Egy új roncsolásmentes geokémiai módszer - a PGAA - archeometriai alkalmazásai = Applications of a New Non-destructive Geochemical Method (PGAA) in Archaeometry

Kőeszközök közül obszidián, radiolarit, flint, limnokvarcit pattintott-, valamint bazalt, dolerit, zöldpala-kontakt metabázit csiszolt eszközök és szerszámkövek nyersanyageredet-vizsgálatát végeztük elsősorban roncsolásmentes PGAA-val. Horvát és bosnyák ásatásokról származó obszidián régészeti leletekről megállapítottuk, hogy nyersanyaguk mediterrán (Lipari), ill. kárpáti (Tokaj-hg.) eredetű. A két nyersanyagellátási terület határát Bosznia középső részén valószínűsítjük. Elsőként szolgáltattunk analitikai alapadatokat radiolarit, és más kova kőeszközökről. Megmutattuk, hogy az ÉNy-horvátországi kovás nyersanyagok gyenge minőségűek, feltehetően csupán helyi eszközkészítésre használták. Vizsgáltuk a Magyar Nemzeti Múzeum Ebenhöch gyűjteményét és a gorzsai késő neolit lelőhely csiszolt kőeszköz leleteit. Alap adatbázist hoztunk létre a magyarországi csiszolt kőeszközök és néhány potenciális nyersanyag PGAA mérési eredményeiből. Pontosítottuk a felsőcsatári és a cseh-masszívumbeli zöldpala-metabázit kőzettípusok elkülöníthetőségét, jó eredményeket értünk el a bazalt-dolerit-alkáli dolerit elkülönítésében. A PGAA mérések alapján számos finomszemcsés kőeszköz kőzettípusát tisztáztuk. A Bükki kultúra kerámiáiról geokémiai adatokkal (XRF, kiegészítő PGAA) bizonyítottuk, hogy a jellegzetes finomkerámia típus nem a nyersanyag kémiai-ásványos összetétele, hanem fizikai-technológiai tulajdonságai miatt egyedi. Létrehoztunk egy régészeti kerámia adatbázist (CERAMIS). | We performed provenance research of chipped stone tools (obsidian, radiolarite, flint, etc.), as well as of polished stone tools (basalt, greenschist, etc) and other stone utensils – with non-destructive PGAA. We established a differentiation between the Mediterranean (Lipari) and Carpathian (Tokaj) origin obsidian archaeological objects, found in Croatia and Bosnia. A border of the two supply areas supposed to exist in central Bosnia. The first basic analytical data of radiolarite and other silex stone tools were provided. It was shown that the poor quality North-western Croatian silex was used probably for local production. Polished stone tools from Ebenhöch Collection of the Hungarian National Museum and the stone assemblage of the late Neolithic Gorzsa site were also studied. A PGAA database of Hungarian origin polished stone objects and their raw materials was set. A more accurate distinction between greenschist-metabasite from Felsőcsatár and the Bohemian Massif was done. Based on PGAA results, typology of some fine-grained stone tools was cleared up. We also investigated Neolithic ceramics from Northern Hungary (Bükk culture). We proved with geochemical experimental data (XRF and PGAA) that the typical finegrain ceramics are distinctive in their physical-technological properties, rather than in their raw material composition. Finally, a database of archaeological ceramics (CERAMIS) was created

Comparative analysis of Iron Age bronze archaeological objects from a Picenum necropolis of Centre Italy with Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis

An archaeological area from the 8th and 7th centuries B.C. has been recently discovered during a rescue excavation near Matelica site (Marche Region, Italy) in the period 1994-2005. Out of the treasures found in the graves, 18 bronze objects have been chosen for Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) at the Budapest Research Reactor (BRR), selected from the 7th century B.C. archaeological founds of Matelica and Fabriano sites. Various investigations, already performed in the same field, have confirmed the applicability of the considered technique and the feasibility of the proposed experiment. Besides determining the major components of the analyzed fragments, some trace elements, such as Sb, As and Ag, have also been identified. The compositions of the different samples have been also compared, in order to gain information regarding possible workshops and provenance. The comparative analysis will be useful, moreover, to establish an eventual classification according to the chemical composition. The obtained results are complementary to those already achieved for the considered objects, including atomic absorption, atomic emission and neutron diffraction

