Handheld methods in archaeological research on large copper alloy assemblages: HH‐XRF against HH‐LIBS

Linqing brick is quite popular in Chinese history. Currently, identifying the origin of Linqing brick is an important issue to be studied in the field of archeology and architectural history in China. Hand-Held X-ray fluorescence (HH-XRF) spectrometry enables the in situ determination of the main elements in Linqing brick in a rapid non-destructive manner. HH-XRF is important in identifying the origin of Linqing brick. However, HH-XRF could be influenced by certain factors and may be capable of measuring only the element contents of the surface for the bricks in situ. The present study aimed to verify the reliability of HH-XRF and to systematically evaluate the different factors influencing measurement precision and accuracy so that scientific advice could be provided regarding the usage of HH-XRF for this application. Four experiments were performed to determine the influencing factors and assess the reliability through cross-validation using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). Finally, the influence of the different studied factors was studied, and the reliability of HH-XRF was ensured. The facts to consider about the measurement time, cross validation, criteria to select points, treat surface and getting final data and how to avoid the effect of rain, while using this method, are provided.

This study investigates the practices and rules of Genoese gilding, drawing insights from a 16th-century manuscript containing regulations for gold leaf production. Employing X-ray and ion beam techniques, we quantitatively assess the manuscript’s gold leaf thickness without destructive sampling. Artisanal goldbeater-produced leaves of different thicknesses, applied with a guazzo or mordant technique, served as standards. Further analysis of samples with unknown thickness from the furniture of Palazzo Spinola di Pellicceria in Genoa (Italy) has confirmed the method’s applicability to practical cases. External beam Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and particle-induced X-ray emission (PIXE) analyses were carried out using 3 MeV protons at the LABEC accelerator laboratory in Florence. A linear relationship between Gold Lα peak yield and leaf thickness, as measured by RBS, has been established for optimal calibration of portable or hand-held X-Ray fluorescence (XRF) instrumentation for in situ measurements. Moreover, the caratage of the gold foil preserved in the manuscript has been assessed.

ویژگی‌های طبیعی و زیست‌بومی رود سیمره بر روند شکل‌گیری و تطور استقرارهای انسانی در طول تاریخ تأثیری انکارناپذیر داشته است. در طول یک دهه‌ی گذشته‌ی پژوهش‌های باستان‌شناسی در حوضه‌ی آبگیر سیمره، یافته‌های بسیار و مدارک ارزشمند برای بررسی‌های تحلیلی در حوزه‌های گوناگون سفال، معماری و دست‌ساخته‌های متنوع فرهنگی به‌دست آمده است. در نتیجه‌ی یکی از بررسی‌های روشمند باستان‌شناختی در محدوده‌ای موسوم به «تنگه کافری» در حاشیه‌ی رود روئه، بخش‌هایی از عناصر ساختاری بنایی بر بستر صخره‌‌ای کوه‌مله‌روته بر تراسی از دوران سوم زمین‌شناسی و در شیب تند مشرف به رودخانه‌ی روئه آشکار شد. مجموعه‌ی شواهد موجود و ارزیابی‌های مبتنی‌بر بررسی اولیه مدارک سفالی، مستندنگاری آثار ساختمانی و مشاهده و درک بارزه‌های محیطی ضرورت شناخت را در روند طرح مسائلی چون تاریخ‌­گذاری و اهمیت و نقش معماری شناخته شده در بستر و بافتار فرهنگی خاص آن و نسبت‌­اش با اقلیم و جغرافیای منطقه که از اهداف این پژوهش بود؛ بنابراین بر این اساس در پی آنیم که گذشته از ارزیابی کارکرد و قدمت نویافته‌­های ساختمانی به پرسش­‌هایی چون: چرایی جایگاه این بنا در چشم‌انداز محوطه­‌های هم‌دوره در حوزه‌ی فرهنگی سیمره؛ چگونگی ماهیت بنا از نظر کاربری معماری آن در ارتباط با سایر بناهای هم‌دوره در منطقه؟ چگونگی کیفیت بنا و ارتباط بالقوه‌ی آن با سایر محوطه‌های هم زمان در منطقه؟ بپردازیم که کاوشی هدفمند را در پی‌آورد. نتایج اولیه مؤید انطباق ساختارهای معمارانه بر طرحی نظام‌مند، نقشه‌ای دقیق و سبکی شناخته شده از دوره‌ی ساسانی و دلالت‌های برآمده از وارسی مدارک سفالی در تأیید این تاریخ‌گذاری است. از طرفی، موقعیت جغرافیایی و موضع راهبردی محدوده و ناحیه‌ی کندو‌کاوها، حاکی از رویارویی با یکی از مسیرهای مهم ارتباطی میان‌رودان و عیلام باستان و نقش حیاتی این تنگه در راهیابی از حاشیه‌ی رود سیمره به دره‌شهر و سپس به لرستان است. از همین‌رو استنباط انگیزه‌های ارتباطی، مبادلاتی و جابه‌جایی‌های اجتماعی برای برپایی این ساختارهای بین راهی دور از ذهن نیست؛ ضمن این‌که عواملی چون: پیچیدگی نقشه، تنوع فضا، کیفیت مصالح و گستره‌ی احتمالی ساخت‌و‌سازها وجود حاکم‌نشینی محلی در لوای حکومت ساسانی را ممکن و بایستگی‌های ناظر بر تداوم کاوش‌ها را بی‌تردید می‌سازد.

