Chapter 2 Synchrotron Imaging for Archaeology, Art History, Conservation, and Palaeontology

Abstract

This chapter surveys the use of synchrotron radiation in archaeology, art history, conservation science, and palaentology. It follows on from the preceeding introduction on synchrotron radiation given in Chapter 1 (Professor Dudley Creagh). After giving a brief survey of the current use of synchrotron radiation the author describes both invasive and non-invasive techniques for the examination of artefacts and their environment. Examples are given in the field of conservation science through the study of the alteration of iron artefacts and waterlogged wood using micro-X-ray spatial fluorescence mapping, and in that of paleontology with the description of micro-tomographic studies of bones of a primate from the Late Eocene period are described. An introduction is given to the complementary techniques of synchrotron infrared Fourier Transform microspectroscopy, micro-X-ray absorption near edge structure, and micro-X-ray diffraction.