Geokémiai folyamatok vizsgálata prompt-gamma aktivációs analízis segítségével: a bór szerepe szubdukciós övekhez kapcsolódó magmás kőzetekben = The role of boron in geochemical processes affecting subduction-related magmatic rocks: a case study using prompt-gamma activation analysis

A Kárpát-Pannon térség neogén-kvarter vulkáni sorozatából 145 kőzetminta bór koncentrációját határoztuk meg prompt-gamma neutronakivációs analízissel. Az adatok megbízhatóságát GSJ nemzetközi standardokkal ellenőriztük. A vizsgált mészalkáli magmás kőzetek bór koncentrációja 2 és 80 ppm között változik, ami összhangban van a Föld különböző szubdukciós övezeteiben vizsgált vulkáni kőzetek adataival. Ezen belül az alacsony B/Nb arányú csoporthoz tartoznak. A Pannon-medence északi részén található andezitek bór koncentrációja nem mutat térbeli változást. Ugyanakkor időben fokozatos bór koncentráció csökkenést tapasztalunk, ami a vizes fluidumok magmaképződésben játszott csökkenő szerepére utal. Mindezek alapján úgy véljük, hogy e területen a magmaképződés egy elvékonyodó litoszféra lemez alatt, alapvetően nyomáscsökkenés következtében zajlott és nem volt lényeges szerepe a dehidratációs olvadásnak. A Keleti Kárpátokban éles változást tapasztalunk a bór koncentráció változásában a vulkáni ív délkeleti részén. Mindez kapcsolatban van a terület alatti mélyszerkezeti (Trotus vonal helyzete), ami kihat a kollízió és a magmaképződés körülményeire egyaránt. A mészalkáli vulkáni területek alatt a bór részben alábukó üledékes anyagból, részben az átalakult óceáni kéregből származott. A Pannon-medence belsejében megjelenő andezitek és ultrakáli magmás kőzetek alacsony bór tartalma arra utal, hogy a vizes fluidumoknak nem volt lényeges szerepe a magmaképződésben. | We determined the boron content of 145 samples with various lithology in the Carpathian-Pannonian Region (CPR). We checked the reliability of the results by international standards (GSJ). The boron concentration of the studied calc-alkaline volcanic rocks is in the range of 2 to 80 ppm, which is consistent with the B content of the subduction-related volcanic rocks worldwide. Among these, the CPR rocks belong to the low B/Nb group. No spatial variation of the boron data was observed in the Northern Pannonian Basin. However, a gradual temporal decrease can be recognized that is interpreted as a decreasing role of aqueous fluids in the magmagenetic process. The magma generation occurred due to the decompressional melting beneath a progressively thinning lithosphere rather than due to flux melting. In the eastern Carpathians an abrupt change in the boron content can be seen at the southeastern part of the volcanic chain. This geochemical change is consistent with the location of the Trotus line that influences the style of the collision and also the magma generation processes. The recycled B could be derived both from subducted sediments and from the altered oceanic crust. The relatively low B concentration of the andesites and ultrapotassic rocks in the inner part of the Pannonian Basin indicates that aqueous fluids had no significant role in the magma formation beneath this area

Prompt gamma activation studies on archaeological objects at a pulsed neutron source

