Prompt gamma-ray analysis of archaeological bronze

Abstract

Prompt y-ray analysis using the internal monostandard method was applied to voluminous archaeological bronze mirrors produced in ancient China. Sn/Cu content ratios were determined nondestructivel 3, by this method. Furthermore, Au/Cu, As/Cu, and Sb/Cu content ratios were determined by means of measuring decay y-rays emitted from radioactive nuclides produced within samples via (n,y) reactions. It is clear that the Sn/Cu content ratios in bronze mirrors produced in the Sung era is smaller than in ones produced in between the Han and the Tung era.

Completely non-destructive elemental analysis of bulky samples by PGAA

“…Therefore, we proposed an application of the neutron-induced prompt gamma-ray activation analysis (PGAA) to large archaeological samples and developed the internal monostandard method for that purpose [1]. Furthermore, another new method that is essentially a combination of PGAA and INAA by a single neutron irradiation, which we named NBAA (neutron beam activation analysis), was proposed more recently [2]. As examples of practical application of NBAA, analysis of archaeological samples, chinawares and bronze mirrors, were reported [2,3].…”

“…Furthermore, another new method that is essentially a combination of PGAA and INAA by a single neutron irradiation, which we named NBAA (neutron beam activation analysis), was proposed more recently [2]. As examples of practical application of NBAA, analysis of archaeological samples, chinawares and bronze mirrors, were reported [2,3]. In this paper NBAA is first briefly explained, and then the effectiveness of the method for solving archaeological problems is demonstrated by showing some of the analytical results of chinawares and bronze mirrors reported previously, and some preliminary results of Japanese ancient earthenware, Sueki ware, observed in the present work.…”

Benchmarking PGAA, in-beam NAA, reactor-NAA and handheld XRF spectrometry for the element analysis of archeological bronzes

“…Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) was used for the non-destructive bulk analysis of valuable artefacts already in the late nineties [7], using internal monostandard approach. The k0 standardization, the spectroscopic library [8,9,10] and the reliable spectrum-evaluation procedure gave rise to the applications of PGAA for geology, material-science and archaeology samples, including metals [11,12].…”