Multi-technique investigation of Roman decorated plasters from Villa dei Quintili (Rome, Italy)

Adsorbed corrosion inhibitors studied by electron spectroscopy: Benzotriazole on copper and copper alloys

stitute of Archaeology undertook a re-evaluation of its internal research structures, which until then had been in the form of five overarching Research Groups (Environment and Culture, Material Culture and Data Science, Social and Cultural Dynamics, Complex and Literate Societies, Heritage Studies) which academic staff and researchers joined for seminars and discussion. The new proposal in 2010-11 was to disband the Research Groups and instead encourage the development of Research Networks, to promote interdisciplinary research activity and to reflect genuine engagements of academics in pursuing shared research aims and objectives. Research Networks are also intended to be more purposefully aligned with issues of global concern, including UCL’s Grand Challenges. As a result, groups of staff and research students, along with external collaborators, have so far developed seventeen such Networks covering a wide range of research themes. In line with recent national and global research strategies, the Networks have agreed life-spans, to reflect specific aims and objectives, and have predefined outputs (e.g. publications, developing resources and pilot studies for on-going and future research initiatives, workshops/conferences, seminars, web presence, outreach programmes). It should be stressed that Research Networks do not encompass the full range of Institute research activities, but rather complement existing initiatives and serve as an additional way of stimulating and promoting research groupings. In 2011–12 ten small grants from a one-off Faculty fund, of about £1000 each, were made to enable these Networks to carry out specific activities (such as workshops, conferences and pilot studies) A full list of Research Networks’ activities can be found on the Institute’s website, but here is a selection of recent examples: The Pacific Islands Research Network, led by Sarah Byrne, Sue Hamilton, Jago Cooper and Kaori O’Connor (of UCL Anthropology) hosted an international conference at the Institute, in September 2012, on Feast and Famine: Exploring Relationships with Food in the Pacific. The event aimed to provide a platform for more engaged dialogue between archaeology, anthropology, history, ecology, economics, epidemiology, health and medical studies, and food studies; see http:// www.ucl.ac.uk/archaeology/research/directory/pacific_network/conference. Members organised a session on Interpretative Archaeology in the Pacific at the Easter Island Conference in Santa Rosa in July 2012. The Archaeology and Communication Research Network (led by Chiara Bonacchi) organised a one-day workshop at the Institute, in May 2011, focused on proposing strategies by which archaeologists can engage the non-specialist public through digital media experiences, with participants from UCL and the universities of Southampton, Oxford, Bristol, Nottingham and York. The proceedings have been published in C. Bonacchi ed. (2012), Archaeology and Digital Communication. Towards Strategies of Public UCL Institute of Archaeology Research Networks

The article discusses the results of a technical study of a collection of medieval sword and dagger pommels owned by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, with particular focus given to the probable use of the lost-wax technique to create them and the conclusion that they were most likely created in Europe due to the presence of Champleve enameling. A brief overview of medieval metalwork is presented, and the pommels and their creation are described in detail. The association of the pommels with the crusades is also commented on.