The potential of Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA) for non-destructive quantitative investigation of archaeological objects at a pulsed neutron spallation source was studied. Experiments were performed on the ROTAX time-of-flight diffractometer of the ISIS neutron source on a chalcolithic copper axe, a limestone sample from the ancient Quarry of Masarah (Egypt), a Roman bronze fibula and two fragments of glass from the Roman Villa Adriana. For reference and comparison, measurements were also performed at the PGAA station of the Budapest research reactor. It is found that the performance of a PGAA analysis at a pulsed source, with a make-shift set-up on an instrument designed for diffraction studies, cannot match the achievable results at a dedicated PGAA facility at a reactor source. However, the possibility of performing different investigations, e.g., neutron diffraction for structure analysis and PGAA for elemental analysis, at a single facility on one and the same object remains attractive and offers useful applications in the field of cultural heritage

Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis of the Nyírlugos obsidian core depot find

The Nyírlugos obsidian core depot find is one of the most important lithic assemblages in the collection of the Hungarian National Museum (HNM). The original set comprised 12 giant obsidian cores, of which 11 are currently on the permanent archaeological exhibition of the HNM. One of the cores is known to be inDebrecen. The first publication attributed the hoard, on the strength of giant (flint) blades known from the Early and Middle Copper Age Tiszapolgár and Bodrogkeresztúr cultures, to the Copper Age. In the light of recent finds it is more likely to belong to the Middle Neolithic period. The source area was defined as Tokaj Mts., about100 kmto the NW from Nyírlugos. The size and beauty of the exceptional pieces exclude any invasive analysis. Using Prompt Gamma Activation Analysis (PGAA), we can measure major chemical components and some key trace elements of stone artefacts with adequate accuracy to successfully determine provenance of obsidian. Recent methodological development also facilitated the study of relatively large objects like the Nyírlugos cores. The cores were individually measured by PGAA. The results show that the cores originate from the Carpathian 1 sources, most probably the Viničky variety (C1b). The study of the hoard as a batch is an important contribution to the assessment of prehistoric trade and allows us to reconsider the so-called Carpathian, especially Carpathian 1 (Slovakian) sources

Archaeometric analyses of adze-blades on Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands

In this paper we present our results based on detailed archaeometric (mineralogical, petrological and geochemical) investigations on two flakes, originated from Nuku Hiva, Vaitehii I and Ha’ahinani sites. The main aim of these researches was to determine and characterise the raw material of the stone tools and determine or at least outline their provenances. Based on the mineralogical composition and texture the flake origined from Vaitehii I are basalt and it is very similar to the local Tekao type tholeiitic basalt. On the contrary the raw materials of the flake origined from Ha’ahinani is phonolite, its provenance is Ua Pou island

Integration of neutron-based elemental analysis and imaging methods and applications to cultural heritage research

The present paper describes the merits of the combined neutron-based elemental analysis and neutron imaging techniques, called prompt-gamma activation imaging - neutron tomography (PGAI-NT), and illustrates its application to cultural heritage science with relevant case studies. The approach is proven to be best applicable to samples with corroded/layered/gilded/painted/coated structures where the surface weighted response would bias the analysis results obtained with simpler, more widespread, but less representative techniques (such as Xray fluorescence spectroscopy or laser-ablation ICP-MS), as well as to answer questions related to the inner composition of a sealed objec

Polished stone axes from Varna/Nössingbühel and Castelrotto/Grondlboden, South Tyrol (Italy)

A collection of polished stone axes from a late Neolithic site and an Early Bronze Age hill fort in South Tyrol (Italy) have been analysed through a multi-analytical approach, mainly based on non-destructive techniques (i.e. Raman spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence and prompt gamma activation analysis) to identify the raw materials used in the same area during different periods and compare them with those in use in the surrounding territories. The analytical results suggest raw material exploitation strategies based on local or close sedimentary, metamorphic and magmatic rocks. Most of the artefacts are made from antigoritic serpentinite, whose origin is probably from Hohe Tauern (Austria) or related secondary deposits. These data confirm the importance of such raw material for the production of polished stone axes during recent prehistory and integrate the present knowledge about the distribution of antigoritic artefacts in north-eastern Italy and neighbouring countries