Mineralogical analysis and provenancing of ancient ceramics using automated SEM-EDS analysis (QEMSCAN®): a pilot study on LB I pottery from Akrotiri, Thera

Knappett, Carl; Pirrie, Duncan; Power, Matthew; Nikolakopoulou, Irene; Hilditch, Jill; Rollinson, Gavyn

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2010.08.022

Cited by 72 publications

(45 citation statements)

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“…Manual SEM (scanning electron microscopy) with linked EDX (energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry) is routinely used in the analysis of ancient ceramics (Knappett et al 2011;Spataro 2011;Tomber et al 2011). Like any method however, it does have limitations: SEM-EDX cannot differentiate between minerals with very similar chemistry and a complementary technique is required, such as XRD (x-ray diffraction).…”

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…D.P.S. Peacock (1977;in Knappett et al 2011) has advised against conducting elemental studies without knowledge of the macroscopic and microscopic properties of the ceramic assemblage. The macroscopic analysis requires looking at the overall sherd assemblage and a representative terra australis 42 sample is then selected for microscopic analysis in thin section in order to identify local fabric groups, working from the local geology and clay sources.…”

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…SEM may also be applied in order to provide a chemical analysis for an understanding of local or non-local ceramics. A number of different analytical techniques are required to provide the appropriate degree of resolution, although there are advantages in applying methods that retain the mineralogical and textural qualities of the fabrics, such as SEM-EDX, which was utilised in the analyses for this monograph (Knappett et al 2011).…”

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Testing of SEM-EDX with QEMSCAN® has been conducted by researchers in the Aegean (Knappett et al 2011). QEMSCAN is an automated approach to SEM-EDX, that is, a computer controlled SEM developed for image analysis and mineral analysis by the mining industry.…”

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite the importance of introducing elemental analysis after macroscopic and microscopic studies, the integration of all of these techniques can be difficult. According to Knappett et al (2011), this can be remedied somewhat by QEMSCAN, through its combination of textural and mineralogical data based on elemental spectra. It is possible to characterise materials accurately when the rocks and sediments are unaltered, but this is not always the case with fired materials, and additional data are needed on the chemistry of each mineral phase (Knappett et al 2011).…”

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Contextualising the Neolithic Occupation of Southern Vietnam: The Role of Ceramics and Potters at An Son

Sarjeant¹

2014

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terra australis 42Terra Australis reports the results of archaeological and related research within the south and east of Asia, though mainly Australia, New Guinea and island Melanesia -lands that remained terra australis incognita to generations of prehistorians. Its subject is the settlement of the diverse environments in this isolated quarter of the globe by peoples who have maintained their discrete and traditional ways of life into the recent recorded or remembered past and at times into the observable present. Dewey Number: 666.09597 List of volumes in Terra AustralisCopyright of the text remains with the authors, 2014. This book is copyright in all countries subscribing to the Berne convention. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study, research, criticism or review, as permitted under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced by any process without written permission. Inquiries should be made to the publisher.Cover image courtesy of C. Sarjeant.Back cover map: Hollandia Nova. Thevenot 1663 by courtesy of the National Library of Australia. Reprinted with permission of the National Library of Australia. The excavations at An Sơn were funded by a Discovery Grant from the Australian Research Council. My own research was funded by the Australian Postgraduate Award.The analysis of the ceramic fabrics was conducted with SEM-EDX at the Electron Microscopy Unit at The Australian National University, with guidance from Frank Brink. I would also like to thank Glenn Summerhayes for teaching me the benefits and methods of SEM and the electron microprobe.There are a number of people I would like to recognise for their support over the past few years. Charles Higham has always offered advice and provided useful information over the years, even after departing the University of Otago after my Master's. Nigel Chang initially invited me to Ban Non Wat eight years ago, and allowed me to visit again to review the more recent neolithic discoveries in 2009. Fiorella Rispoli and Roberto Ciarla shared their knowledge of the neolithic in central Vietnam, and Fiorella's wealth of knowledge on ceramics has always been a reference for me. Lâm Thị Mỹ Dung opened up the ceramic collections at the University of Hanoi to me in 2009, which offered some valuable comparative ideas for this monograph. Louise Cort and Joyce White organised a workshop on Southeast Asian ceramics in Washington, DC and Philadelphia in 2010; an event from which I gained much inspiration and I feel privileged to have been a part of it. I would also like to acknowledge those individuals from afar who were interested in my research -it helped to keep the inspiration going, so thanks to Andreas Reinecke, Nishimura Masanari, and those I met at conferences over these past few years.Closer to home, I would like to thank Anna Willis for her knowledge about mortuary ritual at An Sơn. I am also grateful for the new insights into southern Vietnamese archaeology after working alongside Philip Piper at Rạch Núi. Thanks to Judith Cameron who was so supp...

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Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methods For the Analysis Of Fabricsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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