In the Steps of William the Conqueror: Neutron Activation Analysis of Caen Stone*

Abstract

With the co-operation of L. Dujardin Quarries in the Bathonian stone formation surrounding Caen produced high-quality limestone for medieval churches in northern France and southern England and for their sculptural decoration. To investigate compositional differences among proximate stone sources, 103 samples collected from five separate quarries were analysed by NAA. The results show Caen stone to be essentially pure calcite and relatively homogeneous, but distinction among quarries is possible by discriminant analysis. Comparing compositions of quarry samples with data in the Brookhaven Limestone Database identified the origin of stone used in masonry and sculpture at Saint-Étienne and La Trinité, Caen, and in several museum objects.

XRF Analysis of Village and Urban Basalt Architecture in the Hippos Territorium during the Roman Period

“…Chemical analysis of architectural stone remains (as opposed to smaller artifacts) from monumental structures in antiquity such as marble and limestone have been determined through various analytical methods (e.g., Holmes & Harbottle, 2003; Pizarro et al, 2011). In most of these studies the goal was to determine regional provenience or to match artifacts to site‐specific quarries.…”

A study of limestone from the Longmen Grottoes of Henan province, China by neutron activation analysis

“…Previous NAA research has shown that limestone sources tend have unique chemical compositions and the data give significantly greater provenance information than petrographic analysis (De Vito et al, 2004;Holmes and Harbottle, 2003). Based on comparing the detailed compositions of the limestone sculptures, combined with traditional stylistic and iconographic analysis, one can determine the geographic origin of stones that have lost their histories or were looted.…”