Archaeometric provenance studies: An expert system approach

The Isfiya and Qumran coin hoards are the largest hoards of Tyrian shekels (tetradrachms) and half-shekels (didrachms) found to date. They represent a very significant source of information concerning the important mint in Tyre and the production technology of silver coinage. However, analysis of coins in large numbers has, until now, been difficult because of accessibility to collections and traditional destructive sampling problems. The ability to perform analysis on large numbers of ancient objects represents a significant change in the way that we are able to view and interpret the meaning and relevance of the scientific results. Two analytical techniques were used to overcome this problem: a new non-destructive analysis method using a handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) unit enabled the study of a total of over 700 coins from both hoards (and thus, obtain analytical statistics on an unusually large number of coins); and electron probe micro-analysis (EPMA) was performed on four coins to compare and to confirm the accuracy of the XRF measurements. Based on the results of analysis, it was found that while the coins all show relatively constant high silver levels during the years before and after 44-15 B.C.E., the silver content is erratic and drops significantly for a period of time during these dates. The results are interpreted in the context of social and economic conditions in Tyre and nearby Judea and Syria during that time period. In particular, it appears that interactions between Herod and Augustus may be reflected in the variation of the silver content of the coins.

Ancient Mining and Metallurgy Activities in Mazayjan District, Fars Province

Since long ago, functional interpretations about prehistoric tools illustrated one of the main concerns in the archeological research. In this scenario, although embraced with some initial controversy, the development of the use-wear analysis has been seen as the most important contributions to understand and interpret artifact functionality, particularly lithic tools. This chapter is organized in two main topics: (1) a historical background introduction, containing a brief description of the state of the art of lithic use-wear analysis in archeological studies, focused on the development of functional studies over the last two centuries, and (2) methodological key-issues on lithic use-wear analysis, covering succinctly some of the most important methodologies on lithic analysis, later described in detail in the following chapters of this volume.

The composition of the copper alloys used by the Greek, Etruscan and Roman civilizations: 3. The Origins and Early Use of Brass

Acid mine drainage (AMD) generated during the exploitation and utilization of mineral resources poses a severe environmental problem globally within the mining industry. The Xiaomixi Stream in Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, is a primary tributary of the Han River, which is surrounded by historically concentrated mining areas for stone coal and vanadium ores. Rainwater erosion of abandoned mine tunnels and waste rock piles has led to the leaching of acidic substances and heavy metals, which then enter the Haoping River and its tributaries through surface runoff. This results in acidic water, posing a significant threat to the water quality of the South-to-North Water Diversion Middle Route within the Han River basin. According to this study’s investigation, Xiaomixi’s acidic water exhibits yellow and white precipitates upstream and downstream of the river, respectively. These precipitates stem from the oxidation of iron-bearing minerals and aluminum-bearing minerals. The precipitation process is controlled by factors such as the pH and temperature, exhibiting seasonal variations. Taking the Xiaomixi Stream in Ziyang County, Shaanxi Province, as the study area, this paper conducts field investigations, systematic sampling of water bodies and river sediments, testing for iron and aluminum pollutants in water, and micro-area observations using field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) on sediments, along with analyzing the iron and aluminum content. The deposition is analyzed using handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analyzers, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and visible–near-infrared spectroscopy data, and a geochemical model is established using PHREEQC software. This paper summarizes the migration and transformation mechanisms of iron and aluminum pollutants in acidic water and proposes appropriate prevention and control measures.

Impacts of climate change – sea level rise, more frequent storms and coastal flooding will exacerbate coastal erosion, resulting in the erosion of coastal historic landfills. These historic landfills are particularly vulnerable to such erosion as they typically have no lining or leachate management, limited information of the proportion and/or types of waste mixtures they contain and inaccurate records of their location and waste volumes. There are over 1200 coastal historic landfills in England alone, and over 10,000 such sites are at risk of release both solid waste and soluble contaminants across Europe. The contaminated matrix and solid wastes make landfills a major sink and source of microplastics and heavy metal, posing a threat to the coastal and marine environment.We investigated heavy metal and microplastic pollution on the beach and foreshore in three coastal historic eroding landfills, East Tilbury (n = 32 samples), Lynemouth (n = 33 samples), Northam Burrows Tilbury (n = 33 samples), UK. Samples were collected every 50 meters along the shoreline, with 100g of surface soil from the landfill edge, and 1kg of beach and intertidal sediment collected from each transect. The metal concertation was measured with handheld X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). Microplastics were density separated with a zinc chloride solution (1.5 g cm−3), after the samples were dried and digested with hydrogen peroxide. The extracted microplastics were recorded under stereomicroscope at 50× magnification with a digital camera, and characterized with Fourier-transformed infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy.This study is one of the first few to investigate the impacts of eroding historic landfill. Our preliminary findings suggest that eroding landfill are releasing significant amounts of microplastics and heavy metal pollution. These findings will be crucial to assess the impacts of eroding landfills, identify solutions and raise public attention to this environmental problem.

Economic rebound versus imperial monopoly: Metal provenance of Early Medieval coins (9th–11th centuries) from some Italian and French mints