Performance comparison of external IBA and SR-XRF imaging for the study of ivory

Abstract

The performances of Ion Beam Analysis (IBA) at the New AGLAE accelerator external microfocus beamline and those of Synchrotron Radiation micro-X-Ray Fluorescence (SR-XRF) at the PUMA beamline at the SOLEIL synchrotron are compared for non-invasive characterization of archaeological ivory. Based on the examination of ivory artefacts from the Palaeolithic siteHohle Felsin South-western Germany, the informative value of this combination of methods is evaluated with regard to archaeological questions. Parameters such as depth of information, elemental sensitivity as a function of atomic number and imaging capacity are considered. We obtain an almost complete coverage of the chemical composition of ivory (C to Pb). Rutherford Backscattering Spectrometry (RBS) allows the identification of collagen and PIXE/PIGE provide a higher sensitivity for light elements while SR-XRF offers high resolution imaging for heavier elements. Both facilities provide different depths of information that can be exploited to better distinguish exogenous and endogenous elements.