge sensitive preamplifier and multichannel analyzer DSA-1000 with software Genie-2000 (Canberra industries). Uncertainties of the impurity content determination were estimated by the relative standard deviation (Sr), which was calculated from the results of 5 multiple (independent) measurements.…”