The technological versus methodological revolution of portable XRF in archaeology

Frahm, Ellery; Doonan, Roger

doi:10.1016/j.jas.2012.10.013

Cited by 141 publications

(68 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…A major advantage of pXRF is that instruments can be transported to study objects in situ, thereby permitting multi-element analyses of archaeological materials in non-traditional laboratory environments. However, archaeological applications of pXRF are still today an object of discussion (Liritzis, & Zacharias, 2010;Tykot, et al, 2013), principally because of a perceived lack of analytic rigour (Shackley, 2010(Shackley, , 2012Grave, Attenbrow, Sutherland, Pogson & Forster, 2012;Speakman & Shackley, 2013;Frahm & Doonan, 2013). The present work contributes to this debate regarding pXRF through the study of Caltagirone pottery raw materials.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Investigation by pXRF of Caltagirone Pottery Samples Produced in Laboratory

Gueli¹,

Delfino²,

Nicastro³

et al. 2017

Open Archaeology

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Abstract:In the study of archaeological ceramics, it is important to have compositional data to identify their origin and source. The fabric also provides useful information on the production technology, especially with regard to the firing steps. The work presented here is connected to this field and focuses on the main parameters related to the terracotta artefacts preparation. Thus, one can consider the effects in terracotta characteristics of different raw materials and firing parameters, in particular for pottery of Caltagirone, which is one of most important centres of pottery production in Italy, active since the Neolithic. To this end, terracotta samples have been reproduced in a laboratory setting according to the ancient procedure of Caltagirone manufacture, starting from clay and degreaser extraction in local historical sites. The analysis was conducted using a portable X-Ray Fluorescence (pXRF) spectrometer for elemental characterization of sand degreaser and of clays during each step of the realization process and in different firing conditions. SEM-ED techniques were also employed to verify the method and results for some of the samples after firing process. Framing the technological context of manufacture production, known in the specific case, it is also possible to identify potential outcomes and limits in the study of potsherds using pXRF technology, in applying the methodology to historic artefacts.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 93%

Investigation by pXRF of Caltagirone Pottery Samples Produced in Laboratory

Gueli¹,

Delfino²,

Nicastro³

et al. 2017

Open Archaeology

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“…Several researchers have raised strong concerns against the wholesale acceptance of HHpXRF data as "the be-all and end-all" answer to a broad range of archaeological questions instead of targeting it to more appropriate cases where quantitative data should only be published when analytical uncertainty can be addressed through measures of precision and accuracy [18,19]. Killick believes HHpXRF used directly on inhomogeneous materials such as ceramics produces inaccurate and imprecise data, and should not be accepted for publication [20].…”

Section: The Awkward Adolescence Of Hhpxrfmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…An extensive review (200 papers) of portable XRF (pXRF) systems and Handheld portable XRF (HHpXRF) instruments in recent archaeology demonstrate that only 43% of pXRF journals actually use handheld instruments, and of these, over 80% of HHpXRF analysis is performed in laboratory conditions (university laboratories and museums), with only 18% being conducted at an excavation (15%) or on site in a field laboratory setting (3%) [18].…”

Section: The Awkward Adolescence Of Hhpxrfmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Concerning the controversy over increased specialization and segmentation in archaeological practice [18,[21][22][23][24][25]] the portability of HHpXRF has role to play that encourages bringing together scientific practice and archaeology. Investigation, analysis and interpretation need to be synchronized in the field and with common research objectives.…”

Section: The Awkward Adolescence Of Hhpxrfmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…At present, only one other study using HHpXRF analysis on Cajamarca materials at Huancabamba Valley (15th-16th c. AD) has been completed [17]. Although in archaeology only 4% of publications cited using HHpXRF in an on-site-field-laboratory setting [18], it is ideally suited as an additional proxy for artefact processing at the archaeological site as a means to documenting large amounts of recovered objects (diagnostic ceramic sherds). On site field stations produce immediate feedback on the samples allowing the analyst instantaneous monitoring including any adjustments needed to the initial sampling strategy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Characterization of pre-Columbian artefacts in situ through handheld portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: the case of ceramics from the Mochica site of San José de Moro (Peru)

et al. 2016

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Abstract:The famous archaeological site of San José de Moro (SJM) located in the Jequetepeque Valley (JV) represents one of the best-preserved pre-Columbian Mochica cemeteries uncovered along the north coast of Peru. SJM was a regional ritual centre where elites and the general population of all JV met to celebrate ceremonial events. Its role as a place of regional integration and coordination continued long after the disappearance of the Mochica and SJM was continuously occupied throughout the Late Mochica Period (8th-9th c. AD) and into the Transitional Period (9th-10th c. AD). Even though the abandonment of Mochica traditions in SJM (funerary practices and ceramic styles) appears quite rapid, SJM was constantly occupied whereby local traditions were being reshaped. During this time various styles of ritual ceramics from different traditions (Mochica, Cajamarca and Wari) were buried within ceremonial and funerary contexts. This research involves archaeometric studies of excavated painted diagnostic ceramic sherds representing four distinctive pre-Columbian typologies present at this site-Mochica fineline bichrome, Mochica fineline polychrome, coastal Cajamarca and Highland Cajamarca ceramics. For this study handheld portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometer (HHpXRF) instrumentation was operated in situ in order to (1) perform non-destructive trace element analysis (2) to assess if Cajamarca ceramics were further elaborated using the same raw materials employed by the Mochica potters of SJM, and (3) to establish whether or not Mochica and Cajamarca ceramics were truly technological markers in the lower part of the Jequetepeque valley.

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Micro XRF

Mentzer

2017

Archaeological Soil and Sediment Micromorphology

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The technological versus methodological revolution of portable XRF in archaeology

Cited by 141 publications

References 21 publications

Investigation by pXRF of Caltagirone Pottery Samples Produced in Laboratory

Investigation by pXRF of Caltagirone Pottery Samples Produced in Laboratory

Characterization of pre-Columbian artefacts in situ through handheld portable X-ray fluorescence spectrometry: the case of ceramics from the Mochica site of San José de Moro (Peru)

Micro XRF

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